A mulching and chipping attachment includes a deck having a top plate. A cutting disk is attached to the deck. The top plate includes an opening that exposes a portion of the cutting disk. A guide chute is attached to the deck, and is disposed over the opening. The guide chute includes a feed system. The feed system includes a first roller, and a reactionary member operable to react against the first roller to secure a log therebetween. The first roller and the reactionary member cooperate together to grasp and controllably feed the log through the opening. The first roller or the reactionary member may be moveable relative to the other, to adjust a throat distance therebetween. An anvil may be disposed at a rearward edge of the opening, and extend downward to define a chip cutting height between the anvil and the cutting disk.

A lawn mower and a cutter housing assembly can include a cutter housing, a first and second rotation arms, and first and second plates pivotably attached to the cutter housing. The first plate and second plate can be selectively rotatable between: (a) a discharge mode in which the plates are positioned a first distance from the front wall of the cutter housing to provide a first gap, and (b) a mulch mode in which the plates are positioned a second distance greater than the first distance from the front wall to provide a decreased gap. A first actuator and second actuator can be connected to the first and second rotation arms to cause rotation of the first and second rotation arms when actuated. Actuation of the first actuator and second actuator can cause the first plate and second plate to move between the discharge mode and the mulch mode.

Various types of lawnmowers are disclosed that include a cutter housing having a cutting chamber and a discharge opening therein. A driving mechanism can be mounted on the cutter housing, and a radius arm can be mounted on or near the blade spindle such that the radius arm is rotatable about the blade spindle. A shutter gate that is arcuate in shape can be mounted on the radius arm so as to rotate with the radius arm between a discharge arrangement and a mulch arrangement. The shutter gate can include a driven element that is driven by the driving mechanism to cause the shutter gate to rotate between the discharge arrangement where the shutter gate allows for discharge of vegetation through the discharge opening, and the mulch arrangement where the shutter gate blocks the discharge opening.

A multi-configurable mower deck for use with a lawnmower, the mower deck including a top surface, a front leading edge, at least one side wall extending from the top surface, and at least one partial rear wall extending from the top surface. The mower deck includes both a side-discharge opening formed on one side of the mower deck and a rear-discharge opening formed through the at least one partial rear wall. Additionally, the mower deck may include a selectively removable secondary front baffle configured to block the flow of clippings through the side-discharge opening and direct the flow of clippings toward the rear-discharge opening. The mower deck may also include at least one selectively removable rear baffle, wherein the at least one selectively removable rear baffle is configured to at least partially block the rear-discharge opening.

The disclosed subject matter is directed to a lawnmower that can include a cutter housing with a first chamber wall defining a first cutting chamber. A first discharge opening can be located in the chamber wall, and the cutter housing can include a slot arrangement. A conversion assembly can include an adjustable wall slidably attached to the cutter housing so as to be selectively movable within the slot arrangement between an opened position and a closed position to place the lawnmower in either a discharge mode or a mulch mode (or somewhere in between).

A mulching apparatus for attachment to a lawnmower includes a cutting assembly separate from the mower blades, wherein the grass clippings are finely cut and then dispersed onto the ground surface. A spreader assembly receives the mulched grass clippings from the cutting assembly and disperses the mulched grass clippings onto a ground surface. Optionally, the mulching apparatus includes a feeder assembly to facilitate supplying grass clippings to the cutting assembly.

Various types of lawnmowers are disclosed that include a cutter housing having a chamber wall and a discharge opening therein. A mulch gate can be provided with an interior scroll-shaped face and can be pivotably attached to the cutter housing so as to be movable between an opened gate position and a closed position. In the opened position, the mulch gate is positioned such that the discharge opening is opened to an exterior of the lawnmower to allow clippings to pass therethrough and out of the lawnmower. In the closed position the mulch gate closes the discharge opening to provide a mulch mode in which clippings remain in the cutter housing for added cutting by the lawnmower blade. When the mulch gate is in the closed gate position, the interior scroll-shaped face of the mulch gate can be substantially continuous with a wall interior surface of the chamber wall.

A shutter assembly for a lawnmower can include a cutter housing, a shutter, and a lever. The shutter can be rotatably attached to the cutter housing so as to be movable between (a) a first shutter position in which a blocking panel is positioned such that the blocking panel opens the discharge opening, and (b) a second shutter position in which the blocking panel is positioned such that the blocking panel closes the discharge opening, and the second shutter position corresponds to a mulching position. The lever can be attached to the shutter and extend through the cutter housing slot. The lever can move the shutter between the first shutter position and the second shutter position. The lever can include a handle knob assembly that includes a button that is biased, by a spring, to lock in any one of a plurality of positions on the cutter housing.

A mower deck insert includes a first cutting chamber, a second cutting chamber, and a discharge passage extending adjacent to the first cutting chamber and the second cutting chamber. The first cutting chamber includes a first axial scroll extending about a first vertical axis. The first axial scroll includes a first upper surface having a first start region and a first end region. The second cutting chamber includes a second axial scroll extending about a second vertical axis. The second axial scroll includes a second upper surface having a second start region and a second end region. The first start region is vertically lower than the first end region, and the second start region is vertically lower than the second end region.

A mulching device for attachment to a lawnmower includes a cutting assembly separate from the mower blades, wherein the grass clippings are finely cut and then dispersed onto the ground surface. In one embodiment, the cutting assembly includes an auger that compresses the grass clippings prior to cutting them. The mulching device may also include a separation chamber for separating the grass clippings from the forced air exiting the mower deck, so that the grass clippings may be cut in an environment separate from the forced air. In another embodiment, the mulching device includes a dispersion assembly for spreading the cut grass clippings onto a ground surface. The dispersion assembly may include a chute extending from the forced air outlet to a position adjacent the cutting assembly, wherein the forced air exiting the separation chamber is directed onto the cut grass clippings to disperse the cut grass clippings onto the ground surface.