Mower deck bumper

• US 20040182063A1
• Filed: 03/15/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jrco, Inc. (Great Northern Equipment Distributing, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mower Deck Bumper
• Inventors: Myers, James W., Doring, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,955,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/320.1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/82 Other details

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bumper for use with a mower deck. The bumper may include an elongate strip of material having first and second ends and a bend section extending between the first and second ends. The bumper is configured so that at least the first end of the bumper is capable of being secured to a mower deck with the bend section positioned over at least a portion of a trim surface of the mower deck. The bend section of the bumper is capable of absorbing forces when brought into contact with an object that would otherwise contact the trim surface.

Claims

1. A mower deck bumper comprising first and second ends and a bend section between the first and second ends, the mower deck bumper being configured for mounting to a mower deck so as to position the bend section over at least a portion of trim surface of the mower deck, the mower deck bumper being configured to absorb forces when brought into contact with an object that would otherwise contact the trim surface.

2. The mower deck bumper of claim 1, further comprising at least one aperture formed in the first end that is sized to receive a fastener for securing the mower deck bumper to the mower deck.

3. The mower deck bumper of claim 1, wherein the first and second ends are configured for mounting the mower deck bumper to the mower deck.

4. The mower deck bumper of claim 1, wherein the mower deck bumper comprises an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) material.

5. A method of protecting an exposed surface of a mower deck with a mower deck bumper, the method comprising the steps of:

forming the mower deck bumper with a bend section between first and second ends of the mower deck bumper; and

securing at least one end of the mower deck bumper to the mower deck so as to position the bend section adjacent to a trim surface of the mower deck, whereby the bend section is configured and arranged to engage objects in close proximity to the trim surface that would otherwise contact the trim surface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the securing step includes securing the first and second ends of the mower deck bumper to the mower deck.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the forming step includes pre-forming the bend section using a drape molding process.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the forming step includes forming the mower deck bumper from an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) material.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the forming step includes forming a curved contact surface at the second end of the mower deck bumper, and the securing step includes securing the first end to the mower deck so as to contact the curved surface with the trim surface of the mower deck.

10. A mower assembly, comprising:

a mower deck having a trim surface; and

a mower deck bumper having first and second ends and a bend section, the mower deck bumper being coupled to the mower deck with the bend section covering at least a portion of the trim surface;

wherein the mower deck bumper is configured and arranged to engage objects in close proximity to the mower deck that would otherwise contact the trim surface.

11. The mower assembly of claim 10, wherein the bend section is spaced apart laterally from the trim surface.

12. The mower assembly of claim 10, wherein the trim surface is oriented substantially vertically and the mower deck bumper is aligned substantially parallel to the trim surface.

13. The mower assembly of claim 10, wherein the mower deck includes a side edge defining an outer most side of the mower, and the mower deck bumper is coupled to the side edge.

14. The mower assembly of claim 10, wherein the first end of the mower deck bumper is coupled to the mower deck.

15. The mower assembly of claim 10, wherein the first and second ends of the mower deck bumper are coupled to the mower deck.

16. The mower assembly of claim 10, wherein the bend section is resilient.

17. A mower deck bumper kit, comprising:

a package;

a mower deck bumper positioned within the package, the mower deck bumper having a flexible bend section and being configured to mount to a mower deck to cover at least a portion of a trim surface of a mower deck;

a fastener positioned within the package and configured to secure the mower deck bumper to the mower deck.

18. A bumper member suited for use with a motorized lawn care vehicle, the bumper member comprising first and second ends and a bend section oriented between the first and second ends, the bumper member being adapted and configured for mounting to the vehicle so as to position the bend section over an exposed surface of the vehicle, the bumper member being configured to absorb forces when brought into contact with an object that would otherwise contact the exposed surface.