Accessible lawn mower deck

• US 7,481,036 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Mejegård, Peter, Lilliestielke, Fredrik, Axelsson, Mats
• Primary Examiner(s): Will; Thomas B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Mai T
• Application Number:
  US11/512,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20070051083A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 56/6, 56/126, 56/147, 56 149- 153, 56 156- 159, 56/163, 56/171, 563/201, 56D/IG.14, 56D/IG.22
• US Class Current: 56/15.9
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2034/645 Lifting means for the cutter of the lawnmower mounted at the front of the vehicle for inspection and maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/662 to the front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 56/22 Underslung yieldable rotary mower

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lawn mower (1), comprising a chassis (7), a front mounted mower deck (5), and at least one support arm (9) connecting the mower deck (5) with the chassis (7). The support arm (9) is movable with respect to the chassis (7) for lifting the mower deck (5) from a lower position to an upper position. In the upper position, the mower deck (5) is tiltable about a horizontal pivot axis (11) with respect to the support arm (9) without interfering with the ground. The lawn mower is characterised in that the centre of gravity (21) of the mower deck (5) is located in front of the pivot axis (11), with respect to the forward direction of the lawn mower (1), when the mower deck (5) is lifted to the upper position.

Claims

1. A lawn mower (1), comprising:

a chassis (7),

a front mounted mower deck (5) having an underside that can be directed downwardly toward the ground for mowing,

at least one supported arm (9) connecting the mower deck (5) with the chassis (7),

wherein the support arm (9)is movable with respect to the chassis (7) for lifting the mower deck (5) from a lower position to an upper position, in which upper position the mower deck (5) is tiltable about a horizontal pivot axis (11) with respect to the support arm (9) without interfering with the ground, from a first position in which the underside of the mower deck (5) is directed downwardly, to a second position in which the underside of the mower deck (5) is directed substantially forwardly and is accessible to an operator standing in front of the lawn mower (1), characterised in that

the mower deck (5) has its centre of gravity (21) located in front of the pivot axis (11) when the mower deck (5) is in the upper position and in the first position and in the second position, with respect to the forward direction of the lawn mower (1).

2. Lawn mower according to claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism (25) for locking a rear edge (19) of the mower deck (5) to the support arm (9), at a point which is located behind the pivot axis (11) with respect to the forward direction of the lawn mower (1).

3. Lawn mower according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a second locking mechanism (47) for locking the mower deck (5) to the chassis (7) when the mower deck (5) is put in the second position.

4. Lawn mower according to claim 1, wherein the mower deck (5) extends to have a plane in which grass is cut grass when the underside of the deck (5) is directed downwardly toward the ground for mowing, the extending plane of the mower deck (5) is located forward of a vertical line intersecting the pivot axis (11) when the mower deck (5) is in the second position.

5. A lawn mower (1), comprising:

a chassis (7),

a front mounted mower deck (5),

at least one supported arm (9) wherein a distal end (13) of each arm is provided with a joint (15) that is configured to connect the mower deck (5) with the chassis (7) at a first location;

a horizontal pivot axis (11) extending between each joint (15) with respect to the support arm (9);

a suspension arrangement (23) mounted on a top rear edge of the mower deck (5);

a locking mechanism (25) mounted on the support arms (9);

wherein the suspension arrangement (23) and the locking mechanism (25) engage each other so as to removably fasten the mower deck (5) to the support arms (9) at a second location;

wherein the support arm (9) is movable with respect to the chassis (7) for lifting the mower deck (5) from a lower position to an upper position, in which upper position the mower deck (5) is tiltable about the horizontal pivot axis (11) without interfering with the ground upon the suspension arrangement (23) and the locking mechanism (25) being disengaged;

wherein the mower deck (5) is tiltable from a first position in which an underside of the mower deck (5) is directed downwardly to a second position in which the underside of the mower deck (5) is accessible to an operator standing in front of the lawn mower (1); and

the mower deck (5) has its centre of gravity (21) located in front of the pivot axis (11) when the mower deck (5) is in the upper position and in the first position and in the second position, with respect to the forward direction of the lawn mower (1).

6. Lawn mower according to claim 5, wherein the suspension arrangement (23) comprises:

a cross-bar (27) which is mounted to and along a rear edge (19) of the mower deck (5);

two brackets (29) attached to the cross-bar (27);

wherein a first end of each bracket (29) is attached to the cross-bar (27);

wherein a chain link (35) is attached to a second end of each bracket (29) by a joint such that the chain link (35) can slide along the joint;

wherein the locking mechanism (25) comprises;

a sleeve (41) which is fixedly mounted on top of the support arm (9);

a detachable pin (45) which can fit into the sleeve (41);

wherein the suspension arrangement (23) engages the locking mechanism (25) by the pin (45) being led through the chain link (35) and through the sleeve (41) on the support arm (9).

7. Lawn mower according to claim 5, further comprising a second locking mechanism (47) for locking the mower deck (5) to the chassis (7) when the mower deck (5) is put in the second position.