MOWER APPARATUS

Abstract

The present invention concerns support apparatus for a mowing device, the support apparatus comprising: a front roller mechanism having one or more rollers for supporting a front region of the mowing device, the one or more rollers having a cylindrical contact surface whose longitudinal extent is configured for extending across at least 60% of the front region of the mowing device.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. A support apparatus for a rotary mowing device, the support apparatus comprising: a front roller mechanism having one or more rollers for supporting a front region of a mowing device; a deck which supports a drive means for activating a rotary cutting blade and which shrouds the at least one cutting blade that in use is driven by the drive means so as to cut a path; and wherein the one or more rollers of the front roller mechanism are arranged outside of the deck, the one or more rollers having a cylindrical contact surface whose longitudinal extent is configured for extending across at least 60% of the front region of the mowing device.

27. The support apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the longitudinal extent of the one or more rollers is configured for extending across at substantially the entire width of the front of the mowing device.

28. The support apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the one or more rollers comprise two rollers, each having a longitudinal extent that is configured for extending across at least 30% of the front region of the mowing device.

29. The support apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the one or more rollers comprise three rollers, each having a longitudinal extent that is configured for extending across at least 20% of the front region of the mowing device.

30. The support apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the one or more rollers are arranged to comprise indentations in the cylindrical contact surface.

31. The support apparatus according to claim 26, further comprising a guide means for location rearwardly of the front roller mechanism for lifting grass blades.

32. The support apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the guide means comprises a comb having a plurality of vertical tines.

33. The support apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the guide means is height adjustable.

34. Support apparatus according to claims 31, wherein the guide means is orientation adjustable.

35. The support apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the front roller mechanism is height adjustable.

36. The support apparatus according to claim 26, further provided together with a rear roller mechanism having one or more rollers for supporting a rear end of the mowing device, the one or more rollers having a cylindrical contact surface whose longitudinal extent is configured for extending across at least 60% of the front region of the mowing device.

37. The support apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the mowing device comprises a pedestrian rotary mowing device.

38. The support apparatus according to claim 31, further comprising a height adjustment apparatus to simultaneously adjust the height of the guide means and the one or more rollers of the front roller mechanism.

39. A rotary mower comprising: a front roller mechanism having one or more rollers for supporting a front region of a mowing device; a rotary cutting blade for cutting grass in a cutting region of the mowing device; and a guide, positioned rearwardly of the one or more rollers, for lifting grass blades about to enter the cutting region.

40. A rotary mower comprising: a deck supporting a drive means for activating a rotary cutting blade that is enclosed within a deck; a front roller that extends outside of and across the front of the deck for supporting a front region of a mower; and a rear roller for supporting a rear region of the mower.

41. The rotary mower according to claim 40, wherein the rotary cutting blade defines a cutting path and wherein the front roller extends across at least 60% of the cutting path.

42. The rotary mower according to claim 40, further comprising a guide, positioned between the front roller and the rotary cutting blade, for lifting grass blades about to enter a cutting region of the lawn mower.

43. The rotary mower according to claim 40, further comprising a rear-mounted bag that collects grass clippings.

Description

[0056] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0057] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention;

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0059] FIG. 3 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; and

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a reverse exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0061] With reference to the figures there is shown an embodiment of a mowing device, the device having a single front roller 6 arranged outside of a housing or deck 30. The uncovered front roller 6 acts as a visual guide for uniform lawn stripes.

[0062] The housing comprises a deck 30, supporting a drive means 3 and handle 1, and leading to a rearmost cuttings container 2.

[0063] The deck 30, is generally annular in shape and further comprises a skirt having side faces and an end edge. The skirt shields or shrouds the cutting blade around the side faces of the deck.

[0064] Attached to the side faces of the skirt, at front end of the mower, is a rectangular box-sectioned annex which houses the comb 10.

[0065] The annex comprises a rear concave opening whose curvature matches and aligns with the annular shape of the sides faces of the skirt around the front end of the mower.

[0066] Additionally, the annex comprises two forward projecting sides, a top face, and a front face. The annex is open at its rear and underside.

[0067] The underside and rear openings of the annex allow fluid communication between the annex and the inside of deck. The two sides, top and front faces provide rigidity, being formed of suitable material, e.g. steel, aluminium, plastics or the like.

[0068] The front roller or rollers 6 is/are secured to the forward projecting sides of the annex and extend across the front face of the annex.

[0069] The container 2 is removable and may be displaced to leave a hinged flap 4, which flap 4 is biased to close over an exit from the cutting blade (see FIGS. 2 and 4).

[0070] The handle may be folded for transport or storage, and can comprise friction adjustment wheels 5.

[0071] The front roller 6 has a central axle 16 which runs in front of a guide comprising an agitating comb 10, which comb promotes lifting of the grass to a consistent cut length.

[0072] The comb adjustment mechanism comprises a set of location holes on the side of the deck. The user can adjust the height of the comb by moving the sprung pin 8 into the desired location hole 9.

[0073] The front roller may also be provided with a height adjustment means, whereby a user can adjust the height of the roller by rotating the sprung catch 17 on a pivot 19, into the desired slot 18. Peripheral double adjustments for the comb and front roller prevent the rollers and comb from leaning to one side during use. The handles of each of the front height adjusters on the front adjustment means and the height adjusters on the adjustment mechanism roller may act as a visual guide for the user to consistently align the mower with the previous lawn stripe.

[0074] In the present embodiment, the front roller extends across the entire width of the front of the mower. In this connection, the front roller should extend across at least 60% of the front end of the mower to avoid the creation of undesirable tram lines. Whilst it has been conventional wisdom to avoid rollers at the front end due to the feeling that they would compress the grass about to be cut detrimentally, in fact the passage of air through the grass within the mower deck as the blade rotates is sufficient to lift grass that may have been compressed.

[0075] The guide, in the form of a comb, can be used to further promote the lifting of the grass in preparation for cutting.

[0076] Furthermore, the front roller may include indentations that allow passage of air there-through to draw air past the grass approaching the cutting path of the blade. Such indentations may be placed and configured to enhance the fluid flow into mower housing.

[0077] The cutting blade is centrally located below the drive means on the deck.

[0078] The rear roller sits behind the cutting blade. The rear roller is split into two semi-rollers 13, 14 so as to allow for variable turning speeds and allow a turning circle, as well as to permit location of a gearbox 15.

[0079] The drive means comprises a starter 7, and is an internal combustion engine, which runs on either two cycles or four, such that two-cycle motor embodiments burn a mixture of gasoline and oil, while four-cycle motor embodiments burn gasoline and have a separate lubrication system.

[0080] The drive means turns a vertical axle that's attached to a single large blade, which may be made of a single piece of steel, and lies suspended horizontally above the ground within the housing when the adjustment apparatus is set at a lowest height. The blade has a cutting height of approximately 13 mm to approximately 70 mm. The adjustment apparatus comprises the adjustment mechanism and the adjustment means.

[0081] The blade spins at substantially 3,000 revolutions per minute and slices the grass as it passes over it. In some embodiments the blade can be either straight or curved.

[0082] As the blade spins it define a cutting path as the mower moves forward. In general, the cutting path has substantially the same width as the one or more rollers.

[0083] The width of the front region of the mower can be substantially defined by the cutting path, so that preferably, the one or more rollers have a cylindrical contact surface whose longitudinal extent is configured for extending across at least 60% of the cutting path.

[0084] The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention as defined by the claims.