A discharge control system is secured to a discharge cover over a discharge opening in a lower deck of a riding lawn mower to focus and direct an airflow exiting the discharge opening to do useful work. The system includes a discharge cover attachment and an attachment mechanism. The discharge cover attachment defines a volume and includes an exit opening which is smaller than the discharge opening. The attachment mechanism secures the discharge cover attachment to the discharge cover.

The application provides a multifunctional robotic device including a body, an energy unit installed in the body, a power unit powered by the energy unit, the power unit including an output shaft wherein the output shaft is located at the lower part of the body and exposed from the body, and at least two working units, the working unit is detachably connected to output shaft of the power unit and driven by the power unit.

A robotic vehicle may include a power module and a working module. The power module may include control circuitry configured to execute stored instructions to direct operation of the robotic vehicle on a defmed area, and a drive motor for propelling the robotic vehicle responsive to control by the control circuitry. The working module may be configured to perform a function with respect to the defmed area responsive to being propelled by the power module. The working module may be one of a plurality of interchangeable working modules that are attachable to the power module. At least one of the interchangeable working modules may have a different function than the working module.

A robotic vehicle may include a power module and a working module. The power module may include control circuitry configured to execute stored instructions to direct operation of the robotic vehicle on a defmed area, and a drive motor for propelling the robotic vehicle responsive to control by the control circuitry. The working module may be configured to perform a function with respect to the defmed area responsive to being propelled by the power module. The working module may be one of a plurality of interchangeable working modules that are attachable to the power module. At least one of the interchangeable working modules may have a different function than the working module.

Systems and methods for cutting grass and other materials using a disk-shaped cutting web. The cutting web has a center portion that is attachable to a rotating shaft adapter. The center portion may be a solid annular disk having a keyed aperture that allows it to be mounted on a spindle of a rotating shaft adapter. The cutting web has multiple strings that are connected to the center portion and extend outward from it in a generally radial direction (away from the center of the disk). The strings intersect with each other to form junctions at which they are joined, thereby forming a web that can be rotated at high speed to perform a cutting function. The strings of the web can have sharp or serrated edges and may be colored to increase the visibility of the web.

Systems and methods for using interchangeable tool attachments in multi-use tools. In one embodiment, a multi-use tool includes a motor, a shaft and a shaft adapter at the end of the shaft. The motor has user controls (e.g., on/off switch or throttle) that control the motor to drive the shaft and cause it to rotate. The shaft may include a rigid tubular outer member with a flexible inner shaft. The shaft adapter is coupled to the end of the rotating portion of the shaft. The shaft adapter has a mounting flange that rotates with the adapter at the end of the shaft. An interchangeable tool attachment is secured to the mounting flange, and rotation of the shaft adapter and mounting flange causes the tool attachment to rotate as well. Many different tool attachments can be interchangeably secured to the mounting flange to provide corresponding, different functions to the tool.

Systems and methods for using interchangeable tool attachments in multi-use tools. In one embodiment, a multi-use tool includes a motor, a shaft and a shaft adapter at the end of the shaft. The motor has user controls (e.g., on/off switch or throttle) that control the motor to drive the shaft and cause it to rotate. The shaft may include a rigid tubular outer member with a flexible inner shaft. The shaft adapter is coupled to the end of the rotating portion of the shaft. The shaft adapter has a mounting flange that rotates with the adapter at the end of the shaft. An interchangeable tool attachment is secured to the mounting flange, and rotation of the shaft adapter and mounting flange causes the tool attachment to rotate as well. Many different tool attachments can be interchangeably secured to the mounting flange to provide corresponding, different functions to the tool.

A riding vehicle may include a blower assembly, a mower deck, and a power source. The blower assembly may be configured to direct air from an air inlet to at least one air outlet to move surface debris. The mower deck may be configured to cut a lawn formed of grass or other vegetation. The blower assembly may be configured to direct air to an interior space of the mower deck for assisted discharge of cuttings.

A riding vehicle may include a blower assembly, a mower deck, and a power source. The blower assembly may be configured to direct air from an air inlet to at least one air outlet to move surface debris. The mower deck may be configured to cut a lawn formed of grass or other vegetation. The blower assembly may be configured to direct air to an interior space of the mower deck for assisted discharge of cuttings.

A powered landscaping apparatus having a frame, at least one wheel on the frame through which the frame can be supported upon and advanced over a subjacent support surface, a blower assembly operatively positioned on the frame and having a fan assembly that is mounted to be turned guidingly around a vertically extending axis, and a drive on the frame for moving the fan assembly around the vertically extending axis. The blower assembly is configured to generate a pressurized supply of air that is propelled in a stream that is directed in a manner to continuously redistribute loose material that resides on the subjacent support surface as the fan assembly is moved around the vertically extending axis by the drive and the frame is advanced over the subjacent support surface.