초록
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Several systems that create a floating cutting deck for a riding lawn mower are described. The first system is a bar assembly, with a moveable stop, that attaches to and covers the teeth of a lift handle assembly of a conventional riding lawn mower. The second system is a new design for a riding lawn mower that uses a moveable stop (instead of a plurality of teeth) in the lift handle assembly. In both systems, the lift handle is able to move away from the stop (and thereby allow the cutting deck to rise relative to the main frame) when the terrain under ...
Several systems that create a floating cutting deck for a riding lawn mower are described. The first system is a bar assembly, with a moveable stop, that attaches to and covers the teeth of a lift handle assembly of a conventional riding lawn mower. The second system is a new design for a riding lawn mower that uses a moveable stop (instead of a plurality of teeth) in the lift handle assembly. In both systems, the lift handle is able to move away from the stop (and thereby allow the cutting deck to rise relative to the main frame) when the terrain under the cutting deck is higher than the terrain under the lawn mower's main wheels.
대표
청구항
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1. A riding lawn mower comprising: i) a main frame;ii) a plurality of main wheels connected to the main frame;iii) a cutting deck comprising at least one blade connected to the main frame;iv) a motor configured to turn the at least one blade and at least one of the main wheels;v) a lift handle assembly comprising a lift handle connected to the cutting deck, a handle slot located in the main frame and comprising a slot proximal end, a slot distal end, a moveable stop located immediately proximal to the handle, and a slot length extending from the slot pro...
1. A riding lawn mower comprising: i) a main frame;ii) a plurality of main wheels connected to the main frame;iii) a cutting deck comprising at least one blade connected to the main frame;iv) a motor configured to turn the at least one blade and at least one of the main wheels;v) a lift handle assembly comprising a lift handle connected to the cutting deck, a handle slot located in the main frame and comprising a slot proximal end, a slot distal end, a moveable stop located immediately proximal to the handle, and a slot length extending from the slot proximal end to the slot distal end, the lift handle located in the slot and extending above the slot and configured to freely glide along the slide length distal to the stop, the stop configured to prevent the handle from moving proximal to the stop, wherein, when the terrain located under the cutting deck is higher than the terrain under the main wheels, the lift handle is configured to glide distally from the stop and cause the cutting deck to rise relative to the frame. 2. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the riding mower comprises a seat connected to the main frame and configured to carry a human passenger. 3. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the riding mower comprises a steering wheel connected to the main frame and configured to steer the riding lawn mower. 4. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the cutting deck comprises a plurality of cutting deck wheels. 5. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the cutting deck comprises a roller. 6. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the stop is a moveable bar. 7. The riding lawn mower of claim 1 further comprising an adjustment assembly comprising an adjustment slot adjacent to the handle slot and located in the main frame and an adjustment knob connected to the stop, the adjustment slot having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the adjustment knob slideable directly above the adjustment slot and configured to move the stop. 8. The riding lawn mower of claim 7, wherein the adjustment assembly further comprises a track directly below the adjustment slot, the track having a proximal end, a distal end, and a track length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, an upper arm located in the track, the upper arm comprising an aperture and configured to slide along the track length, a lower arm directly below the track and comprising an aperture, the stop extending from the lower arm, a threaded rod passing through upper arm and the lower arm apertures, wherein adjustment of the knob is configured to cause the lower arm to move upwardly towards the track and the upper arm and frictionally lock the upper arm at a position along the track length. 9. The riding lawn mower of claim 7 further comprising a lower slot located directly below the adjustment slot, the lower slot having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a threaded rod extending from the knob, the threaded rod having an upper end connected to the knob and a lower end, a first arm comprising an aperture, a second arm comprising an aperture, the threaded rod passing through the apertures, the first arm and the second arm configured to slide along the main frame, wherein adjustment of the knob is configured to cause the first arm and second arm to move toward each other and frictionally lock the firm arm and the second arm at a position along the lower slot length. 10. The riding lawn mower of claim 7, wherein the adjustment slot length is generally parallel to the handle slot length. 11. A riding lawn mower comprising: i) a main frame;ii) a plurality of main wheels connected to the main frame;iii) a cutting deck comprising at least one blade connected to the main frame;iv) a motor configured to turn the at least one blade and at least some of the main wheels;v) a lift handle assembly comprising a lift handle connected to the cutting deck, a handle slot located in the main frame and comprising a slot proximal end, a slot distal end, a slot length extending from the slot proximal end to the slot distal end, and a bar extending from the lift handle, the lift handle located in the slot and extending above the slot; andvi) an adjustment assembly comprising an adjustment slot adjacent to the handle slot and located in the main frame, a stop and an adjustment knob connected to the stop, the adjustment slot having a proximal end, a distal end, and a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the adjustment knob slideable along the adjustment slot length and configured to move the stop along the adjustment slot length; wherein the stop is configured to releasably engage the handle bar and prevent the handle bar from moving proximal to the stop, and wherein, when the terrain located under the cutting deck is higher than the terrain under the main wheels, the lift handle is configured to glide distally from the stop and cause the cutting deck to rise relative to the frame. 12. The riding lawn mower of claim 11, wherein the bar extends from the lift handle at an angle of between about 85 and about 95 degrees relative to the lift handle. 13. The riding lawn mower of claim 11, wherein the bar extends from the lift handle below the handle slot. 14. A method of retrofitting a riding lawn mower to allow a cutting deck to float relative to a main frame, the method comprising: a) providing a riding lawn mower comprising: i) a main frame;ii) a plurality of main wheels connected to the main frame;iii) a cutting deck comprising at least one blade connected to the main frame;iv) a motor configured to turn the at least one blade and at least one of the main wheels;v) a lift handle assembly comprising a lift handle connected to the cutting deck, a slot located in the main frame and comprising a slot proximal end, a slot distal end, and a slot length extending from the slot proximal end to the slot distal end, and a plurality of teeth adjacent to the slot, the lift handle extending above the slot and configured to move from a first tooth to a second tooth distal to the first tooth, wherein the movement of the lift handle from the first tooth to the second tooth is configured to cause the cutting deck to rise relative to the frame;b) providing a bar assembly comprising a first bar, the first bar having a proximal end, a distal end, a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a handle side configured to face the lift handle, a second side opposite to the handle side, a width extending from the handle side to the second side, and a stop extending laterally from the handle side; andc) attaching the bar assembly to the main frame of the riding lawn mower so that the bar assembly at least partially covers at least one tooth, so that the lift handle is able to freely glide along the handle side distal to the stop, and so that the stop prevents the handle from moving proximal to the stop. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the riding mower comprises a seat connected to the main frame and configured to carry a human passenger. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the riding mower comprises a steering wheel connected to the main frame and configured to steer at least one of the plurality of wheels. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein, after step c, the method further comprises d) moving the lift handle along the bar length distal to the stop. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the moving of the lift handle along the handle side distal to the stop causes the cutting deck to rise relative to the main frame. 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises: d) moving the lawn mower over uneven terrain so that the terrain under the cutting deck is higher than the terrain under the main wheels; e) allowing the handle to move along the handle side distally from the stop; and f) allowing the cutting deck to rise relative to the main frame. 20. The method of claim 14, wherein the bar assembly further comprises a second bar, the second bar having a proximal end, a distal end, a length extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a handle side configured to face the lift handle, a second side opposite to the handle side, a width extending from the handle side to the second side, the first bar spaced a distance from the second bar, and further wherein step c) comprises bracketing the teeth with the first bar and the second bar.
