Lawn sweeper assembly with tilt-able hopper and latch assembly and method of use thereof
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
E01H-001/02
E01H-001/04
출원번호
US-0759200
(2013-02-05)
등록번호
US-8549689
(2013-10-08)
발명자
/ 주소
Johnson, John
Hickenbottom, Ronald
출원인 / 주소
Agri-Fab, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Vedder Price P.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
41
초록▼
The present disclosure relates to a lawn sweeper designed to collect debris, such as grass clippings and leaves, from a surface such as a lawn, and more particularly to a lawn sweeper with a tilt-able hopper frame and hopper bag that includes a handle such that an operator may tilt the hopper frame
The present disclosure relates to a lawn sweeper designed to collect debris, such as grass clippings and leaves, from a surface such as a lawn, and more particularly to a lawn sweeper with a tilt-able hopper frame and hopper bag that includes a handle such that an operator may tilt the hopper frame and hopper bag, using the handle, to empty the hopper bag contents. The hopper bag and hopper frame are connected to a lawn sweeper unit using a hopper rod which is inserted into two slots at the ends of two hopper support bars and secured within the slots by two corresponding latch plates, one latch plate at each end of the two hopper support bars. The latching mechanism allows the hopper frame and hopper bag to be easily removed from the lawn sweeper unit for storage.
대표청구항▼
1. A lawn sweeper assembly comprising: a lawn sweeper unit including a housing having left and right hopper support bars each having a first end pivotally connected to the housing, wherein each of said hopper support bars extend from said housing to a second end to define a support width therebetwee
1. A lawn sweeper assembly comprising: a lawn sweeper unit including a housing having left and right hopper support bars each having a first end pivotally connected to the housing, wherein each of said hopper support bars extend from said housing to a second end to define a support width therebetween,a hopper bag assembly including a bag connected to a frame, cooperatively defining an open topped volume, said frame having a rod connected at each side frame member and defining a hopper width between said side frame members, wherein said hopper width is greater than said support width, such that when each said rod is pivotally connected at said second end of each hopper support bar a rotation axis is defined and each of the hopper support bars are disposed within the hopper width; anda handle, pivotably connected at a top frame member of said hopper frame, and having a grip end extending from said top frame member toward the lawn sweeper unit, such that a force applied to said grip end toward the housing rotates said hopper bag assembly about said rotation axis toward the housing to empty said hopper bag. 2. The lawn sweeper assembly of claim 1, wherein the support width is defined when the hopper support bars are disposed in an operative orientation. 3. The lawn sweeper assembly of claim 1, wherein the hopper support bars extend inwardly toward one another when disposed in a storage orientation. 4. The lawn sweeper assembly of claim 1, wherein said left hopper support bar includes a corresponding spring loaded left latch plate and said right hopper support bar includes a corresponding spring loaded right latch plate, the left and right latch plates positioned at said second end of said left and right hopper support bars, said latch plates each having a longitudinally extending slot to receive said rod through a laterally extending gap connected to the slot when said gap is aligned in registration with a rod slot defined at the second end of each hopper support bar and said latch plate is disposed in an unlatched position and a longitudinally extending rod stop to prevent removal of said rod from said rod slot when said latch plate is disposed in a latched position. 5. The lawn sweeper assembly of claim 4, wherein said left and right latch plates are identical and wherein each latch plate further comprises a spring seating cutout having an upper tongue and a lower tongue, said spring being a compression coil spring positioned on said upper tongue and said lower tongue. 6. The lawn sweeper assembly of claim 4, wherein each said hopper support bar includes a first latch plate slot and a second latch plate slot, wherein said corresponding spring loaded latch plate is inserted into said first and second latch plate slots, and wherein said spring loaded latch plate secures said rod in said rod slot of said support bar, between said first and second latch plate slots, when said latch plate is in said latched position. 7. The lawn sweeper assembly of claim 6, wherein said left and right hopper support bars are channels having at least a first and second planar surface, said first planar surface having said first latch plate slot cut there-through and said second surface having said second latch plate slot cut there-through, wherein said corresponding spring loaded latch plate passes through said first planar surface via said first latch plate slot, and passes through said second planar surface via said second latch plate slot. 8. The lawn sweeper assembly of claim 6, wherein for said left and right latch plates, said gaps of said latch plates are aligned with said rod slots at said second end of each said latch plate's corresponding hopper support bar, when said latch plates are pulled upwardly, such that said rod stops are not blocking said rod slots and such that said rod can be inserted or removed from said rod slots of said corresponding hopper support bars. 9. The lawn sweeper assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is selectively connected to said rod, such that upon application of the force the handle is disconnected from the rod.
Burns Stephen R. (Duluth GA) Boesch Timothy J. (Roswell GA) Rao Matthew D. (Alpharetta GA) Cook Stuart A. (Norcross GA) Curtis Jack M. (Santa Fe TN) Boone Jack M. (Brentwood TN), Grass collecting/utility cart for riding lawn mower.
Fava Nedo (Gonzaga ITX) Ferrari Claudio (Gonzaga ITX), Machine for cutting grass and the like with front action and central storage container between the front and rear wheels.
Berfield Robert C. (Jersey Shore PA) Crevling ; Jr. R. Lent (Williamsport PA) Meland Ronald F. (Muncy PA) Fegan Richard M. (Cogan Station PA), Rotary brush sweeper with mechanism for brush height adjustment.
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