Articulating swing-out arm
First Claim
1. An articulating swing-out arm for coupling a reel assembly to a lawn mower, the swing-out arm comprising:
- a relatively rigid, elongate main member coupled to a first joint assembly proximate a first end of the main member, the first joint assembly being adapted to be coupled with the mower, the first joint assembly defining a substantially vertical first axis therethrough and being operable to provide for rotation of the main member relative to the mower about the first axis, the main member being coupled to a second joint assembly proximate a second end of the main member;
a relatively rigid, elongate secondary member coupled to the second joint assembly proximate a first end of the secondary member, the second joint assembly defining a substantially vertical second axis therethrough and being operable to provide for rotation of the secondary member relative to the main member about the second axis,wherein the secondary member is adapted to be coupled to the reel assembly proximate a second end of the secondary member, and the swing-out arm is operable to locate the reel assembly relative to the mower in at least a mowing position and a servicing position, andat least one locking mechanism including a receiver and a latch slidingly operable to be inserted into and removable from an aperture of the receiver for selectively fixing at least one of the rotation of the main member and the rotation of the secondary member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lawn mower, in particular a reel lawn mower, can include an articulating swing-out arm for supporting a reel assembly. The swing-out arm can include main and secondary members. The main member and the mower can be coupled to a first joint assembly which can define a first axis therethrough and can be operable to provide for rotation of the main member relative to the mower about the first axis. The main and secondary members can be coupled to a second joint assembly which can define a second axis therethrough and can be operable to provide for rotation of the secondary member relative to the main member about the second axis. The secondary member can also be coupled to the reel assembly. The swing-out arm can be operable to locate the reel assembly in a mowing position underneath the mower and a servicing position outside of the mower.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An articulating swing-out arm for coupling a reel assembly to a lawn mower, the swing-out arm comprising:
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a relatively rigid, elongate main member coupled to a first joint assembly proximate a first end of the main member, the first joint assembly being adapted to be coupled with the mower, the first joint assembly defining a substantially vertical first axis therethrough and being operable to provide for rotation of the main member relative to the mower about the first axis, the main member being coupled to a second joint assembly proximate a second end of the main member; a relatively rigid, elongate secondary member coupled to the second joint assembly proximate a first end of the secondary member, the second joint assembly defining a substantially vertical second axis therethrough and being operable to provide for rotation of the secondary member relative to the main member about the second axis, wherein the secondary member is adapted to be coupled to the reel assembly proximate a second end of the secondary member, and the swing-out arm is operable to locate the reel assembly relative to the mower in at least a mowing position and a servicing position, and at least one locking mechanism including a receiver and a latch slidingly operable to be inserted into and removable from an aperture of the receiver for selectively fixing at least one of the rotation of the main member and the rotation of the secondary member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A mower comprising:
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a frame; a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame, the plurality of wheels including at least first and second drive wheels and a steerable wheel, the first and second drive wheels being coupled on transversely opposite sides of the frame proximate a front end of the mower, the steerable wheel being coupled to the frame proximate a back end of the mower; a power unit supported by the frame and operably coupled to at least one of the first and second drive wheels for facilitating motion of the mower; a first reel assembly operable to perform cutting operations of the mower; and an articulating swing-out arm for coupling the first reel assembly to the frame, the swing-out arm including; a relatively rigid, elongate main member coupled to a first joint assembly proximate a first end of the main member, the first joint assembly being coupled to the frame, the first joint assembly defining a substantially vertical first axis therethrough and being operable to provide for rotation of the main member relative to the frame about the first axis, the main member being coupled to a second joint assembly proximate a second end of the main member, and a relatively rigid, elongate secondary member coupled to the second joint assembly proximate a first end of the secondary member, the second joint assembly defining a substantially vertical second axis therethrough and being operable to provide for rotation of the secondary member relative to the main member about the second axis, the secondary member being coupled to the first reel assembly proximate a second end of secondary member, wherein the swing-out arm is operable to locate the first reel assembly in at least a mowing position and a servicing position, the mowing position being underneath the frame, longitudinally between the drive wheels and the steerable wheel, and transversely between the drive wheels, the servicing position being outside of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification