Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to a mower blade system with replaceable blades secured within a housing attached to the mower. The mower blade system enables a user to quickly and conveniently remove the blades and install a blade as needed. The user may also turn over the blade to provide a new sharp edge on the cutting side.
Rotary mowers have a blade that rotates about a central point, typically a spindle. The end sections of the blade are sharpened and are designed to cut, and sometimes mulch, the material which comes within the housing as the mower is moved over a grassy surface, e.g., a lawn.
Over time, the blades contact rocks, sticks, concrete, and other hard objects that dull or damage the blades. The blades also wear and dull over time with use of the mower. The user must then replace the blades to achieve a better mowed lawn. The known art requires a user to exert a great amount of effort and time to replace the blades. The blades of the present invention are easily replaceable. Thus, the present invention saves time and effort required to replace the blades.
Patents and patent applications disclosing relevant information are disclosed below. These patents and patent applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,755 issued to Bontrager, et al. on Mar. 27, 2001 (“the '755 patent”) teaches a blade that is secured to a blade adapter which is dimensioned to receive a fixed adapter. The fixed adapter taught by the '755 patent is connected to the engine drive shaft of a rotary mower. The blade and fixed adapter taught by the '755 patent are provided with cooperating surfaces which permit the adapters to be selectively locked together and separated from each other without requiring tools.
U.S. Publication No. 20080277127 to Dixon on Nov. 13, 2008 (“the '127 publication”) teaches an improved rotary mower blade in which a carrier which is rotatably connect to a spindle driven by the mower engine, receive and holds a pair of opposed sharpened cutting segments. The cutting segments taught by the '127 publication are held in place while the carrier is rotated, and are removable and replaced as needed when the carrier is stationary.
The present invention provides a mower blade system having one or more blades, preferably two, secured to a housing such as an attachment arm that is attached to the mower. The blades provide a cutting arm that is sharpened for mowing the yard, lawn, field, or other area. A blocking body of each blade prevents the blade from passing through the housing. As the mower is running, the blocking body of each blade prevents the blade from exiting the housing due to the centripetal force.
The housing of one embodiment provides a blocking body to contact the blocking body of the blade. In another embodiment, the opening of the housing decreases in height wherein the height of the opening is less than the height of the blade. The change in height of the opening prevents the blade from passing through the housing.
The system also prevents the blade from exiting the housing through the other direction. A blocking finger may extend downward to contact the end of the blade. The blocking finger secures the end of the blade to prevent the blade from exiting the insertion side of the housing.
It is an object of the present invention to maintain the efficiency of rotary mowers.
It is an object of the present invention to decrease maintenance time of the mower system.
It is also an object of the present invention to increase efficiency of changing the blade.
It is also an object of the present invention to quickly change the sharpened sections of a rotary blade to minimize down time.
It is also an object of the present invention to secure the blade within a housing. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a housing that allows quick release of the blade while securing the blade within the housing.
It is also an object of the present invention to simplify the process of replacing blades.
It is also an object of the present invention to maintain sharp blades on a mower to improve the overall lawn and provide a better cut.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a low cost alternative to the requirement for additional couplers and adapters for changing a blade.
It is also an object of the present invention to eliminate the need for additional tools for changing the blades.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a universal blade that may be secured to the mower.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide users with mower blades that can be replaced quickly, safely and in the field where necessary, thereby cutting down time and increasing efficiency at minimal cost.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent in the course of the following descriptive sections and the attached drawings.
In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views:
Retention bodies 104, 106 located at each end of the attachment arm 112 accept blades 108, 110. Each retention body 104 provides a retention aperture within the retention body 104, 106 that allows partial passage of the blades 108, 110 through the neck 104, 106. The blades 108, 110 are inserted head first into the necks 104, 106. The blades 108, 110 increase in height around the base of the blade 108, 110. The increase in height of the blade 108, 110 at the base prevents the blade 108, 110 from completely passing through the retention bodies 104, 106.
Referring to
The blades 108, 110 are removably seated at the remote ends of the attachment arm 112. The blades 108, 110 are held in place along the longitudinal axis of the attachment arm 112 by the retention bodies 108, 110 at the remote ends. Each blade 108, 110 includes a sharpened edge 122, 124. The blade may be designed such that each edge of the blade has a sharpened edge 122, 124 to allow the blade to be installed in either direction. The sharpened edge 122 starts at the head of the blade 108, 110 and ends towards the base of the blade 108, 110. The blades with two sharpened edges enable the user to install the blade with either edge as a lead cutting edge. Such capability increases the life of the blade as the blade provides two sharpened edges for use instead of one.
As shown in
As the attachment arm 112 rotates, centrifugal forces act on the blades 108, 110. The increased height section of the blades 108, 110 located towards the base securely wedges the blades 108, 110 within the retention bodies 104, 106. The sharpened edges of the blades 108, 110 and blades 108, 110 remain securely in cutting position and cut as though the blade were a single one piece unit.
Once the blade stops rotating, the blades 108, 110 are readily removed from the attachment arm 112. The blades 108, 110 may be replaced with new blades. Because each blade provides two sharpened edges, the blades may be turned over and installed to place the opposite edge into a cutting position.
