A mower path assistance system to encircle an obstacle projecting from a ground surface, including a barrier mat formed with a barrier mat aperture enclosed by the barrier mat and having a barrier mat aperture diameter, a perimeter edge, and a barrier mat installation slit extending from the perimeter edge to the barrier mat aperture, wherein the barrier mat is deformable around the barrier mat installation slit to create a pathway having a pathway width through which the obstacle may pass from the perimeter to the barrier mat aperture. The barrier mat has a plurality of edges with axes that intersect at obtuse angles.

A lawn mower has an electrical port that receives current from an alternator powered by the lawn mower engine. The current and voltage sent the electrical port depend on a flywheel and stator arrangement operatively connected to the alternator. The stator may be replaceable or interchangeable to selectively determine the alternator current and voltage output. The port receives a plug from a garment worn by the lawn mower operator. The garment includes one or more thermo-electric elements that are powered from current extending through the port. The thermo-electric elements may be resistive heaters to warm the operator or TEC coolers to cool the operator. Furthermore, the garment may include a rechargeable battery that powers the thermo-electric elements when the plug is disconnected from the port.

A lawn mower has an electrical port that receives current from an alternator powered by the lawn mower engine. The current and voltage sent the electrical port depend on a flywheel and stator arrangement operatively connected to the alternator. The stator may be replaceable or interchangeable to selectively determine the alternator current and voltage output. The port receives a plug from a garment worn by the lawn mower operator. The garment includes one or more thermo-electric elements that are powered from current extending through the port. The thermo-electric elements may be resistive heaters to warm the operator or TEC coolers to cool the operator. Furthermore, the garment may include a rechargeable battery that powers the thermo-electric elements when the plug is disconnected from the port.

An outdoor power unit or lawn mower has an electrical port that receives current from an alternator powered by the lawn mower engine. The current and voltage sent the electrical port depend on a flywheel and stator arrangement operatively connected to the alternator. The stator may be replaceable or interchangeable to selectively determine the alternator current and voltage output. The port receives a plug from a garment worn by the lawn mower operator. Alternatively, the outdoor power unit may be an entirely electric device free of an internal combustion engine. The garment includes one or more thermo-electric elements that are powered from current extending through the port. The thermo-electric elements may be resistive heaters to warm the operator or TEC coolers to cool the operator. Furthermore, the garment may include a rechargeable battery that powers the thermo-electric elements when the plug is disconnected from the port.

An outdoor power unit, such as a mower or snow thrower, having a supplemental battery charging station mounted thereon is provided. The outdoor power unit utilizes a flywheel/alternator arrangement to output a selected voltage. The voltage is directed to the supplement battery charging station. The supplemental batteries are thereby charged at the charging station as the outdoor power unit is driven forward or in another direction. The outdoor power unit also includes a rack (which may be in the form of a hook) to carry a battery powered supplemental lawn maintenance tool, such as a weed trimmer, hedger, edger, or leaf blower, amongst others.

A mower having a supplemental battery charging station mounted thereon is provided. The mower utilizes a flywheel/alternator arrangement to output a selected voltage. The voltage is directed to the supplement battery charging station. The supplemental batteries are thereby charged at the charging station as the mower is driven forward or in another direction. The lawn mower also includes a rack (which may be in the form of a hook) to carry a battery powered supplemental lawn maintenance tool, such as a weed trimmer, hedger, edger, or leaf blower, amongst others.

A high-efficiency cutting system for an autonomous mower provides a multiple blade tip cutting radius for a cleaner cut, and more complete mow. The system includes a spinning blade disk provided within a housing including a vertical standoff. The blade disk includes a first pair of cutting blades located between the center of the blade disk and the circumference of the blade disk, and a second pair of cutting blades located radially inward from the first pair of cutting blades. The cutting blades extend downward and away from the blade disk at an angle.

A zero-turn vehicle is provided. The zero-turn vehicle includes a frame, an engine supported on the frame and configured to output rotational power, two or more driving wheels rotatably mounted to an underside of the frame, and a guard having a first end and a second end. The first end of the guard is fixedly secured to the frame by a hinge mechanism, and the second end of the guard is configured to engage the frame by a latching mechanism. In a first position, the second end of the guard is engaged with the frame by the latching mechanism, such that the engine is covered by the guard. In a second position, the second end of the guard is disengaged from the frame by the latching mechanism, such that the guard is rotatable about the hinge mechanism so as to expose the engine from the guard.

A utility machine, such as an outdoor power equipment unit such as a lawn mower, includes a work unit performing work in addition to motive power for the utility machine and a trailer occupied by an operator in a standing position. The operator may seamlessly step onto the trailer to operate the machine in stand-on mode and step off the trailer to operate the machine in walk-behind mode. The trailer remains in the deployed condition in both stand-on mode and walk-behind mode.

A footrest for an outdoor power equipment having a frame that supports a seat. The footrest includes a first footrest portion supported relative to the frame and defines a first support surface. The footrest also includes a second footrest portion defining a second support surface. The second footrest portion is movably coupled to the first footrest portion. The footrest also includes an adjustment mechanism positioned between the first and second footrest portions to adjust a position of the second footrest portion between a first position where the second footrest portion is closest to the seat, a second position where the second footrest portion is farthest from the seat, and infinitely between the first and second positions.