BLADE REMOVING TOOL FOR ROTARY LAWN MOWERS

Abstract

A device constructed of a material strong enough to withstand the torque of a typical air wrench or breaker bar used by a lawn mower repair shop or a homeowner. The device must secure two lawn mower blades together in order to bind the blades. The device captures the opposing torque of both blades to cause a restriction in the blades ability to spin freely. To provide economics for manufacturing, one size should fit most blades and the device should require a limited quantity of materials and fabrication.

Claims

1. A tool for locking and removing of the rotary blades of a power lawn mower having a standard deck said tool needing no movable adjustment parts to install on said power lawn mower and being comprised of: 1. A one piece member consisting of 2. A first flat surface having a front, back and two sides upon which two blades are held, 3. Second and third flat surfaces integral and perpendicular to said sides of said first flat surface for retaining said blades from rotation, 4. Said second and third flat surfaces are located on sides of said blades having said first surface resting against said blades located on interior of said deck when said tool is installed on said mower, 5. All said surfaces are located on the interior of said deck so that when said second and third flat surfaces engage said blades are locked in place so that the removal or installation of said blades can be accomplished.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0046] In the drawings, corresponding numbers represent the same item or closely related items.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows the perspective view of the inventive device in which (1) shows the shape to be rectangular. (2) shows the area for receiving the blades to restrict the blades rotation by lodging against two blades at the same time, creating a bind on both blades.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows the inventive device (1) with the first blade (3) and second blade (3a) inserted, retained by the optional pins (4). The device is located on top of the opposing blades.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows the cut end view of the device (1) with an end view of the blade (3) inserted. The optional retaining pin (4) is also shown. The cut end view also demonstrates the ability to allow a blade (3) with a grass lifting wing (11) to securely sit within of the device (1).

[0050] FIG. 4 shows the underside of a typical multi-blade mower deck (5) and the device (1) with the first blade (3) and second blade (3a) inserted and restrained by the device (1). The optional retaining pins (4) are also shown installed through the device (1). A wrench (6) applies a tightening or loosening force to the blades bolt (7) which presses the first blade (3) and second blade (3a) into a restrictive bind against the device (1). The device (1) will be moved to sit on top of the second blade (3a) and third blade (3b) to remove the third blade (3b), which is not shown in the drawing but would look exactly as shown on the first blade (3) and the second blade (3a).

[0051] FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the device (1a) which is also a binding device. Loop retainers 1 (8) are inserted over first blade (3) and loop retainers 2 (9) are inserted over the second blade (3a). The restriction would be caused when applying a force to the blades bolts as previously explained. This embodiment can be constructed by casting, or by loops welded to a plate, or by loops bolted to a plate (for possible final assembly by the purchaser thus minimizing fabrication costs), or by stamping from a metal sheet.

[0052] FIG. 6 shows an upside down, bottom perspective view of alternate embodiments of the optional retainer pins in the form of a lip retainer (10). FIG. 6 also shows a second alternate embodiment of the optional retainer pins (4a) with the retainer pin bent instead of a straight flat design. Both forms of alternate embodiments are for keeping the first blade (3) and second blade (3a) safely inside the device (1).

DRAWINGSREFERENCE NUMERALS

[0053] 1 Device [0054] 1a Device Alternate [0055] 2 Area for Receiving Blade [0056] 3 First Blade [0057] 3a Second Blade [0058] 3b Third Blade [0059] 4 Optional Retaining Pin [0060] 4a Optional Retaining Pin Alternate [0061] 5 Underside View of Mower Deck [0062] 6 Wrench [0063] 7 Blade Bolt [0064] 8 Loop Retainers 1 [0065] 9 Loop Retainers 2 [0066] 10 Lip Retainer Alternate [0067] 11 Grass Lifting Wing on Blade

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0068] This device is constructed of steel or aluminum or composite or any other material sufficiently strong. It can be constructed of one piece of material formed by stamping bending or any similar method. It can also be constructed of pre-formed rectangular tubing with one side removed. It can also be constructed of multiple angles cut to size and attached together such as by welding. It can also be constructed by casting in a mold. It can be retained on the blades solely by gravity. Alternately, it can be retained on the blades with any of a number of pinning devices ranging from toggle pins to bolts to bolts and nuts to a pin with retaining clip. For embodiments utilizing the optional pins the device may have holes drilled, molded or punched completely through said tubing to allow a pin or shaft (4) (FIG. 2) to be inserted allowing it to serve as a retainer. For embodiments not utilizing a retainer (the device would be hand held) an optional lip (10) (FIG. 6) could be employed or the self-retaining embodiment (FIG. 5) could be utilized.

[0069] The device can be manufactured of any material so far as it is strong enough to withstand the repeated torque of wrenches and cheater bars.

Operation

[0070] The manner of using this device is to first follow the manufacturer's recommendations (such as remove spark plug wire) before trying to remove the mowers first blade (3) and second blade (3a). The device must be used on mowers with two or more blades. At this point, the device (I) or (1a) would be placed over the mowers first blade (3) and second blade (3a) by sitting the device on top and over said blades allowing the device to restrict both blades. A retaining pin (4) or retaining pin alternate (4a) could be installed at this point or the tool could be held in place by gravity alone. The tool can also be held down by hand is so desired. Now the blades can be loosened by first rotating it until the device is solidly binding both blades together with the torque applied from a wrench (6) while turning the blade bolt (7). At this time as much torque as needed may be applied to loosen or tighten the blades retaining nut or bolt (7).

[0071] To re-install blades, simply turn said blade retaining nut or bolt (7) with the device (1) installed over said first blade (3) and said second blade (3a) in the opposite direction as it was in taking it off. Allow device to again rotate slowly to properly bind the said first blade (3) and said second blade (3a) together. Now the recommended torque may be applied to tighten blade retaining nut or bolt (7) with a wrench (6).

CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE

[0072] Thus the reader will see that at least one embodiment of the device provides an easier-to-manufacture product that can be used on almost any type of rotary mower deck containing two or more blades allowing persons of almost any skill level to safely remove and reinstall mower blades to manufacturer recommended torque levels.

[0073] While my above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example, a device could be constructed utilizing U-bolts to retain the blades. Another example, a device could be constructed of 2 short pieces of tubing bound by a chain to retain the blades and cause the said binding effect. Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.