Mower suspension system and method
First Claim
1. A mower comprising:
- a frame, the frame comprising a front side and a pair of opposite sides, wherein the front side comprises a front structural member and the pair of opposite sides each comprise a side structural member;
a first front wheel assembly;
a second front wheel assembly;
a first suspension arm pair, the first suspension arm pair comprising;
a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, wherein the first suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the first wheel front assembly, and further wherein the second suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the first front wheel assembly such that the second suspension arm is vertically offset from the first suspension arm;
a second suspension arm pair, the second suspension arm pair comprising;
a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, wherein the third suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the second front wheel assembly, and further wherein the fourth suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the second front wheel assembly such that the fourth suspension arm is vertically offset from the third suspension arm;
a first side suspension arm, the first side suspension arm pivotably coupled at one end to the first front wheel assembly and at another, opposite end to one of the side structural members; and
a second side suspension arm, the second side suspension arm pivotably coupled at one end to the second front wheel assembly and at another, opposite end to the other of the side structural members.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for independent suspension for a mower, including a frame having a front structural member and respective side structural members, a first front wheel assembly, and a second front wheel assembly. The system also includes a first suspension arm pair having a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, each pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another end to the first wheel front assembly such that the second suspension arm is vertically offset from the first suspension arm. The system also includes a second suspension arm pair having a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, each pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another end to the second front wheel assembly such that the fourth suspension arm is vertically offset from the third suspension arm.
108 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mower comprising:
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a frame, the frame comprising a front side and a pair of opposite sides, wherein the front side comprises a front structural member and the pair of opposite sides each comprise a side structural member; a first front wheel assembly; a second front wheel assembly; a first suspension arm pair, the first suspension arm pair comprising; a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, wherein the first suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the first wheel front assembly, and further wherein the second suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the first front wheel assembly such that the second suspension arm is vertically offset from the first suspension arm; a second suspension arm pair, the second suspension arm pair comprising; a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, wherein the third suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the second front wheel assembly, and further wherein the fourth suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the second front wheel assembly such that the fourth suspension arm is vertically offset from the third suspension arm; a first side suspension arm, the first side suspension arm pivotably coupled at one end to the first front wheel assembly and at another, opposite end to one of the side structural members; and a second side suspension arm, the second side suspension arm pivotably coupled at one end to the second front wheel assembly and at another, opposite end to the other of the side structural members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An independent suspension system for outdoor power equipment, the independent suspension system comprising:
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a frame, wherein the frame comprises an end structural member and a pair of side structural members, each of the side structural members being located on opposite respective sides of the end structural member; a first wheel assembly; a second wheel assembly; a first suspension arm pair, the first suspension arm pair comprising; a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, wherein the first suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the end structural member and at another, opposite end to the first wheel assembly, and wherein the second suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the end structural member and at another, opposite end to the first wheel assembly such that the second suspension arm is vertically offset from the first suspension arm; a second suspension arm pair, the second suspension arm pair comprising; a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, wherein the third suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the end structural member and at another, opposite end to the second wheel assembly, and wherein the fourth suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the end structural member and at another, opposite end to the second wheel assembly such that the fourth suspension arm is vertically offset from the third suspension arm; a first side suspension arm, the first side suspension arm pivotably coupled at one end to the first wheel assembly and at another, opposite end to a first one of the pair of side structural members; a second side suspension arm, the second side suspension arm pivotably coupled at one end to the second wheel assembly and at another, opposite end to a second one of the pair of side structural members; a first shock absorber assembly configured to absorb shock transmitted from the first wheel assembly; and a second shock absorber assembly configured to absorb shock transmitted from the second wheel assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of assembling a mower, the method comprising:
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providing a frame having a front structural member, a first side structural member, and a second side structural member opposite the first side structural member; providing a first front wheel assembly and positioning the first front wheel assembly proximate to the front structural member and the first side structural member; providing a second front wheel assembly and positioning the second front wheel assembly proximate to the front structural member and the second side structural member; pivotably coupling the first front wheel assembly to the front structural member with a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, wherein the second suspension arm is vertically offset from the first suspension arm; pivotably coupling the second front wheel assembly to the front structural member with a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, wherein the fourth suspension arm is vertically offset from the third suspension arm; pivotably coupling the first front wheel assembly to the first side structural member with a first side suspension arm; pivotably coupling the second front wheel assembly to the second side structural member with a second side suspension arm; providing a first shock absorber assembly, the first shock absorber assembly being configured to absorb shock transmitted from the first front wheel assembly; and providing a second shock absorber assembly, the second suspension mechanism being configured to absorb shock transmitted from the second front wheel assembly. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification