Various embodiments of a grounds maintenance vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle includes a frame and a control tower disposed at or near a rear end of the frame. The control tower includes a support structure that defines an interior space of the control tower and a nonplanar removable skin connected to the support structure. The removable skin includes a front side disposed over a front side of the support structure and a lateral side disposed over at least one of a left side or a right side of the support structure. A portion of at least one of the front side or lateral side of the removable skin is disposed above an uppermost surface of the prime mover. Further, the removable skin is adapted to be at least partially removed from the support structure to facilitate additional access to the interior space of the control tower.

Mowing systems include a mower and a remote control unit such as a handheld unit, between which is provided 1- or 2-way communications. Components and features are included in the mower, the remote control unit, or both to enhance the safety, functionality, or user experience of the system's user/operator. One aspect relates to an enable switch on the remote control unit that requires activation within a specified time before activating a drive system or PTO unit. Another aspect relates to sharing diagnostic information between the mower and remote control unit and emitting user-detectable warnings in response to the shared information. Another aspect relates to reducing a danger level of the system, e.g. disabling the PTO unit or slowing a drive speed transform function, when a proximity between the mower and the remote control unit is too small. Another aspect relates to controlling operation of the mower based on tilt angles of both the mower and the remote control unit.

Mowing systems include a mower and a remote control unit such as a handheld unit, between which is provided 1- or 2-way communications. Components and features are included in the mower, the remote control unit, or both to enhance the safety, functionality, or user experience of the system's user/operator. One aspect relates to an enable switch on the remote control unit that requires activation within a specified time before activating a drive system or PTO unit. Another aspect relates to sharing diagnostic information between the mower and remote control unit and emitting user-detectable warnings in response to the shared information. Another aspect relates to reducing a danger level of the system, e.g. disabling the PTO unit or slowing a drive speed transform function, when a proximity between the mower and the remote control unit is too small. Another aspect relates to controlling operation of the mower based on tilt angles of both the mower and the remote control unit.

Mowing systems include a remote control unit such as a handheld unit for use with a mower, between which is provided 1- or 2-way communications. Components and features are included in the mower, the remote control unit, or both to enhance the safety, functionality, or user experience of the system's user/operator. One aspect relates to a handheld unit having a logic-implemented safety interlock for a PTO switch and/or a speed switch to prevent such switches from becoming active simultaneously with an enablement command for the PTO unit and/or drive unit of the mower. Another aspect relates to incorporating an inclinometer and/or motion sensor such as an accelerometer into the handheld unit, and controlling operation of the mower based on outputs) from such sensor(s). Another aspect relates to providing a display or other visual indicator on the handheld unit, and displaying on the visual indicator an indication of a tilt angle of the mower.

Mowing systems include a mower and, optionally, a remote control unit such as a handheld unit, between which may be provided 1- or 2-way communications. Components and features are included in the mower, the remote control unit, or both to enhance the safety, functionality, or user experience of the system's user/operator. One aspect relates to monitoring a tilt angle of the mower, and defining or executing different system responses as a function of different first and second conditions that relate to the tilt angle. Another aspect relates to automatic adjustment of a speed setting of the mower's drive system as a function of a power takeoff (PTO) unit of the mower.

Mowing systems include a mower and, optionally, a remote control unit such as a handheld unit, between which may be provided 1- or 2-way communications. Components and features are included in the mower, the remote control unit, or both to enhance the safety, functionality, or user experience of the system's user/operator. One aspect relates to monitoring a tilt angle of the mower, and defining or executing different system responses as a function of different first and second conditions that relate to the tilt angle. Another aspect relates to automatic adjustment of a speed setting of the mower's drive system as a function of a power takeoff (PTO) unit of the mower.

A conveying device includes: a main movement body; a main conveying mechanism that conveys the main movement body; and a controlling device that controls operation of the main conveying mechanism including a plurality of winches attached to the main movement body and multiple cables one wound around each winch; each winch includes a cylindrical drum rotatable about an axis line thereof and driving device that rotates the drum, and is wound around corresponding one of the drums of the respective corresponding winches helically in an axis direction of the drums multiple times, and have distal ends supported by supporting bodies corresponding to the respective winches; and the controlling device conveys the main movement body to an arbitrary position on a conveying path between the supporting bodies corresponding to the respective winches by controlling operation of a driving device of each winch disposed on the main movement body.

A removably attachable adjustable cutting apparatus and method includes a cutting deck, a mounting plate, a main pivot point in the mounting plate and a main adjustable arm with a first end connected with the mounting plate at the main pivot point and with a second end connected with the cutting deck such that the cutting deck is adjustable from a horizontal to a vertical position and positions in between.

An improved landscaping trimmer is provided. The device includes a housing having an open lower end. A motor is disposed within the housing and is operably connected to a plurality of cutting heads extending through the open lower end. The plurality of cutting heads are disposed in an offset pattern defining an upper portion of the housing and a lower portion of the housing. Each of the plurality of cutting heads is affixed to the housing in a floating arrangement. A plurality of blades extends from each of the plurality of cutting heads, whereupon actuation of the motor, the plurality of cutting heads rotate about the longitudinal axis. A handle extends from the housing, wherein the handle includes a control that activates the motor. A plurality of wheels is affixed to the housing, wherein each wheel is disposed adjacent to one cutting head of the plurality of cutting heads.

The configuration includes: a motor for driving a driving wheel (rear wheel) provided to a body; a slip ratio calculating section for calculating a slip ratio while the lawn mower is traveling; a friction coefficient calculating section for calculating a friction coefficient of a ground on which the lawn mower is traveling; a determination section for determining whether the ground on which the lawn mower is traveling is a lawn based on a relationship between the slip ratio and the friction coefficient and a drive controlling section for controlling the motor based on a determination result from the determination section. This configuration allows suitable driving operability for both of a case where the ground on which a lawn mowers traveling is a lawn and a case where the ground is other than a lawn.