Universal mower blade

• US 20050229573A1
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Original Assignee: Murray, Inc. (Briggs & Stratton Corporation)
• Inventors: Curran, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,877 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/255
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/73 Cutting apparatus

Abstract

A mower blade includes a mid-section, two sharpened, end sections, and a blade longitudinal axis. The mid-section includes a circular, central hole having a relatively large diameter and being centered on the blade longitudinal axis and first and second slots centered on the blade longitudinal axis. Each of the first and second slots are positioned on opposite sides of the central hole. The mid-section also includes first and second circular, side holes positioned off the blade longitudinal axis and on opposite sides of the central hole. Each of the first and second side holes have a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the central hole. The diameter of the central hole is larger than the width of each of the first and second slots.

Claims

1. A mower blade, comprising:

a mid-section;

two sharpened, end sections on opposite sides of said mid-section; and

a blade longitudinal axis extending through said mid-section and said end sections,

said mid-section including a circular, central hole having a relatively large diameter and being centered on said blade longitudinal axis, and first and second slots centered on said blade longitudinal axis, each of said first and second slots being positioned on opposite sides of said central hole, each of said first and second slots extending along said blade longitudinal axis and having a width that is transverse to said blade longitudinal axis and that is established at a maximum extent of said width by a pair of opposite, substantially parallel sides that are substantially parallel to said blade longitudinal axis,

said mid-section also including first and second circular, side holes positioned off said blade longitudinal axis and on opposite sides of said central hole, each of said first and second side holes and said central hole being centered on a common axis that is transverse to said blade longitudinal axis,

each of said first and second side holes having a diameter that is smaller than said diameter of said central hole,

said diameter of said central hole being larger than said width of each of said first and second slots.

2. A mower blade according to claim 1, wherein said end sections include respective outer segments and inner segments, said outer segments of said end sections are twisted in opposite directions with respect to one another about said blade longitudinal axis, and said inner segments of said end sections are twisted in opposite directions with respect to one another about said blade longitudinal axis.

3. A mower blade assembly, comprising:

an adapter attached to a lawnmower, said adapter having a central protrusion protruding from a bottom side of said adapter, said central protrusion having a plurality of teeth projecting from an outer circumference of said central protrusion; and

a mower blade positioned on said adapter, said mower blade having a mid-section, two sharpened, end sections on opposite sides of said mid-section, and a blade longitudinal axis extending through said mid-section and said end sections,

said mid-section including a circular, central hole having a relatively large diameter and being centered on said blade longitudinal axis, and first and second slots centered on said blade longitudinal axis, each of said first and second slots being positioned on opposite sides of said central hole, each of said first and second slots extending along said blade longitudinal axis and having a width that is transverse to said blade longitudinal axis and that is established at a maximum extent of said width by a pair of opposite, substantially, parallel sides that are substantially parallel to said blade longitudinal axis,

said mid-section also including first and second circular, side holes positioned off said blade longitudinal axis and on opposite sides of said central hole, each of said first and second side holes and said central hole being centered on a common axis that is transverse to said blade longitudinal axis,

each of said first and second side holes having a diameter that is smaller than said diameter of said central hole,

said central hole having a substantially circular circumference forming an opening extending completely through said mid-section, and said diameter of said central hole being larger than said width of each of said first and second slots,

said central protrusion including said plurality of teeth having an outermost diameter that is smaller than said diameter of said central hole, and said central protrusion, including said plurality of teeth being positioned completely within said central hole.

4. A mower blade assembly according to claim 3, wherein said end sections include respective outer segments and inner segments, said outer segments of said end sections are twisted in opposite directions with respect to one another about said blade longitudinal axis, and said inner segments of said end sections are twisted in opposite directions with respect to one another about said blade longitudinal axis.

5. A mower blade assembly according to claim 3, wherein said adaptor also includes first and second extensions on opposite sides of said central protrusion and projecting from said bottom side of said adapter, and said first and second extensions being positioned completely within respective first and second circular, side holes in said mower blade.

6. A mower blade assembly according to claim 3, wherein said central protrusion has four teeth.

7. A mower blade assembly according to claim 3, further comprising:

a blade mounting device that secures said mower blade on said adaptor.

8. A mower blade assembly according to claim 7, wherein said blade mounting device includes a blade support and a fastener.

9. A mower blade assembly according to claim 8, wherein said blade support has a pair of extensions that are positioned within said first and second circular, side holes.

10. A mower blade assembly according to claim 7, further comprising:

a washer positioned between said blade mounting device and said mower blade.

11. A mower blade assembly, comprising:

an adapter attached to a lawnmower, said adapter having a central protrusion protruding from a bottom side of said adapter; and

a mower blade positioned on said adapter, said mower blade having a mid-section, two sharpened, end sections on opposite sides of said mid-section, and a blade longitudinal axis extending through said mid-section and said end sections,

said mid-section including a circular, central hole having a relatively large diameter and being centered on said blade longitudinal axis, and first and second slots centered on said blade longitudinal axis, each of said first and second slots being positioned on opposite sides of said central hole, each of said first and second slots extending along said blade longitudinal axis and having a width that is transverse to said blade longitudinal axis and that is established at a maximum extent of said width by a pair of opposite, substantially, parallel sides that are substantially parallel to said blade longitudinal axis,

said mid-section also including first and second circular, side holes positioned off said blade longitudinal axis and on opposite sides of said central hole, each of said first and second side holes and said central hole being centered on a common axis that is transverse to said blade longitudinal axis,

each of said first and second side holes having a diameter that is smaller than said diameter of said central hole,

said central hole having a substantially circular circumference forming an opening extending completely through said mid-section, and said diameter of said central hole being larger than said width of each of said first and second slots,

said central protrusion having an outermost diameter that is smaller than said diameter of said central hole, and said central protrusion being positioned completely within said central hole.

12. A mower blade assembly according to claim 11, wherein said adapter also has first and second side pins on opposite sides of said central protrusion protruding from said bottom side of said adaptor, and said first and second side pins being positioned completely within respective first and second slots of said mower blade.

13. A mower blade assembly according to claim 11, wherein said end sections include respective outer segments and inner segments, said outer segments of said end sections are twisted in opposite directions with respect to one another about said blade longitudinal axis, and said inner segments of said end sections are twisted in opposite directions with respect to one another about said blade longitudinal axis.

14. A mower blade assembly according to claim 11, wherein said adaptor also includes first and second extensions on opposite sides of said central protrusion projecting from said bottom side of said adapter, and said first and second extensions being positioned completely within respective first and second circular, side holes in said mower blade.

15. A mower blade assembly according to claim 11, further comprising:

a blade mounting device that secures said mower blade on said adaptor.

16. A mower blade assembly according to claim 15, wherein said blade mounting device includes a blade support and a fastener.

17. A mower blade assembly according to claim 16, wherein said blade support has a pair of protrusions that are positioned within said first and second circular, side holes.

18. A mower blade assembly according to claim 15, further comprising:

a washer positioned between said blade mounting device and said mower blade.