Mower
First Claim
1. A lawn mower, comprising:
- at least two wheels for driving the mower;
at least one blade for cutting grass;
a generator for generating electricity;
an electric motor electrically coupled to the generator for receiving the generated electricity, the electric motor coupled to the at least two wheels for driving the at least two wheels and/or the at least one blade for driving the at least one blade;
a charging circuit electrically coupled to the generator for receiving the generated electricity; and
at least one receptacle for receiving a removable battery pack, the receptacle including an electrical interface for electrically coupling the receptacle to the charging circuit to provide a charging current from the charging circuit to the receptacle and a mechanical interface for receiving and physically coupling the battery pack to the receptacle, wherein the electrical interface and the mechanical interface are substantially similar to an electrical interface and a mechanical interface of a cordless power tool such that the battery pack may electrically and mechanically couple to the mower electrical and mechanical interfaces to receive a charging current from the charging circuit and to the power tool electrical and mechanical interface to provide a discharging current to the power tool to operate the power tool.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a lawn mower and more particularly to a system and method of charging a variety of batteries of the lawn mower including connecting the lawn mower to a towing vehicle, either directly or by placing the lawn mower on a trailer, towing the lawn mower, generating electricity upon towing the lawn mower utilizing a generator mechanically coupled to the lawn mower wheels or the wheels of the trailer. The generator converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. The generator is electrically coupled to first type of battery and a second type of battery that is connected to the lawn mower and/or a first type of battery and a second type of battery that is connected to a charging station on the trailer. The system also includes a charging circuit for each of the first type of battery and the second type of battery.
49 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A lawn mower, comprising:
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at least two wheels for driving the mower; at least one blade for cutting grass; a generator for generating electricity; an electric motor electrically coupled to the generator for receiving the generated electricity, the electric motor coupled to the at least two wheels for driving the at least two wheels and/or the at least one blade for driving the at least one blade; a charging circuit electrically coupled to the generator for receiving the generated electricity; and at least one receptacle for receiving a removable battery pack, the receptacle including an electrical interface for electrically coupling the receptacle to the charging circuit to provide a charging current from the charging circuit to the receptacle and a mechanical interface for receiving and physically coupling the battery pack to the receptacle, wherein the electrical interface and the mechanical interface are substantially similar to an electrical interface and a mechanical interface of a cordless power tool such that the battery pack may electrically and mechanically couple to the mower electrical and mechanical interfaces to receive a charging current from the charging circuit and to the power tool electrical and mechanical interface to provide a discharging current to the power tool to operate the power tool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A lawn mower comprising:
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at least two wheels for driving the mower; at least one blade for cutting grass; a generator mechanically coupled to at least one of the at least two wheels, wherein the generator converts mechanical energy generated by the at least one of the at least two wheels into electrical energy as the at least two wheels rotate when the mower is being pulled on a road; a first charging circuit electrically coupled (a) to the generator for receiving electricity and (b) to a first battery for providing a charging current to the first battery; a second battery; and a second charging circuit electrically coupled (a) to the generator for receiving electricity and (b) to the second battery for providing a charging current to the second battery. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A lawn mower, comprising:
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at least two wheels for driving the mower; at least one blade for cutting grass; an electric motor electrically coupled to the at least two wheels for driving the at least two wheels and/or the at least one blade for driving the at least one blade when the motor is turning in a first direction and for generating electricity when the motor is turning in a second direction opposite the first direction; a charging circuit electrically coupled to the electric motor for receiving the generated electricity; at least one receptacle for receiving a removable battery pack, the receptacle including an electrical interface for electrically coupling the receptacle to the charging circuit to provide a charging current from the charging circuit to the receptacle and a mechanical interface for receiving and physically coupling the battery pack to the receptacle, wherein the electrical interface and the mechanical interface are substantially similar to an electrical interface and a mechanical interface of a cordless power tool such that the battery pack may electrically and mechanically couple to the mower electrical and mechanical interfaces to receive a charging current from the charging circuit and to the power tool electrical and mechanical interface to provide a discharging current to the power tool to operate the power tool.
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Specification