Cutting head array for mowing pivotally

• US 9,968,032 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2015
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyle Edward Yarberry
• Original Assignee: Kyle Edward Yarberry
• Inventors: Yarberry, Kyle Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Mai T.
• Application Number:
  US14/884,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20160192584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 56 6, 56 7, 56 102 A, 56 108, 56 149, 56 151- 156, 56 169
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 73/00 Means or arrangements to facilitate transportation of agricultural machines or implements, e.g. folding frames to reduce overall width arrangements of lifting devices for soil working implements A01B63/00; carriers for harvesters or mowers A01D75/002; arrangements or carriers for haymakers A01D78/1007, A01D80/005; vehicles adapted for load transportation or to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects B60P; motor vehicles, trailers B62D
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/44 with two or more cutters
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/62 Other details
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 75/306 for lawn mowers positioned one behind the other or side by side

Abstract

A mower includes a plurality of cutting heads, each cutting head having a minor cutting width, the plurality of cutting heads connected by a plurality of connectors in an array having a variable major cutting width. The mower also includes a steering system coupled with a first driven wheel and supported by one cutting head, and a second driven wheel supported by one other cutting head. The steering system is capable of steering the first driven wheel independently from the second driven wheel.

Claims

1. A mower comprising:

a plurality of cutting heads, each cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads having a minor cutting width, the plurality of cutting heads connected by a plurality of connectors in an array having a variable major cutting width;

a steering system coupled with a first driven wheel and supported by one cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads; and

a second driven wheel supported by one other cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads;

wherein the steering system is capable of steering the first driven wheel independently from the second driven wheel.

2. The mower of claim 1, wherein at least one connector of the plurality of connectors translatably connects at least one cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads to at least one other cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads.

3. The mower of claim 2, wherein the at least one connector of the plurality of connectors pivotably joins at least one cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads to at least one other cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads.

4. The mower of claim 1, wherein at least one connector of the plurality of connectors has a first retainer coupled with a second retainer.

5. The mower of claim 4, wherein the first retainer translatably receives at least one cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads and the second retainer translatably receives at least one other cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads.

6. The mower of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cutting heads comprises at least three cutting heads.

7. The mower of claim 1, wherein at least one cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads has a minor cutting width between twenty and seventy-two inches, inclusive.

8. The mower of claim 1, wherein at least one cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads has a minor cutting width exceeding seventy-two inches.

9. The mower of claim 1, wherein the maximum major cutting width is at least one hundred inches.

10. The mower of claim 1, wherein the mower has a transport width that is less than seventy-two inches.

11. The mower of claim 1, wherein the mower is movable between a first state and a second state;

wherein in the first state, the variable major cutting width exceeds the minor cutting width,

wherein in the second state, the variable major cutting width is equal to the minor cutting width.

12. The mower of claim 11, wherein in the second state, the major cutting width is less than seventy-two inches.

13. The mower of claim 12, wherein in the first state, the major cutting width is at least one hundred inches.

14. The mower of claim 11, wherein the first driven wheel is configured to move the mower between the first and second states.

15. The mower of claim 1, wherein the steering system is configured to steer the first driven wheel in a first direction perpendicular to the major cutting width.

16. The mower of claim 15, wherein the steering system is configured to steer the first driven wheel in a second direction parallel to the major cutting width.

17. The mower of claim 1, wherein the first driven wheel is configured to drive the mower in a first direction parallel to the major cutting width.

18. The mower of claim 1, wherein the first driven wheel is configured to drive the mower in a first direction perpendicular to the major cutting width.

19. The mower of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cutting heads includes a first cutting head and a second cutting head removably connected by at least one of the plurality of connectors.

20. The mower of claim 19, wherein the plurality of cutting heads is configured to removably receive a third cutting head in between the first cutting head and the second cutting head.