Patent ID: 8544251
Filing Date: 2013-10-01
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A reel mower for cutting grass, which comprises: (a) a mower frame supported for rolling over the ground; (b) a power source carried on the mower frame; (c) an operator's station carried on the mower frame for supporting an operator thereon; (d) a plurality of reel cutting units carried on the mower frame; and (e) a suspension for operatively connecting each reel cutting unit to the mower frame, wherein each suspension for each reel cutting unit includes a pair of pivotal suspension arms extending substantially fore-and-aft relative to the mower frame with the arms comprising an upper suspension arm and an underlying lower suspension arm, wherein each suspension further includes a steering head, wherein the steering head is operatively pivotally connected to one of the reel cutting units to allow the reel cutting unit to pitch relative to the steering head about a substantially horizontal, laterally extending pitch axis and to roll relative to the steering head about a substantially horizontal, longitudinally extending roll axis, wherein the upper and lower suspension arms each have a bushing and ball joint pivotal connection between a front end of each suspension arm and the steering head, wherein the bushing and ball joint pivotal connection of the upper suspension arm is separate and distinct from the bushing and ball joint pivot connection of the lower suspension arm with the two separate and distinct bushing and ball joint pivot connections comprising the only pivot connections that act between the front ends of the suspension arms and the steering head, wherein the ball joints of the pivotal connections of both suspension arms are vertically spaced from one another but sufficiently overlie one another when the reel cutting unit connected to the steering head is in an operative mowing position to define a substantially vertical yaw axis about which the steering head and the reel cutting unit connected to the steering head can yaw or steer relative to the suspension arms during a mowing operation.