GB2608440A - Collector for a mid-mounted mower - Google Patents

Abstract

A collector 100 for a mid-mounted mower 103 is described herein. The collector is configured to be supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower adjacent to the mid- mounted mower to receive grass cuttings from a mid-mounted deck 101 of the mid-mounted mower. The collector comprises a first aperture 111 at least partially on a side of the collector adjacent to the mower when supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower for receiving grass cuttings from the mid-mounted deck of the mid-mounted mower. The collector also comprises a second aperture (150, figure 4) accessible by a user for accessing the interior of the collector, and a flap 119 for accessing and covering the second aperture. The second aperture may be in a top wall 115 of the collector and may cover the entire top wall or a portion of the flap may be hinged relative to the remainder of the flap to form a smaller aperture for accessing the interior of the collector. The collector may be hinged about the mower such that the collector can be tipped relative to the mower for emptying via the first aperture. A bottom wall 113 may be hinged relative to the top wall such that the size of the first aperture increases when the collector is tipped.

Description

Collector for a mid-mounted mower

Field of the invention

The present disclosure relates to a collector for a mid-mounted mower, for example a 5 collector for collecting grass cuttings from a mid-mounted deck mower.

Background

Collectors are used on mid-mounted deck mowers to collect grass clippings/cuttings as the mower is used. Typically the collector is supported from the rear of a mid-mounted mower and held adjacent to the rear of the mid-mounted mower such that grass clippings/cuttings may be fed directly from the cutting deck to the collector, for example via a chute. Advantageously the use of a collector may improve the aesthetics of the cut grass, which may be important for certain landscapes such as gardens and parks.

Typically, those persons tasked with routine gardening and landscaping tasks in such landscapes will have other jobs that need performing, such as pruning and cutting of bushes and plants, and the collection of fallen debris and leaves. Typically, such persons would need to use another vehicle such as a trailer and tractor, or manual means such as a wheelbarrow, to remove such debris and cuttings from the landscape.

Summary of the invention

Aspects of the invention are as set out in the independent claims and optional features are set out in the dependent claims. Aspects of the invention may be provided in conjunction with each other and features of one aspect may be applied to other aspects.

In a first aspect there is provided a collector for a mid-mounted mower, wherein the collector is configured to be supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower adjacent to the mid-mounted mower to receive grass cuttings from a mid-mounted deck of the mid-mounted mower. The collector comprises a first aperture at least partially on a side of the collector adjacent to the mower when supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower for receiving grass cuttings from the mid-mounted deck of the mid-mounted mower. The collector also comprises a second aperture accessible by a user for accessing the interior of the collector, and a flap for accessing and covering the second -2 -aperture. In some examples the flap comprises a securing means for securing the flap to the collector. In some examples the flap also comprises a stay configured to limit how far the flap can open. For example, the stay may be configured to limit the flap to only open at an acute angle relative to the second aperture and the collector. The stay may comprise a rod held in a sleeve with a protrusion at one end of the rod configured to limit motion of the rod through the sleeve to limit the range of motion of the flap.

The second aperture may be configured to provide access to the interior of the collector. Advantageously this may allow a user to add items to the collector when performing 10 their gardening/landscaping tasks. For example, the user may be able to add fallen leaves or small branches, or other cuttings, to the collector. This may negate the need for a user to manually push a wheelbarrow or similar item, or use a separate vehicle such as a tractor and trailer, that would otherwise be needed to remove these items from the landscape, and thereby allows a user to more efficiently perform their gardening or 15 landscaping tasks.

The second aperture may be on the top of the collector when the collector is supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower. Advantageously this may allow a user to simply drop items such as fallen leaves, small branches, or other cuttings, into the collector via the second aperture. By providing the aperture on the top of the collector it also helps ensure that the weight of collected grass cuttings/clippings does not press on and inadvertently open the second aperture (for example by exerting pressure on a flap covering the second aperture) in use.

The collector may have a generally box-shaped cross-section, comprising two vertical walls, consisting of a front wall and a rear wall, and two horizontal walls consisting of a top wall and a bottom wall. The front wall of the collector may be configured to be held adjacent to the mid-mounted mower when supported by the mid-mounted mower. The second aperture may be in the top wall, and the first aperture may be in the front wall.

