Vacuum mower

• US 5,983,613 A
• Filed: 11/07/1997
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rex Coker Winter
• Original Assignee: Rex Coker Winter
• Inventors: Winter, Rex Coker
• Primary Examiner(s): SHACKELFORD, HEATHER CHUN
• Application Number:
  US08/965,779
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 56/202, 56/13.3, 56/13.4, 56/16.6, 56/16.9, 56/DIG. 8, 56/DIG. 9
• US Class Current: 56/13.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/63 having cutters rotating about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/077 with auxiliary means, e.g. fans, for transporting the mown crop

Abstract

An attachment for a rotary lawn mower or a riding mower having a blower assembly located in an elevated position for effectively vacuuming and collecting debris generated by the operation of the mower. The debris discharged from the mower chute is drawn upwardly through a transfer tube and, via the blower assembly, is directed into a collection storage container. The blower assembly is operatively powered via an extended shaft from the drive system of the mower blade or a drive shaft extending from the top of the mower'"'"'s engine. The collection container is mounted on the housing of the mower, the handle of the mower, or on a platform to the rear of the mower. A lid covers the open top of the container, and includes a perforated portion that allows air to escape from the container. A side door is provided in the container, to assist in removing the debris or a plastic trash bag used to hold the debris, from the container. Near the top of the container, an opening is included for receiving the debris from the blower.

Claims

1. An attachment device mounted on a rotary lawn mower for collecting debris generated by the rotary lawn mower, the rotary lawn mower including a housing, a blade drive system and a mower chute, said attachment device comprising:

a collection container having an open top and a port;

a lid for covering said open top of said collection container;

a framework having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion being attached to and supported by the mower housing, said framework being dimensioned and configured to be substantially the same height as the height of said collection container;

a blower assembly attached to said upper portion of said framework and being positioned adjacent said open top of said collection container, said blower assembly being operatively powered via an extension drive arrangement by the rotary mower blade drive system, said blower assembly communicating with said collection container through said port; and

a transfer tube having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end being connected to said blower assembly and said lower end being connected to the mower chute;

whereby said blower assembly operatively vacuums the debris discharging from the mower chute upwardly through said transfer tube and said blower, and into said collection container.

2. The attachment device according to claim 1, wherein said lid for said collection container has a centrally positioned perforated section for releasing air from said collection container.

3. The attachment device according to claim 1, wherein said port is a cut-out port.

4. The attachment device according to claim 1, wherein:

said collection container is a cylindrically-shaped container having a sidewall; and

a portion of said sidewall constitutes a door member.

5. The attachment device according to claim 1, wherein:

said collection container is a rectangular-box-type container having a sidewall; and

a portion of said sidewall constitutes a door member.

6. The attachment device according to claim 5, further comprising a strap member attached to said rectangular-box-type container, said strap member securing said container to the rotary lawn mower.

7. The attachment device according to claim 1, wherein said collection container is a vertically-positioned upright container.

8. The attachment device according to claim 1, wherein said extension drive arrangement includes an extended shaft member.

9. The attachment device according to claim 1, wherein said collection container is mounted on the mower housing.

10. The attachment device according to claim 1, wherein said collection container is mounted on a platform adjacent to the rear of the rotary lawn mower.

11. An attachment device mounted on a rotary lawn mower for collecting debris generated by the rotary lawn mower, the rotary lawn mower including a housing, a blade drive system, a mower chute and a U-shaped handle, said attachment device comprising:

a rectangular-box-shaped collection container having an open top and a port;

a lid for covering said open top of said collection container;

a framework having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion being attached to and supported by the mower housing, said framework being dimensioned and configured to be substantially the same height as the height of said collection container;

a blower assembly attached to said upper portion of said framework and being positioned adjacent said open top of said collection container, said blower assembly being operatively powered via an extension drive arrangement by the rotary mower blade drive system, said blower assembly communicating with said collection container through said port;

a transfer tube having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end being connected to said blower assembly and said lower end being connected to the mower chute;

whereby said blower assembly operatively vacuums the debris discharging from the mower chute upwardly through said transfer tube and said blower, and into said collection container; and

a strap member attached to said rectangular-box-type container, said strap member securing said container to the U-shaped handle.

12. A mower including a housing, a blade drive system, a chute and an attachment device, said attachment device comprising:

a collection container having an open top and a port;

a lid for covering said open top of said collection container;

a framework having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion being attached to and supported by said mower housing, said framework being dimensioned and configured to be substantially the same height as the height of said collection container;

a blower assembly attached to said upper portion of said framework and being positioned adjacent said open top of said collection container, said blower assembly being operatively powered via an extended arrangement by said blade drive system, said blower assembly communicating with said collection container through said port; and

a transfer tube having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end being connected to said blower assembly and said lower end being connected to said mower chute;

whereby said blower assembly operatively vacuums debris discharging from said mower chute upwardly through said transfer tube and said blower, and into said collection container.

13. The mower according to claim 12, wherein said lid for said collection container has a centrally positioned perforated section for releasing air from said collection container.

14. The mower according to claim 12, wherein said port is a cut-out port.

15. The mower according to claim 12, wherein:

said collection container is a cylindrically-shaped container having a sidewall; and

a portion of said sidewall constitutes a door member.

16. The mower according to claim 12, wherein:

said collection container is a rectangular-box-type container having a sidewall; and

a portion of said sidewall constitutes a door member.

17. The mower according to claim 12, wherein said collection container is a vertical container positioned on said mower housing.

18. The mower according to claim 12, wherein said transfer tube is made of a flexible material.

19. The mower according to claim 12, wherein said transfer tube is made of a rigid material.

20. The mower according to claim 12, wherein said transfer tube is removable from said chute, to thereby allow said blower assembly to operatively vacuum debris not generated by said mower.