To remove the blade 108, the user must depress locking finger 120. The locking finger 120 moves upward to unblock the blade 108 and allow removal of the blade 108 from the retention body 104. In one embodiment, the locking finger is constructed from spring steel. The locking finger is biased by a spring or other biasing mechanism. The locking finger 120 is positioned on the attachment arm 112 so as to abut the blades 108, 110 when the blades 108, 110 are in the cutting position. The locking finger 120, 126 inhibits the movement of blades 108, 110 from the secured position until the locking finger 120, 126 is manually depressed.
The blade 158 is inserted into the opening 156 until blocking bodies 160, 162, 164, and 168 of blade 158 contact blocking bodies 152, 154, 166, 167 of retention body 148. The blades 158 extend outward from the attachment arm 112 to allow the cutting of the lawn. Locking finger 120 adjusts downward to lock the blade into position due to the bias on the locking finger 120.
Retention bodies 206, 216 provide a retention aperture through which the attachment arm 202 passes through. The retention bodies 206, 216 slide longitudinally on the attachment arm 202 for securing the blades 208, 224 to attachment arm 202. Retention bodies 206, 216 adjust towards the ends of attachment arm 202 to lock the blades 208, 224 into position. The retention fingers of retention bodies 206, 216 at least partially obstruct locking bodies 226, 228 to reduce movement of the locking bodies 226, 228.
The blades 208, 224 are installed onto pivot fingers 210, 222. The retention bodies 206, 216 adjust longitudinally towards the center of attachment arm 202 to provide access to the pivot fingers 210, 222. The user vertically moves the locking finger 234 of locking bodies 226, 228 to create space for installation of the blades 208, 224 onto attachment arm 202. The blades 208, 224 are then placed on the pivot fingers 210, 222 between the attachment arm 202 and the locking bodies 226, 228. Retention bodies 206, 216 are then adjusted longitudinally towards the ends of attachment arm 202. The retention bodies 206, 216 at least partially cover the locking bodies 226, 228 to limit movement of the locking bodies 226, 228. More specifically, the retention bodes 206, 216 limit movement of the locking bodies 226, 228 away from the attachment arm 202. The retention bodies 206, 216 maintain the positioning of the locking bodies 226, 228 to secure the blades 208, 224 on the pivot fingers 210, 222. The blocking fingers 212, 214, 218, 220 limit movement of the blades 208, 224 as will be discussed below.
Attachment arm 202 also provides multiple blocking fingers 212, 214, 218, 220 that extend vertically in the same direction as the pivot fingers 210, 220. The blocking fingers 212, 214, 218, 220 are located longitudinally more towards the center of attachment arm 202 than the pivot fingers 210, 220. Blocking fingers 212, 214, 218, 220 are also located laterally to the sides of pivot fingers 210, 220.
Blocking fingers 212, 214, 218, 220 prevent the blades 208, 224 from spinning around on the attachment arm 202. The blocking fingers 212, 216, 218, 220 contact the blade to limit movement of the blades 208, 224 if the blades should hit an object such as a rock or stump.
Base 230 of locking bodies 226, 228 secures to attachment arm 202. Locking bodies 226, 228 serve as a spring that limits clearance between the pivot fingers 210, 222 and the locking bodies 206, 216. In one embodiment, the locking bodies 226, 228 are constructed from spring steel.
The blade 208, 224 provides a sharpened edge 238 for cutting the grass, weeds, lawn, etc. In one embodiment, the blade 208, 224 may provide a single edge. In another embodiment, the blade 208, 224 may provide two sharpened edges. The user can remove the blade, flip the blade, and reattach the blade to pivot finger 210, 222. The user can then continue mowing with a sharpened blade due to the other edge being sharp. In one embodiment, the edges are sharpened so that the cutting edge will remain the same once the blade is flipped over and reattached.
Retention aperture 240 extends longitudinally through the retention body 206. The attachment arm 202 inserts longitudinally into retention body 206 as shown in
The present invention may provide different sized blades dependent on the size of the mower. The blades may be sized for mowers that mow with blades of 16 inches, 18 inches, 19 inches, 20 inches, 21 inches, 22 inches, 30 inches, 33 inches, 38 inches, 42 inches, 46 inches, 48 inches, 50 inches, 54 inches, 60 inches, and other blade sizes. Because the mower system of one embodiment is constructed with two separate blades instead of a single blade, the size of each blade of the present invention may be shortened to provide the designated mowing area. Each of the different sized blades may be designed to fit within an attachment arm. The attachment arm may be universally sized such that the different sized blades may be secured within the attachment arm.
In one embodiment, the size and shape of the attachment arm may vary to fit within different mowers. The shape may also be varied to securely attach to the mower.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention is one well adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth, together with other advantages which are inherent to the structure.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
This application claims priority to and is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/704,882 entitled MOWER BLADE SYSTEM filed on May 5, 2015 which is a continuation in part of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/988,768 entitled MOWER BLADE SYSTEM filed on May 5, 2014.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2232261 | Orr | Feb 1941 | A |
2477442 | Cramer, Jr. | Jul 1949 | A |
3321894 | Ingram | May 1967 | A |
3683606 | Staines | Aug 1972 | A |
9743584 | Dixon | Aug 2017 | B1 |
20080277127 | Dixon | Nov 2008 | A1 |
20090308044 | Bever | Dec 2009 | A1 |
20090308045 | Bever | Dec 2009 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 14704882 | May 2015 | US |
Child | 15688829 | US | |
Parent | 61988768 | May 2014 | US |
Child | 14704882 | US |