Alternatively, the second aperture may be in the rear wall of the collector. Providing the second aperture in the rear wall may advantageously make it more accessible to a user, and may reduce the height needed to access the second aperture as the second -3 -aperture can be placed lower down relative to the collector, which may be advantageous for shorter users and/of if the collector is particularly large.

The collector may comprise two opposing side walls, and wherein the top wall, rear wall 5 and bottom wall are relatively rigid relative to the two opposing side walls.

The two opposing side walls may comprise a mesh fabric. The mesh fabric may be configured to permit air to flow into and out of the collector but to inhibit the egress of grass cuttings from the collector.

The collector may be hinged about the mid-mounted mower such that the collector can be tipped relative to the mid-mounted mower for emptying the collector via the first aperture.

In some examples the bottom wall of the collector is hinged relative to the top wall such that the size of the first aperture increases when the collector is tipped relative to the mid-mounted mower. In some examples the bottom wall and the rear wall are hinged relative to the top wall such that the size of the first aperture increases when the collector is tipped relative to the mid-mounted mower.

In some examples the second aperture covers the entire top wall of the collector. In such examples the flap may form a lid over the collector. In such examples a portion of the flap may be hinged relative to the remainder of the flap to form a smaller aperture for accessing the collector.

The flap may be hinged about the collector. Advantageously this may enable the flap to be quickly secured to the collector. It may also help to prevent the flap falling off and/or being lost.

The flap may comprise a detachable securing means such as a catch, latch or bolt, for securing the flap to the collector.

In another aspect there is provided a mid-mounted mower comprising the collector of the -4 -aspect described above.

Drawings Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with 5 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view from the side of an example mid-mounted deck mower comprising an example collector; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view from the side of the example mid-mounted deck mower 10 comprising an example collector of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a perspective view from the rear of the example mid-mounted deck mower comprising an example collector of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 shows an enlarged perspective view from the side of the collector shown in Figs. 1 to 3; Fig. 5 shows an enlarged perspective view from the side of another example collector; Fig. 6 shows an enlarged perspective view from the side of another example collector; and Fig. 7 shows a perspective view from the rear of the example mid-mounted deck mower comprising another example collector.

Specific description

Figs. 1 and 2 show a perspective view from the side of an example mid-mounted deck mower 103 comprising an example collector 100 of embodiments of the claims, and Fig. 3 shows a perspective view from the rear of an example mid-mounted deck mower 103 comprising an example collector 100 of embodiments of the claims. The example collector 100 of Figs. 1 to 3 is shown in more detail in perspective view in Fig. 4.

In the example shown in Fig. 1, the mid-mounted deck mower 103 comprises a mid-mounted cutting deck 101 suspended underneath the mower 103 between the front and 30 rear wheels. The mid-mounted deck mower 103 may be, for example, an Iseki(RTM) SXG Range mower.

Supported from the rear of the mower 103 is a collector 100. The collector 100 is -5 -supported by a support means 121. The collector 100 may be removable from the mower 103 such that it may be used on another mower 103 and/or such that the mower 103 may be used without the collector 100.

The collector 100 is generally cuboidal in shape and has a generally box-shaped cross-section when viewed from side-on (i.e. when viewed in a plane corresponding to the longitudinal axis L of the mower 103, the longitudinal axis L of the mower 103 shown in Fig. 3 and corresponding to the axis of the mower 103 having the greatest dimension which in this example is from front to rear of the mower 103), comprising two opposing vertical walls, consisting of a front wall 111 and a rear wall 117, and two opposing horizontal walls consisting of a top wall 115 and a bottom wall 113. It is to be noted that when the terms horizontal and vertical are used, these walls are not exactly horizontal or perpendicular, nor are they exactly orthogonal to each other. Rather these terms should be construed purposively to be interpreted as substantially horizontal and substantially vertical.

The front wall 111 of the collector 100 is adjacent to the rear of the mid-mounted mower 103 when supported by the mid-mounted mower 103 by the support means 121. The support means 121 may be coupled to the top wall 115 of the collector to support the collector 100 in a suspended manner adjacent to the rear of the mower 103. The support means 121 may be hydraulically actuated or may be manually operated, for example via a lever. In the example shown the support means 121 is hydraulically actuated and may be operated via lever 107. The support means 121 is configured to be operable to suspend the collector 100 from the rear of the mower 103 and to rotate the collector 100 about the mower 103 to lift the collector 100 relative to the mower 103, for example to empty the collector 100.

