Outdoor power equipment suspension system
First Claim
1. An outdoor power equipment unit comprising:
- a frame, the frame comprising a front side and a pair of opposite, longitudinally-extending sides, wherein the front side comprises a front structural member and the pair of opposite, longitudinally extending sides comprise at least one first side structural member and at least one second side structural member;
a first front wheel assembly;
a second front wheel assembly;
a first laterally-extending suspension arm pair, wherein the first laterally-extending suspension arm pair comprises a first suspension arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the front structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the first front wheel assembly, and a second suspension arm arranged substantially parallel to the first suspension arm and pivotally coupled at a first end to the front structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the first front wheel assembly;
a second laterally-extending suspension arm pair, wherein the second laterally-extending suspension arm pair comprises a third suspension arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the front structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the second front wheel assembly, and a fourth suspension arm arranged substantially parallel to the third suspension arm and pivotally coupled at a first end to the front structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the second front wheel assembly;
at least one longitudinally-extending first side suspension arm, the at least one longitudinally-extending first side suspension arm coupled at a first end to the first front wheel assembly and at a second end to the at least one first side structural member; and
at least one longitudinally-extending second side suspension arm, the at least one longitudinally-extending second side suspension arm coupled at a first end to the second front wheel assembly and at a second end to the at least one second side structural member;
wherein both the first suspension arm pair and the second suspension arm pair are configured to independently pivot about the front structural member such that each of the first front wheel assembly and the second front wheel assembly are vertically displaceable relative to the frame.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An outdoor power equipment unit having a frame including at least one laterally-extending structural member and at least a pair of opposite, longitudinally-extending side structural members, a first front wheel assembly, and a second front wheel assembly. The unit also includes a first pair of substantially parallel, laterally-extending suspension arms pivotally coupled to the first front wheel assembly to form a first 4-bar linkage arrangement, and a second pair of substantially parallel, laterally-extending suspension arms pivotally coupled to the second front wheel assembly to form a second 4-bar linkage arrangement. The unit further includes at least one longitudinally-extending first side suspension arm coupled to the first front wheel assembly and to a first one of the longitudinally-extending side structural members, and at least one longitudinally-extending second side suspension arm coupled to the second front wheel assembly and to a second one of the longitudinally-extending side structural members.
105 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An outdoor power equipment unit comprising:
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a frame, the frame comprising a front side and a pair of opposite, longitudinally-extending sides, wherein the front side comprises a front structural member and the pair of opposite, longitudinally extending sides comprise at least one first side structural member and at least one second side structural member; a first front wheel assembly; a second front wheel assembly; a first laterally-extending suspension arm pair, wherein the first laterally-extending suspension arm pair comprises a first suspension arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the front structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the first front wheel assembly, and a second suspension arm arranged substantially parallel to the first suspension arm and pivotally coupled at a first end to the front structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the first front wheel assembly; a second laterally-extending suspension arm pair, wherein the second laterally-extending suspension arm pair comprises a third suspension arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the front structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the second front wheel assembly, and a fourth suspension arm arranged substantially parallel to the third suspension arm and pivotally coupled at a first end to the front structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the second front wheel assembly; at least one longitudinally-extending first side suspension arm, the at least one longitudinally-extending first side suspension arm coupled at a first end to the first front wheel assembly and at a second end to the at least one first side structural member; and at least one longitudinally-extending second side suspension arm, the at least one longitudinally-extending second side suspension arm coupled at a first end to the second front wheel assembly and at a second end to the at least one second side structural member; wherein both the first suspension arm pair and the second suspension arm pair are configured to independently pivot about the front structural member such that each of the first front wheel assembly and the second front wheel assembly are vertically displaceable relative to the frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A front wheel independent suspension system for outdoor power equipment, the independent suspension system comprising:
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a frame, wherein the frame comprises at least one laterally-extending structural member and at least two longitudinally-extending structural members located on opposite respective sides of the laterally-extending structural member; a first front wheel assembly; a second front wheel assembly; a first laterally-extending suspension arm pair, wherein the first laterally-extending suspension arm pair comprises a first suspension arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the at least one laterally-extending structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the first front wheel assembly, and a second suspension arm arranged substantially parallel to the first suspension arm and pivotally coupled at a first end to the at least one laterally-extending structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the first front wheel assembly; a second laterally-extending suspension arm pair, wherein the second laterally-extending suspension arm pair comprises a third suspension arm pivotally coupled at a first end to the at least one laterally-extending structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the second front wheel assembly, and a fourth suspension arm arranged substantially parallel to the third suspension arm and pivotally coupled at a first end to the at least one laterally-extending structural member and pivotally coupled at a second end to the second front wheel; at least one longitudinally-extending first side suspension arm, the at least one longitudinally-extending first side suspension arm coupled at a first end to the first front wheel assembly and pivotally coupled at a second end to one of the longitudinally-extending structural members; and at least one longitudinally-extending second side suspension arm, the at least one longitudinally-extending second side suspension arm coupled at a first end to the second front wheel assembly and at a second end to the other of the longitudinally-extending structural members; wherein both the first laterally-extending suspension arm pair and the second laterally-extending suspension arm pair are configured to independently pivot about the front structural member such that each of the first front wheel assembly and the second front wheel assembly are vertically displaceable relative to the frame. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A mower comprising:
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a frame, the frame comprising at least one laterally-extending structural member and at least a pair of opposite, longitudinally-extending side structural members; a cutter deck comprising a plurality of mower blades; a first front wheel assembly; a second front wheel assembly; a pair of rear wheels; a first pair of substantially parallel, laterally-extending suspension arms pivotally coupled at a respective first end to the at least one laterally-extending structural member and pivotally coupled at a respective second end to the first front wheel assembly; a second pair of substantially parallel, laterally-extending suspension arms pivotally coupled at a respective first end to the at least one laterally-extending structural member and pivotally coupled at a respective second end to the second front wheel assembly; at least one longitudinally-extending first side suspension arm coupled at a first end to the first front wheel assembly and at a second end to a first one of the longitudinally-extending side structural members; at least one longitudinally-extending second side suspension arm coupled at a first end to the second front wheel assembly and at a second end to a second one of the longitudinally-extending side structural members; and a portion of the cutter deck positioned between the first and second front wheel assemblies and the pair of rear wheels; wherein both the first pair of substantially parallel, laterally-extending suspension arms and the second pair of substantially parallel, laterally-extending suspension arms are configured to independently pivot about the front structural member such that each of the first front wheel assembly and the second front wheel assembly are vertically displaceable relative to the frame.
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Specification