Multi-functional tool heads for lawn mowers and associated method

• US 8,104,252 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2010
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James E. Godley Jr
• Original Assignee: James E. Godley Jr
• Inventors: Godley, James E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fabian-Kovacs, Arpad
• Application Number:
  US12/700,140
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 372/44, 372/42, 372/43, 372/54, 373/48, 37/2, 180/65.26, 180/65.23, 180/65.24, 56/2, 701/23, 15/83, 172/42
• US Class Current: 56/2
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 42/00 Mowers convertible to apparatus for purposes other than mowing; Mowers capable of performing operations other than mowing mowers combined with apparatus performing additional operations while mowing A01D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 42/04 Soil working
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 42/06 Sweeping or cleaning lawns or other surfaces sweeping apparatus for lawns per se A01G20/43

Abstract

A combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly includes a front attachment assembly removably conjoined to a body of the lawn mower. A shaft is removably interfitted within lateral sides of the body. A plurality of knobs may be affixed to the axially opposed end portions of the shaft. Each of the knobs may include a pair of spring-actuated fingers. A vertically adjusting mechanism may include a rectilinear bar countersunk within a recess formed at a bottom surface of the body. A pair of rollers may be journaled about axially opposed ends of the bar. A lever may be directly coupled to the bar. A rectilinear arm may be mated to the lever. The arm may further include a distal end removably interfitted within the aperture of the one knob for preventing and allowing rotational movement of the front attachment assembly when the lever is rotatably displaced.

Claims

1. A combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly for allowing a user to perform various seasonal functions, said combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly comprising:

a reel lawn mower including a body;

a front attachment assembly conjoined to a front end of said body;

means for vertically adjusting a front end of said body such that said front end of said body is lowered and raised above a ground surface; and

means for rotating said front attachment assembly in clockwise and counter clockwise directions;

wherein said front attachment assembly is locked and unlocked between non-rotatable and rotatable modes respectively when said front end adjusting means vertically lowers and raises said front end of said body respectively;

wherein said front attachment assembly comprises

a shaft having axially opposed end portions directly and removably interfitted within lateral sides of said body, said shaft being resiliently reciprocated along a bi-directional linear path extending parallel to a longitudinal length of said shaft; and

a plurality of knobs affixed to said axially opposed ends portions of said shaft respectively and outwardly passing through said lateral sides of said body such that said knobs are disposed exterior of said body respectively, each of said knobs having a pair of spring-actuated fingers protruding outwardly therefrom respectively;

wherein said longitudinal length of said shaft is selectively adjusted between extended and contracted positions when each of said spring-actuated fingers at each of said end portions of said shaft are displaced to a compressed position and thereby inwardly passed through said apertures of said lateral sides of said body respectively.

2. The combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly of claim 1, wherein said front end adjusting means comprises:

a rectilinear bar countersunk within a recess formed at a bottom surface of said body, said recess being disposed proximal to said front end of said body and traversing along an entire width thereof;

a pair of rollers journaled about axially opposed ends of said bar; and

a lever directly coupled to said bar and protruding outwardly from said body in such a manner that said lever is rotatably biased between up and down positions and thereby bias said rollers between the raised and lowered positions respectively;

wherein said rollers are adapted to directly engage the ground surface and cause said front attachment assembly to rise and fall as said lever is adapted between said up and down positions respectively;

wherein one of said knobs is provided with an aperture formed therein.

3. The combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly of claim 2, wherein said front end adjusting means further comprises:

a rectilinear arm having a proximal end mated to said lever and protruding forwardly towards said front end of said body, said arm further having a distal end removably interfitted within said aperture of said one knob;

wherein said arm is automatically urged forwardly towards said one knob and thereby interfitted within said aperture when said lever is rotatably displaced to said down position;

wherein said arm is automatically urged rearwards away from said one knob and thereby ejected from said aperture when said lever is rotatably displaced to said up position.