The collector 100 also comprises two opposing side walls 123. In the example shown the side walls 123 comprise a mesh fabric (for example a hexagonal mesh such as a polyester hex mesh) configured to permit airflow into and/or out of the collector but to inhibit the egress of grass clippings/cuttings and other debris from the collector 100. It will be understood that the mesh fabric may have a plurality of small apertures or pores to provide this functionality of permitting airflow into and out of the collector but to inhibit -6 -the egress of grass clippings and other debris from the collector 100. For example, the mesh fabric may have a pore size of at least 1mm and/or less than 2mm, for example the pore size may be around 1.5mm. The top wall 115, rear wall 117 and bottom wall 113 are relatively rigid compared to the two side walls 123. For example, the top wall 115 and at least a portion of the rear wall 117 and/or the bottom wall 113 may comprise a rigid polymer such as an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer. In some example the bottom wall 113 may be made from a different material, for example a metal such as aluminium.

The top wall 115 and bottom wall 113 may have a greater surface area than that of the front wall 111 and the rear wall 117. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the top wall 115 and the bottom wall 113 have a greater surface area than the side walls 123, such that the collector is wider and longer than it is deep/high. In this example the side walls 123 have a greater surface area than the front wall 111 and the rear wall 117. In the example shown the collector 100 is wider than it is tall, and longer than it is wide. As a result, the top wall 115 and bottom wall 113 have sides of a greatest dimension corresponding to the length of the collector 100. The top wall 115 and bottom wall 113 have sides of a smaller dimension corresponding to the width of the collector 100. The side walls 123 both have sides that abut the top wall 115 and bottom wall 113 of the collector and have a greatest dimension corresponding to the greatest dimension of the top wall 115 and bottom wall 113. The side walls 123 also have sides abutting the front wall 111 and rear wall 117 that correspond to the height of the collector 100 and that are smaller than the length of the collector 100. The front wall 111 and rear wall 117 have sides that abut the top wall 115 and bottom wall 113 and that correspond to the width of the collector 100, and these sides are greater than the sides abutting the side walls 123 but smaller than the sides of the top wall 115 and bottom wall 113 abutting the side walls 123.

The collector 100 comprises a first aperture 175 at least partially on a side of the collector 100 adjacent to the mower 103 when supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower 103 for receiving grass cuttings from the mid-mounted deck 101 of the mid-mounted mower 103. The first aperture 175 may be in the front wall 111 of the collector 100 (such that the front wall 111 comprises the first aperture 175), or in other examples at least a portion of, or in some examples the entire front wall 111 of the -7 -collector 100, may form the first aperture 113 (such that the front wall 111 is in effect missing).

The collector 100 also comprises a second aperture 150 (shown more clearly in Fig. 4) accessible by a user for accessing the interior of the collector 100. In the examples shown in Figs. 1 to 4 the second aperture 150 is smaller than the first aperture 175, but it will be understood that in other examples the second aperture 150 may be the same size as, or larger than, the first aperture 175.

The second aperture 150 also comprises a flap 119 for accessing and covering the second aperture 150 The flap 119 may be removably attached to the collector 100. For example, the flap 119 may be coupled to the collector 100 via a hinge. However, in other examples (such as in the example shown in Fig. 5 described in more detail below) the flap 119 may be detachable from the collector 100.

In the example show in Figs. 1 to 4 the second aperture 150 is in the top wall 115 of the collector 100. The second aperture 150 is generally rectangular but as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 may have a rounded portion. In other examples the second aperture 150 may have a different shape, such as a square or circle. In the example shown the second aperture 150 has three sides parallel to the sides of the top wall 115, and a fourth side that is rounded or curved. In the example shown, the fourth side that is rounded or curved is closest to the rear wall 117 of the collector 100. The second aperture 150 is configured to provide access to the interior of the collector 100. Advantageously this may allow a user to add items to the collector when performing their gardening/landscaping tasks.

For example, the user may be able to add fallen leaves or small branches, or other cuttings, to the collector 100. This may negate the need for a user to manually push a wheelbarrow or similar item that would otherwise be needed to remove these items and thereby allows a user to perform their gardening or landscaping tasks more efficiently.

