Patent ID: 6591592
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A mower assembly for cutting vegetation growing in an open area and around intermittent stationary objects such as poles or posts, comprising:(a) a stationary platform for being mounted to one side of a mobile machine; (b) a housing mounted on said platform for rotation relative thereto; (c) a drive assembly operatively connected to and driven by a power supply; (d) a blade for being rotated by said drive assembly; and (e) a latch assembly, including a lever mounted on the housing and slidably engaging an outer sidewall of the platform for moving the latch assembly between: (i) a latched position for maintaining the housing in a stationary position relative to the platform in the absence of a laterally-directed force on said latch assembly; and (ii) an unlatched position for permitting the housing to rotate around the platform in the presence of a laterally-directed force imposed on the latch assembly by a stationary object as the mower assembly passes to one side of the object, thereby permitting said blade to cut vegetation growing around the stationary object as the mobile machine continues in a straight line path.