Universal mower blade

• US 7,127,877 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2005
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Curran, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): FABIAN-KOVACS, ARPAD
• Application Number:
  US11/043,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20050229573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: D15/17, 562/95, 562/55, 56/175, 302/76
• 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 to define an elongated portion; and

a blade longitudinal axis extending through said mid-section and said end sections, said mid-section including a circular central hole having a 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 parallel said blade longitudinal axis and having a width that is transverse to, and crosses said blade longitudinal axis,

said mid-section also including first and second circular side holes spaced apart from the circular central hole, the 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 oblique to said blade longitudinal axis.

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 according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second side holes have a diameter that is smaller than said diameter of said central hole.

4. A mower blade according to claim 1, wherein said diameter of said central hole is larger than said width of each of said first and second slots.

5. A mower blade assembly, comprising:

a mower blade positioned on an 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 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,

said mid-section also including first and second circular side holes spaced apart from the circular central hole, the 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 oblique to said blade longitudinal axis, and

said 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 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.

6. A mower blade assembly according to claim 5, 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.

7. A mower blade assembly according to claim 5, wherein said adapter 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.

8. A mower blade assembly according to claim 5, wherein said central protrusion has four teeth.

9. A mower blade assembly according to claim 5, further comprising:

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

10. A mower blade assembly according to claim 9, wherein said blade mounting device includes a blade support and a fastener.

11. A mower blade assembly according to claim 10, wherein said blade support has a pair of extensions that are positioned within said first and second circular side holes.

12. A mower blade assembly according to claim 9, further comprising:

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

13. A mower blade assembly, comprising:

a mower blade positioned on an 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 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 spaced apart from the circular central hole, the 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 oblique to said blade longitudinal axis, and

said adapter attached to a lawnmower, said adapter having a central protrusion protruding from a bottom side of said adapter, 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.

14. A mower blade assembly according to claim 13, wherein said adapter also has first and second side pins on opposite sides of said central protrusion protruding from said bottom side of said adapter, and said first and second side pins being positioned completely within respective first and second slots of said mower blade.

15. A mower blade assembly according to claim 13, 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.

16. A mower blade assembly according to claim 13, wherein said adapter 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.

17. A mower blade assembly according to claim 13, further comprising:

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

18. A mower blade assembly according to claim 17, wherein said blade mounting device includes a blade support and a fastener.

19. A mower blade assembly according to claim 18, wherein said blade support has a pair of protrusions that are positioned within said first and second circular side holes.

20. A mower blade assembly according to claim 17, further comprising:

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