The flap 119 may be sized to be slightly larger than the second aperture 150 to provide a seal around the second aperture 150, for example to inhibit the egress of air and/or grass cuttings/clippings from the collector 100. The flap 119 may be made from the same material as the top wall 115, for example the flap 119, top wall 115 and optionally rear -8 -wall 117 may be made from a rigid plastics material. The flap 119 may be configured to resist pressure caused by the flow of grass into the collector 100 caused by the mid-mounted cutting deck 101 of the mid-mounted mower 103, so that the flap 119 does not pop open in use. In some examples the flap 119 may form an interference fit with the second aperture 150. Additionally, or alternatively, the flap 119 may form an interference fit with the top wall 117. Additionally, or alternatively, the flap 119 may comprise a detachable securing means 127 (shown in Fig. 4) such as a catch for securing the flap 119 when the flap 119 is closed. The securing means 127 may be a clip or catch, such as a magnetic catch, or may comprise a bolt. In some examples the mass/weight of the flap 119 may be enough to secure the flap 119 without the need for the securing means 127. The securing means 127 may comprise a handle that may be operable to control the catch or bolt, for example rotation of the handle may release a catch to enable the flap 119 to be lifted and thereby provide access to the second aperture 150.

In the examples shown in Figs. Ito 4, the second aperture 150 is located roughly in the centre of the top wall 115 of the collector 100. However, it will be understood that in some examples the second aperture 150 may be located in the top wall 115 of the collector closer to one side of the collector 100. For example, the second aperture 150 may be located closer to the rear wall 117 of the collector 100 than the front wall 113 of the collector 100. In some examples the second aperture 150 is located proximate to the rear wall 117 of the collector 100 in the top wall 115. In some examples the second aperture 150 may be located proximate to one of the side walls 123. Locating the second aperture 150 proximate to the rear wall 117 and/or one of the side walls 123 may improve accessibility of the second aperture 150 to a user.

The collector 100 is hinged about the mid-mounted mower 103 such that the collector 100 can be tipped relative to the mid-mounted mower 103 for emptying the collector 100 via the first aperture 175. This can be seen in more detail in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the collector 100 is supported by support means 121 that is operable to lift the collector 100 about a hinge such that the rear wall 117 of the collector 100 is raised relative to the front wall 111. In the example shown, the bottom wall 113 of the collector 100 is hinged relative to the rear wall 117 such that the size of the first aperture 175 is configured to increase when the collector 100 is tipped relative to the mid-mounted mower 103. -9 -

However, it will be understand that in other examples the bottom wall 113 and the rear wall 117 are hinged relative to the top wall 115 such that the size of the first aperture 175 is configured to increase when the collector 100 is tipped relative to the mid-mounted mower 103. For example the bottom wall 113 and rear wall 117 may be fixed relative to each other but there may be a hinge between the rear wall 117 and the top wall 115 to hinge the rear wall and the bottom wall 113 relative to the top wall. Additionally or alternatively the bottom wall 113 may be hinged relative to the rear wall 117, for example such that there is a first hinge between the bottom wall 113 and the rear wall 117, and a second hinge between the rear wall 117 and the top wall 115.

As noted above, the collector 100 comprises a first aperture 175 at least partially on a side of the collector 100 adjacent to the mower 103 when supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower 103 for receiving grass cuttings from the mid-mounted deck 101 of the mid-mounted mower. The first aperture 175 is configured to engage with chute 105 of mower 103. Chute 105 couples the mower deck 101 with the collector 100 and is configured to feed grass cuttings and/or other debris from the mower deck 101 to the collector 100. In the example shown the chute 105 is generally cuboidal in shape, but it will be readily understood that other geometries and shapes may be used. In some examples the chute 105 may additionally or alternatively be funnel-shaped and be configured to act as a funnel to guide grass cuttings into the collector 100.

In use, when the mower 103 is operated by a user to cut grass, the mid-mounted deck 101 of the mid-mounted mower 103 cuts grass and grass cuttings are fed through the chute 105 (for example due to air pressure provided by the cutting blades of the mid-mounted deck 101) and into the collector 100 via the first aperture 175 of the collector 100. VVhen the collector 100 is full, the user can empty the collector 100 to empty the grass cuttings from the collector 100 via the first aperture 175. This is done by lifting and tilting the collector 100 such that the rear of the collector 100 (for example, the rear wall 117) is lifted off the ground, such that in an emptying configuration the rear wall 117 is raised higher off the ground than in a cutting configuration).

