Patent ID: 6484481
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: A01D,Y10S

Abstract:
A mower comprising:a. a traction vehicle; b. a plurality of cutting units carried on the traction vehicle which cutting units collectively cut a swath of grass as the traction vehicle is operated, wherein the cutting units comprise rotary-type cutting units each having a cutting blade which is rotated in a substantially horizontal cutting plane, wherein the cutting blade has a tip at each end with a sharpened cutting edge on each blade tip; c. wherein each cutting unit includes a cutting deck having a substantially circular shroud wall that extends vertically downwardly from a top wall to form a substantially circular, downwardly facing cutting chamber, wherein the cutting blade rotates within the cutting chamber without having the blade tips radially extend outside of the shroud wall of the cutting chamber and with the blade tips remaining at all times beneath the top wall of the cutting chamber; d. wherein each cutting unit includes a plurality of rotatable ground engaging members that allow the cutting unit to roll over the ground during movement of the traction vehicle; e. wherein each cutting deck has a front side that is forwardmost taken with respect to forward motion of the traction vehicle with the front side of the cutting deck having a pair of laterally spaced front corners comprising a left front corner and a right front corner; and f. wherein the cutting deck has a pair of front comer cut-outs comprising a left front corner cut-out located at the left front corner of the cutting deck and a right front corner cut-out located at the right front corner of the cutting deck, wherein each front corner cut-out is formed by a cut away portion of a lower edge of the shroud wall, the cut away portion extending high enough up the shroud wall such that an upper edge of the cut away portion is located below the top wall of the cutting deck but above the sharpened cutting edges on the blade tips so that uncut grass can more easily enter the cutting chamber through each front cut-out to be cut by the blade.