초록

The present invention relates to an apparatus removably attachable to a rotary lawn mower for collecting grass, leaves, and debris in a disposable collection bag, such as a plastic garbage bag.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus removably attachable to a rotary lawn mower for collecting grass, leaves, and other debris in a disposable collection bag, comprising:a housing with a top, bottom, left side, right side, an open front side and an open rear side that will allow air, grass, leaves and other materials t

1. An apparatus removably attachable to a rotary lawn mower for collecting grass, leaves, and other debris in a disposable collection bag, comprising:a housing with a top, bottom, left side, right side, an open front side and an open rear side that will allow air, grass, leaves and other materials to flow through the housing from front to rear;a means for attaching the housing to a rotary lawn mower at a grass discharge chute of the rotary lawn mower;an upper shield rigidly attached to the top of the housing and extending rearward and downward from the top of the housing;a lower shield rigidly attached to the bottom of the housing and extending rearward from the bottom of the housing;a bag support and exhaust vent that is movably attached to the top of the housing whereby the bag support and exhaust vent comprises:a top, a bottom, a front, and a rear;a rigid hollow chamber that extends rearward from the front of the bag support and exhaust vent;a means for movably attaching the bottom of the bag support and exhaust vent to the top of the housing so that the rear of the bag support and exhaust vent may be lowered toward the ground for ease in removing the disposable collection bag once the disposable collection bag is filled;a means for locking the bag support and exhaust vent to the top of the housing;a vent opening at the front of the bag support and exhaust vent;a means for redirecting air flow from the vent opening away from the rotary lawn mower;a plurality of small openings on the bottom of the bag support and exhaust vent that allow air to flow from the housing into the hollow chamber in the bag support and exhaust vent and out the vent opening;a means for attaching the disposable collection bag over the rear of the bag support and exhaust vent, over the rear opening of the housing, and over the lower shield and upper shield of the housing. 2. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for attaching the housing to the rotary lawn mower comprise a plurality of mounting hooks. 3. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for attaching the disposable collection bag comprises:an upper hook that is rigidly attached to the top of the bag support and exhaust vent;a lower hook that is rigidly attached to the bottom of the housing;an upper elastic cord that is removably attached at the left side and the right side of the housing, said elastic cord extendable over the top of the housing and the front and top of the bag support and exhaust vent;a lower elastic cord removably attached to the left side and right side of the housing and extendable down the left side and the right side of the housing and under the bottom of the housing;a plurality of lower elastic cord ridges that extend along the left side and the right side of the housing; anda plurality of upper elastic cord ridges that extend along the left side and the right side of the bag support and exhaust vent. 4. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein the bottom of the housing is curvingly ramped upward from the front opening of the housing toward the rear opening of the housing. 5. The invention as set forth in claim 3, wherein the upper hook also serves as a handle for carrying the apparatus. 6. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for movably attaching the bag support and exhaust vent to the top of the housing is a hinge attached to bottom of the bag support and exhaust vent and the top of the housing. 7. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for locking the bag support and exhaust vent to the top of the housing is a latch bottom and front of the bag support and exhaust vent. 8. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for redirecting air flow from the vent opening away from the rotary lawn mower comprise two rigid members located at the vent opening where one of the rigid members is angled to the left side of the bag support and exhaust vent and the other rigid member is angled to the rig ht side of the bag support and exhaust vent. 9. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bag support and exhaust vent and the housing are constructed from a plastic composite material. 10. The invention as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lower shield serves to prevent the collection bag from floating upward during operation of the rotary lawn mower.