The lifting and tilting of the collector 100 may be performed manually by the user, for example via a lever, or may be done with assistance. In such examples the support -10 -means 121 may comprise a lifting means. The lifting means may be configured to lift and/or tilt the collector 100. The lifting means may comprise, for example, an electrically powered or hydraulically powered means. The lifting means may be configured to lift and/or tilt the collector either via a ram such as an electric or hydraulic ram. In other examples the assistance may comprise pulleys and a wire.

In the example shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the collector 100 is lifted and tilted by the support means 121 which are hydraulically actuated. In the example shown in Figs. 1 to 4, as the collector 100 is lifted and tilted, because the bottom wall 113 of the collector is hinged relative to the rear wall 117, the bottom wall 113 of the collector 100 also tilts relative to the remainder of the collector 100 to enlarge the first aperture 175.

Fig. 5 shows another example of a collector 500 for collecting grass cuttings from a mid-mounted mower 103. The collector 500 of Fig. 5 is similar to the collector 100 of Figs. 1 to 4, and like or similar reference numerals denote features with a similar or the same functionality. As with the collector 100 of Figs. 1 to 4, the collector 500 of Fig. 5 is also configured to be supported from the rear of the mower 103 via a support means 121. The collector 500 is generally cuboidal in shape and has a generally box-shaped cross-section when viewed from side-on (i.e. when viewed in a plane corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the mower 103, the longitudinal axis of the mower 103 corresponding to the axis of the mower 103 having the greatest dimension which in this example is from front to rear of the mower 103), comprising two opposing vertical walls, consisting of a front wall 511 and a rear wall 517, and two opposing horizontal walls consisting of a top wall 515 and a bottom wall 513. The front wall 511 of the collector 500 is adjacent to the rear of the mid-mounted mower 103 when supported by the mid-mounted mower 103 by the support means 121. The support means 121 may be coupled to the top wall 515 of the collector to support the collector 500 in a suspended manner adjacent to the rear of the mower 103. The support means 121 may be hydraulically actuated or may be manually operated, for example via a lever.

The collector 500 also comprises two opposing side walls 523. In the example shown the side walls 523 comprise a mesh fabric (for example a hexagonal mesh such as a polyester hex mesh) configured to permit airflow into and/or out of the collector but to inhibit the egress of grass clippings and other debris from the collector 500. It will be understood that the mesh fabric may have a plurality of small apertures or pores to provide this functionality of permitting airflow into and out of the collector but to inhibit the egress of grass clippings and other debris from the collector 500. For example, the mesh fabric may have a pore size of at least 1mm and/or less than 2mm, for example the pore size may be around 1.5mm. The top wall 515, rear wall 517 and bottom wall 513 are relatively rigid compared to the two side walls 523. For example, the top wall 515, rear wall 517 and bottom wall 513 may comprise a rigid polymer such as an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer.

The collector 500 comprises a first aperture 575 at least partially on a side of the collector 100 adjacent to the mower 103 when supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower 103 for receiving grass cuttings from the mid-mounted deck 101 of the mid-mounted mower. The first aperture 575 may be in the front wall 111 of the collector 100 (such that the front wall 511 comprises the first aperture 575), or in other examples at least a portion of, or in some examples the entire front wall 511 of the collector 500, may form the first aperture 513 (such that the front wall 511 is in effect missing).

The collector 500 also comprises a second aperture 550 accessible by a user for accessing the interior of the collector 500. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the second aperture 550 is a similar size to the first aperture 575, but it will be understood that in other examples the second aperture 550 may be small than, or larger than, the first aperture 575. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the second aperture 550 takes up almost the entire surface area of the top wall 515, such that the top wall 515 can be lifted off of the collector 500 to form a flap 519 for the second aperture 550. The flap 519 may be configured to provide an interference fit with the second aperture 550 and the collector 500. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the flap 519 may be configured to form an interference fit with the inside of the second aperture 550. However, in other examples, the flap 519 may be configured to form an interference fit with the entire collector 500, such that the flap 519 effectively sits over the entire top surface of the collector 500 and thereby engages with the side walls 523, the front wall 511 and the rear wall 517 to form an interference fit. In some examples a portion of the flap 519 may also be hinged relative to the remainder of the flap 519, for example such that a smaller aperture may be -12 -formed for accessing the collector 500.