4. The combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly of claim 1, wherein said power-operated reel lawn mower comprises:

a gas-fueled motor;

an electric-fueled motor;

a rear drive axle and a first pair of rear wheels coaxially mounted to a said rear drive axle;

a second pair of rear wheels mounted to said body;

first, second and third user interfaces connected to said body respectively;

a controller communicatively coupled to said first, second and third user interfaces respectively;

first and second switches communicatively coupled to said controller, said first switch being selectively mated to said electric-fueled motor, said second switch being selectively mated to said gas-fueled motor;

wherein said first, second and third user interfaces generate and transmit input signals to said controller upon receiving corresponding user inputs respectively;

wherein, upon receiving said input signals, said controller generates and transmits corresponding output signals to said first and second switches respectively and thereby toggles said gas-fueled and electric-fueled motors between operating and non-operating modes respectively.

5. A combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly for allowing a user to perform various seasonal functions, said combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly comprising:

a power-operated reel lawn mower including a body;

a front attachment assembly removably conjoined to a front end of said body;

means for vertically adjusting a front end of said body such that said front end of said body is lowered and raised above a ground surface; and

means for rotating said front attachment assembly in clockwise and counter clockwise directions;

wherein said front attachment assembly is locked and unlocked between non-rotatable and rotatable modes respectively when said front end adjusting means vertically lowers and raises said front end of said body respectively;

wherein said front attachment assembly comprises

a shaft having axially opposed end portions directly and removably interfitted within lateral sides of said body, said shaft being resiliently reciprocated along a bi-directional linear path extending parallel to a longitudinal length of said shaft; and

a plurality of knobs affixed to said axially opposed ends portions of said shaft respectively and outwardly passing through said lateral sides of said body such that said knobs are disposed exterior of said body respectively, each of said knobs having a pair of spring-actuated fingers protruding outwardly therefrom respectively;

wherein said longitudinal length of said shaft is selectively adjusted between extended and contracted positions when each of said spring-actuated fingers at each of said end portions of said shaft are displaced to a compressed position and thereby inwardly passed through said apertures of said lateral sides of said body respectively.

6. The combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly of claim 5, wherein said front end adjusting means comprises:

a rectilinear bar countersunk within a recess formed at a bottom surface of said body, said recess being disposed proximal to said front end of said body and traversing along an entire width thereof;

a pair of rollers journaled about axially opposed ends of said bar; and

a lever directly coupled to said bar and protruding outwardly from said body in such a manner that said lever is rotatably biased between up and down positions and thereby bias said rollers between the raised and lowered positions respectively;

wherein said rollers are adapted to directly engage the ground surface and cause said front attachment assembly to rise and fall as said lever is adapted between said up and down positions respectively;

wherein one of said knobs is provided with an aperture formed therein.

7. The combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly of claim 6, wherein said front end adjusting means further comprises:

a rectilinear arm having a proximal end mated to said lever and protruding forwardly towards said front end of said body, said arm further having a distal end removably interfitted within said aperture of said one knob;

wherein said arm is automatically urged forwardly towards said one knob and thereby interfitted within said aperture when said lever is rotatably displaced to said down position;

wherein said arm is automatically urged rearwards away said one knob and thereby ejected from said aperture when said lever is rotatably displaced to said up position.

8. The combined reel lawn mower and multifunctional blade assembly of claim 5, wherein said power-operated reel lawn mower comprises:

a gas-fueled motor;

an electric-fueled motor;

a rear drive axle and a first pair of rear wheels coaxially mounted to a said rear drive axle;

a second pair of rear wheels mounted to said body;

first, second and third user interfaces connected to said body respectively;

a controller communicatively coupled to said first, second and third user interfaces respectively;

first and second switches communicatively coupled to said controller, said first switch being selectively mated to said electric-fueled motor, said second switch being selectively mated to said gas-fueled motor;

wherein said first, second and third user interfaces generate and transmit input signals to said controller upon receiving corresponding user inputs respectively;

wherein, upon receiving said input signals, said controller generates and transmits corresponding output signals to said first and second switches respectively and thereby toggles said gas-fueled and electric-fueled motors between operating and non-operating modes respectively.