Lawn mower cutting implement

• US 6,986,239 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Andrew Compton
• Original Assignee: Andrew Compton
• Inventors: Compton, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORRES, ALICIA M
• Application Number:
  US10/875,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 56/175, 562/55, 562/95, 56D/IG.19, 56D/IG.20
• US Class Current: 56/17.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/4168 Constructional details of the flexible lines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/736 Flail type

Abstract

The lawn mower cutting implement has an elongated mounting plate adapted for attachment to a lawn mower in lieu of a conventional blade with an end piece attached to opposite ends of the mounting plate. The plate is bent or twisted to generate airflow when the plate is rotated by the lawn mower drive shaft. Each end piece supports at least two cutting elements at different elevations with respect to each other so that there is at least a lower cutting element for cutting grass to a desired height and an upper cutting element for mulching suspended clippings.

Claims

1. A lawn mower cutting implement comprising:

an elongated mounting plate having opposing ends, the mounting plate being adapted for attachment to a rotating cutting element driver of a lawn mower;

an end piece attached to each of the opposing ends of the mounting plate; and

a cutting element attached to and extending from each of the end pieces, the cutting element being adapted for cutting vegetation at a desired height;

wherein said mounting plate has a center hole defined therein adapted for receiving a drive shaft of the lawn mower, the mounting plate being formed with a twist disposed between the center hole and each of the opposing ends of the mounting plate for aerodynamically enhanced airflow; and

each of the end pieces comprises a riser normal to the mounting plate and a landing extending from the riser parallel to the mounting plate, the landing having a plurality of holes defined therein;

wherein said cutting element comprises a ball having a flexible line extending therefrom, the ball being inserted through a first of said plurality of holes in said landing and retained between said landing and said mounting plate.

2. The lawn mower cutting implement according to claim 1, further comprising at least one other cutting element attached to and extending from each of the end pieces at an elevation higher than said cutting element, the at least one other cutting element being adapted for mulching the cut vegetation.

3. The lawn mower cutting implement of claim 2, wherein said cutting element and said at least one other cutting element being defined respectively as lower and upper cutting elements, and lower and upper cutting elements include flexible nylon cutting line.

4. The lawn mower cutting implement of claim 2, wherein said cutting element and said at least one other cutting element being defined respectively as lower and upper cutting elements, and lower and upper cutting elements include flexible metal wire.

5. The lawn mower cutting implement according to claim 2, wherein said ends of said mounting plate are angled to provide aerodynamically enhanced circularly outward airflow.

6. The lawn mower cutting implement according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of other cutting elements, each of the other cutting elements being a ball having a nylon cutting line extending therefrom, the ball being inserted through the other ones of the plurality of holes in said landing and retained between said landing and said mounting plate, each of the other cutting elements being spaced apart at different elevations above the cutting element, so that each of the cutting elements rotates in a different vertical plane.

7. The lawn mower cutting implement according to claim 1, wherein said ends of said mounting plate are angled to provide aerodynamically enhanced circularly outward airflow.

8. A lawn mower cutting implement comprising:

an elongated mounting plate having opposing ends, and a mid point, the mounting plate being adapted for attachment to a rotating cutting element driver of a lawn mower;

wherein said mounting plate has a twist therein between the mid point and each one of said opposing ends, said mounting plate having a center hole defined at said mid point and adapted for receiving a drive shaft of the lawn mower, the twist of said mounting plate being disposed between the center hole and each of the opposing ends of the mounting plate for aerodynamically enhanced airflow;

an end piece attached to each of the opposing ends of the mounting plate, each of the end pieces having a riser normal to the mounting plate and a landing extending from the riser parallel to the mounting plate, the landing having a plurality of holes defined therein; and

a plurality of cutting elements attached to and extending from each of the end pieces, each of the cutting elements being a ball having a nylon cutting line extending therefrom, the ball being inserted through one of the plurality of holes in the landing and retained between the landing and the mounting plate, each of the cutting elements being spaced apart at different elevations, so that each of the cutting elements rotates in a different plane.

9. The lawn mower cutting implement according to claim 8, wherein said ends of said mounting plate are angled to provide aerodynamically enhanced circularly outward airflow.