In some examples the flap may comprise a stay for limiting how wide the flap can open.

It will also be understood that in some examples instead of the flap 519 forming an interference fit, securing means may be provided to secure the flap 519 to the collector 500, for example, in a manner similar to that shown in Fig.4 and described above.

In some examples the flap 119, 519 may comprise two hinged portions to open the second aperture 150, 550 to different degrees. For example, the flap 119, 519 may be opened to a first degree to provide a small access aperture to insert small items into the collector 100, 500, and opened to a second degree to provide a larger access aperture to insert larger items into the collector 100, 500.

Fig. 6 shows another example of a collector 600 for collecting grass cuttings from a mid-mounted mower 103. The collector 600 of Fig. 6 is similar to the collector 100 of Figs. 1 to 4 and the collector 500 of Fig. 5, and like or similar reference numerals denote features with a similar or the same functionality. As with the collector 100 of Figs. 1 to 4, the collector 600 of Fig. 6 is also configured to be supported from the rear of the mower 103 via a support means 121. The collector 600 is generally cuboidal in shape and has a generally box-shaped cross-section when viewed from side-on (i.e. when viewed in a plane corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the mower 103, the longitudinal axis of the mower 103 corresponding to the axis of the mower 103 having the greatest dimension which in this example is from front to rear of the mower 103), comprising two opposing vertical walls, consisting of a front wall 611 and a rear wall 617, and two opposing horizontal walls consisting of a top wall 615 and a bottom wall 613. The front wall 611 of the collector 600 is adjacent to the rear of the mid-mounted mower 103 when supported by the mid-mounted mower 103 by the support means 121. The support means 121 may be coupled to the top wall 615 of the collector to support the collector 600 in a suspended manner adjacent to the rear of the mower 103. The support means 121 may be hydraulically actuated or may be manually operated, for example via a lever.

The collector 600 also comprises two opposing side walls 623. In the example shown -13 -the side walls 623 comprise a mesh fabric (for example a hexagonal mesh such as a polyester hex mesh) configured to permit airflow into and/or out of the collector but to inhibit the egress of grass clippings and other debris from the collector 600. It will be understood that the mesh fabric may have a plurality of small apertures or pores to 5 provide this functionality of permitting airflow into and out of the collector but to inhibit the egress of grass clippings and other debris from the collector 600. For example, the mesh fabric may have a pore size of at least 1mm and/or less than 2mm, for example the pore size may be around 1.5mm. The top wall 615, rear wall 617 and bottom wall 613 are relatively rigid compared to the two side walls 623. For example, the top wall 615, 10 rear wall 617 and bottom wall 613 may comprise a rigid polymer such as an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer.

The collector 600 comprises a first aperture 675 at least partially on a side of the collector 100 adjacent to the mower 103 when supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower 103 for receiving grass cuttings from the mid-mounted deck 101 of the mid-mounted mower. The first aperture 675 may be in the front wall 611 of the collector 100 (such that the front wall 611 comprises the first aperture 675), or in other examples at least a portion of, or in some examples the entire front wall 611 of the collector 600, may form the first aperture 613 (such that the front wall 611 is in effect missing).

The collector 600 also comprises a second aperture 650 accessible by a user for accessing the interior of the collector 600. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the second aperture 650 is a similar size to the first aperture 675, but it will be understood that in other examples the second aperture 650 may be small than, or larger than, the first aperture 675. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the second aperture 650 takes up almost the entire surface area of the top wall 615, such that the top wall 615 forms a flap 519 for the second aperture 650. In this example the flap 619 comprises two hinges 625, 626, to enable to second aperture 650 to be opened to a first degree (to provide an aperture having a first area) via movement relative to the first hinge 625, and then opened to a second larger degree (to provide an aperture with a second, larger, area) via movement relative to the second hinge 626. The flap 619 may be configured to provide an interference fit with the second aperture 650 and the collector 600. For example, the flap 619 may be configured to form an interference fit with the inside of the second aperture -14 - 650. However, in other examples, the flap 619 may be configured to form an interference fit with the entire collector 600, such that the flap 619 effectively sits over the entire top surface of the collector 600 and thereby engages with the side walls 623, the front wall 611 and the rear wall 617 to form an interference fit. However, in the example shown in Fig. 6, instead of the flap 619 forming an interference fit, securing means 627 are provided to secure the flap 619 to the collector 600, for example, in a manner similar to that shown in Fig.4 and described above.

