Blade coupler assembly for use with a self-propelled, walk-behind rotary lawn mower
First Claim
1. A blade/belt driver assembly operable to couple a cutting blade and a drive belt to a lawn mower engine drive shaft, the blade/belt driver assembly comprising:
- a tube having a first bore defined by a first diameter, the first bore spanning between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the tube;
a pulley fixed to the tube such that at least a portion of the pulley abuts the first longitudinal end of the tube, the pulley having a second bore defined by a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter; and
a blade receiver fixed to the tube such that the blade receiver abuts the second longitudinal end of the tube, the blade receiver having a third bore defined by a third diameter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A blade coupler assembly operable to couple a cutting blade and a drive belt to a lawn mower engine crankshaft is provided. The blade coupler assembly may include a blade/belt driver assembly having a tube portion with a first bore defined by a first diameter, wherein the first bore spans between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the tube portion. A pulley portion may also be provided and fixed to the tube portion such that at least a portion of the pulley portion abuts the first longitudinal end of the tube portion. The pulley portion preferably includes a second bore defined by a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter. A blade receiver portion may also be included and is preferably fixed to the tube portion such that the blade receiver portion abuts the second longitudinal end of the tube portion.
7 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A blade/belt driver assembly operable to couple a cutting blade and a drive belt to a lawn mower engine drive shaft, the blade/belt driver assembly comprising:
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a tube having a first bore defined by a first diameter, the first bore spanning between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the tube;
a pulley fixed to the tube such that at least a portion of the pulley abuts the first longitudinal end of the tube, the pulley having a second bore defined by a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter; and
a blade receiver fixed to the tube such that the blade receiver abuts the second longitudinal end of the tube, the blade receiver having a third bore defined by a third diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A blade/belt driver assembly operable to connect a cutting blade and a drive belt to a lawn mower engine crankshaft, the blade/belt driver assembly comprising:
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a tube portion having a first bore defined by a first diameter, the first bore extending from a first longitudinal end to a second longitudinal end of the tube portion;
a pulley portion operable to deliver driving power to one or more drive wheels, the pulley portion having a second bore defined by a second diameter where the second diameter is less than the first diameter, and wherein the pulley portion is rigidly fixed to the tube portion such that the pulley portion abuts the first longitudinal end of the tube portion; and
a blade receiver portion operable to receive the cutting blade in an abutting relationship, the blade receiver portion rigidly fixed to the tube portion such that the blade receiver portion abuts the second longitudinal end of the tube portion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for attaching a cutting blade and a drive belt to a lawn mower engine crankshaft, the method comprising:
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sliding a blade/belt driver assembly over a first end of the engine crankshaft, the blade/belt driver assembly comprising;
a tube having a first bore defined by a first diameter, the first bore spanning between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the tube;
a pulley fixed to the tube such that at least a portion of the pulley abuts the first longitudinal end of the tube, the pulley having a second bore defined by a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter; and
a blade receiver fixed to the tube such that the blade receiver abuts the second longitudinal end of the tube, the blade receiver having a third bore defined by a third diameter, the third bore having a centerline which is substantially coaxial with a centerline of the second bore;
positioning a first side of the cutting blade in an abutting relationship with the blade receiver;
passing a fastener through an opening in the cutting blade and through the third bore; and
threading the fastener into a threaded hole located in the first end of the engine crankshaft. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A lawn mower comprising:
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a mower deck supported by a plurality of ground engaging wheels, the mower deck defining a cutting chamber;
a prime mover coupled to a first side of the mower deck, the prime mover having a crankshaft extending through the mower deck and terminating at a first end within the cutting chamber; and
a blade/belt driver assembly operable for interconnecting a cutting blade and a drive belt to the crankshaft, the blade/belt driver assembly comprising;
a tube having a first bore defined by a first diameter, the first bore spanning between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the tube;
a pulley welded to the tube such that at least a portion of the pulley abuts the first longitudinal end of the tube, the pulley having a second bore defined by a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter, and wherein the first bore and the second bore are operable to receive the first end of the crankshaft; and
a blade receiver welded to the tube such that the blade receiver abuts the second longitudinal end of the tube, the blade receiver having a third bore defined by a third diameter. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A blade/belt driver assembly operable for interconnecting a cutting blade and a drive belt to a lawn mower engine crankshaft, the blade/belt driver assembly comprising:
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a tube having a first bore defined by a first diameter, the first bore spanning between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the tube;
a pulley welded to the tube such that at least a portion of the pulley abuts the first longitudinal end of the tube, the pulley having a second bore defined by a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter and further wherein the first bore and the second bore are operable to slide over a first end of the crankshaft; and
a blade receiver welded to the tube such that the blade receiver abuts the second longitudinal end of the tube, the blade receiver having a third bore defined by a third diameter, the third bore having a centerline which is substantially coaxial with a centerline of the second bore. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A blade coupler assembly operable to interconnect a cutting blade and a drive belt to an engine crankshaft of a self-propelled lawn mower, the blade coupler assembly comprising:
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a blade/belt driver assembly comprising;
a tube having a first bore defined by a first diameter, the first bore spanning between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end of the tube;
a pulley fixed to the tube such that at least a portion of the pulley abuts the first longitudinal end of the tube, the pulley having a second bore defined by a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter and further wherein the first bore and the second bore are operable to slide over a first end of the engine crankshaft; and
a blade receiver fixed to the tube such that the blade receiver abuts the second longitudinal end of the tube, the blade receiver having a third bore defined by a third diameter, wherein a portion of the blade receiver is operable to abut a first side of the cutting blade; and
a fastener operable to secure the cutting blade and the blade/belt driver assembly to the first end of the engine crankshaft. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification