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.
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.
27 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. - 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. - 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 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.
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Specification