It will be understood that in other examples the second aperture 150, 550, 650 may not 10 be located in the top wall 115, 515, 615 of the collector 100, 500, 600 at all. For example, as shown in Fig. 7 the collector 700 may comprise a second aperture 750 in the rear wall 717 of the collector.

The collector 700 of Fig. 7 is similar to the collector 100 of Figs. Ito 4, the collector 500 of Fig. 5, and the collector 600 of Fig. 6, and like or similar reference numerals denote features with a similar or the same functionality. As with the collector 100 of Figs. 1 to 4, the collector 500 of Fig. 5, and the collector 600 of Fig. 6, the collector 700 of Fig. 7 is also configured to be supported from the rear of the mower 1703 via a support means 721. The collector 600 is generally cuboidal in shape and has a generally box-shaped cross-section when viewed from side-on (i.e. when viewed in a plane corresponding to the longitudinal axis L of the mower 703, the longitudinal axis of the mower 703 corresponding to the axis of the mower 703 having the greatest dimension which in this example is from front to rear of the mower 703), comprising two opposing vertical walls, consisting of a front wall 711 (not shown in Fig. 7) and a rear wall 717, and two opposing horizontal walls consisting of a top wall 715 and a bottom wall 713 (not shown in Fig. 7). The front wall 711 of the collector 700 is adjacent to the rear of the mid-mounted mower 703 when supported by the mid-mounted mower 703 by the support means 721. The support means 721 may be coupled to the top wall 715 of the collector 700 to support the collector 700 in a suspended manner adjacent to the rear of the mower 703. The support means 721 may be hydraulically actuated or may be manually operated, for example via a lever. In the example shown the support means 721 is hydraulically actuated and may be operated via lever 707.

-15 -The collector 700 also comprises two opposing side walls 723. In the example shown the side walls 723 comprise a mesh fabric (for example a hexagonal mesh such as a polyester hex mesh) configured to permit airflow into and/or out of the collector but to inhibit the egress of grass clippings and other debris from the collector 700. It will be understood that the mesh fabric may have a plurality of small apertures or pores to provide this functionality of permitting airflow into and out of the collector but to inhibit the egress of grass clippings and other debris from the collector 700. For example, the mesh fabric may have a pore size of at least 1mm and/or less than 2mm, for example the pore size may be around 1.5mm. The top wall 715, rear wall 717 and bottom wall 713 are relatively rigid compared to the two side walls 723. For example, the top wall 715, rear wall 717 and bottom wall 713 may comprise a rigid polymer such as an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) polymer.

The collector 700 comprises a first aperture 775 (not shown in Fig. 7) at least partially on a side of the collector 700 adjacent to the mower 703 when supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower 703 for receiving grass cuttings from the mid-mounted deck 101 of the mid-mounted mower. The first aperture 775 may be in the front wall 711 of the collector 700 (such that the front wall 711 comprises the first aperture 775), or in other examples at least a portion of, or in some examples the entire front wall 711 of the collector 700, may form the first aperture 713 (such that the front wall 711 is in effect missing).

The collector 700 also comprises a second aperture 750 accessible by a user for accessing the interior of the collector 700. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the second aperture 750 is smaller than the first aperture 775, but it will be understood that in the examples the second aperture 750 may be the same size as, or larger than, the first aperture 775. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the second aperture 750 is formed in the rear wall 717 of the collector 700. As with the example of Figs. 1 to 4, the collector 700 also comprises a flap 719 for covering the second aperture. In this example the flap 719 comprises a hinge 725. The flap 719 may also comprise a limiting means (not shown) such as a stay configured to limit how far open the flap 719 can hinge relative to the rear wall 717 about the hinge 725, for example so that the flap 719 may only form an acute angle relative to the second aperture 750 and the rear wall 717.

-16 -In some examples the flap 719 may be configured to provide an interference fit with the second aperture 750 and the collector 700. For example, the flap 719 may be configured to form an interference fit with the inside of the second aperture 750. However, in other 5 examples, the flap 719 may be configured to form an interference fit with the entire rear of the collector 700, such that the flap 719 effectively sits over the entire rear surface of the collector 700 and thereby engages with the side walls 723, the top wall 715 and the bottom wall 713 to form an interference fit. However, in the example shown in Fig. 7, instead of the flap 719 forming an interference fit, securing means 727 are provided to 10 secure the flap 719 to the collector 700, for example, in a manner similar to that shown in Fig.4 and described above.

In the examples described above the side walls 123, 523, 623, 723 of the collector 100, 500, 600, 700 have been described as comprising a mesh fabric. However, it will be understood that in other examples the side walls 123, 523, 623, 723 may comprise a different material which may or may not be the same as that of the other walls of the collector 100, 500, 600, 700.

In the examples described above, the first aperture 175, 575, 675, 775 has been described as being in the front wall 111, 511, 611, 711 of the collector 100, 500, 600, 700. However, it will be understood that in other examples the first aperture 175, 575, 675, 775 may be located elsewhere on the collector 100, 500, 600, 700, such as the bottom wall 113, 513, 613, 713.

In the context of the present disclosure other examples and variations of the apparatus and methods described herein will be apparent to a person of skill in the art

Claims (14)

1. -17 -CLAIMS: 1. A collector for a mid-mounted mower, wherein the collector is configured to be supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower adjacent to the mid-mounted mower 5 to receive grass cuttings from a mid-mounted deck of the mid-mounted mower; wherein the collector comprises: a first aperture at least partially on a side of the collector adjacent to the mower when supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower for receiving grass cuttings from the mid-mounted deck of the mid-mounted mower; a second aperture accessible by a user for accessing the interior of the collector; and a flap for accessing and covering the second aperture.
2. 2. The collector of claim 1 wherein the second aperture is on the top of the collector when the collector is supported from the rear of the mid-mounted mower.
3. 3. The collector of claim 1 or 2, wherein the collector has a generally box-shaped cross-section, comprising two vertical walls, consisting of a front wall and a rear wall, and two horizontal walls consisting of a top wall and a bottom wall, wherein the front wall of the collector is adjacent to the mid-mounted mower when supported by the mid-mounted mower; and wherein the second aperture is in the top wall, and the first aperture is in the front wall.
4. 4. The collector of claim 1, wherein the collector has a generally box-shaped cross-section, comprising two vertical walls, consisting of a front wall and a rear wall, and two horizontal walls consisting of a top wall and a bottom wall, wherein the front wall of the collector is adjacent to the mid-mounted mower when supported by the mid-mounted mower; and wherein the second aperture is in the rear wall, and the first aperture is in the front wall.
5. 5. The collector of claim 3 or 4 further comprising two opposing side walls, and wherein the top wall, rear wall and bottom wall are relatively rigid relative to the two opposing side walls.
6. 6. The collector of claim 5 wherein the two opposing side walls comprise a mesh fabric configured to permit air to flow into and out of the collector but to inhibit the egress of grass cuttings from the collector.
7. 7. The collector of any of the previous claims wherein the collector is hinged about the mid-mounted mower such that the collector can be tipped relative to the mid-mounted mower for emptying the collector via the first aperture.
8. 8. The collector of claim 7 as dependent from claim 3 or any claim as dependent thereon, wherein the bottom wall of the collector is hinged relative to the top wall such 15 that the size of the first aperture increases when the collector is tipped relative to the mid-mounted mower.
9. 9. The collector of claim 8 wherein the bottom wall and the rear wall are hinged relative to the top wall such that the size of the first aperture increases when the collector 20 is tipped relative to the mid-mounted mower.
10. 10. The collector of claim 4 or any claim as dependent thereon wherein the second aperture covers the entire top wall of the collector and wherein the flap forms a lid over the collector.
11. 11. The collector of claim 10 wherein a portion of the flap is hinged relative to the remainder of the flap to form a smaller aperture for accessing the collector.
12. 12. The collector of any of the previous claims wherein the flap is hinged about the collector.
13. 13. The collector of any of the previous claims wherein the flap comprises a detachable securing means for securing the flap to the collector.
14. 14. A mid-mounted mower comprising the collector of any of the previous claims.