Abstract:
A mobile motor device is provided to be used interchangeably with motorless equipment shells. The mobile motor device includes a carrying handle, an universal motor, a support plate, and a latch for attaching to a motorless equipment shell. The motorless equipment shell is provided with a device to receive the latch and to prove stability to the mobile motor device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Several types of motor implements that are utilized domestically are powered by small gasoline engines. These motor implements can include a large number of devices such as push or riding lawn motors, generators, water pumps, rotor tillers, and marine engines for boats. Purchasing a multitude of these devices individually is expensive, with the main cost component being the gasoline engine. 
     Therefore, in order to minimize the costs associated with the purchase of a number of these motor implements, the need to utilize several gasoline engines, one engine for each implement, must be eliminated. A device is needed whereby a single gasoline engine can be employed in a variety of implements to perform a variety of tasks. 
     Toward this end, many devices have been proposed. One such device, U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,291 issued to Woelffer, is a convertible device. This device transforms an existing motor implement into a different motor implement. For example, a push lawn mower is converted into an air blower. Although this device reduces the need for one engine in the domestic motor tool arsenal, its range of applications is very restricted. Applications beyond this restricted range require the purchase of further gasoline engines. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,291 issued to Woelffer discloses a rotary lawnmower that is convertible to an air blower. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,708 issued to Harlan and Mark Prenatt discloses a snow remover which is convertible to a lawn mower. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,331 issued to Chernosky discloses a lawn mower to which a baffle can be attached to convert the mower to a vacuum cleaner. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,203 issued to Middleton discloses a snow blower unit powered by an engine. Attachments are available to convert the snow blower to a lawnmower, vacuum and bagger, leaf picker, edger, rotary tiller, leaf blower, sprayer, electric generator, hydraulic pump, and air compressor. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,147 issued to Savell discloses a weed trimmer that has a carriage that permits converting the trimmer to a lawn mower. 
     Another device, U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,203 issued to Middleton, permits an existing motor implement to be converted to other motor implements by using various attachments. Specifically, this device consists of a snow blower having several types of attachments permitting the snow blower to change into a lawn mower, water pump, or generator. This device cannot however be utilized for larger motor implements, such as marine engines. Furthermore, this device suffers from the same malady as the above described device in that its range of applications is restricted. 
     The present invention overcomes the above short-comings and includes a number of unique and advantageous features. The present invention consists of a portable motor that can be utilized in a multitude of applications. The applications can consist of any device that requires the use of a small gasoline engine. As the need for a new application is identified, an application shell toward that end is constructed. 
     The benefits of such a device are immediately obvious. The user need only make a one-time investment for a major cost item--the gasoline engine. Thereafter, the user need only purchase application shells to perform the desired tasks as the need for each application arises. As the engineless shells will cost much less then their engine-laden counterparts, the cost savings to the user who has a need for several such applications will be substantial. Additionally, the user of the present invention will be required to service and maintain only one engine, not several. 
     The present invention is constructed so that the time required to transfer the mobile motor device from one application shell to another is approximately one minute. 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide for a mobile motor device that can be used interchangeably with motorless equipment shells. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a cost efficient apparatus. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide for a mobile motor device that is easily and quickly installed into the application shells. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention provides for a mobile motor device to be readily interchanged between various motorless equipment shells. An universal motor, a carrying handle, a connecting latch, a supporting plate, and a power driving member constitute a mobile motor device. 
     The motorless equipment shell can consist of several types of tool implements, such as push or riding lawn mowers, edgers, rotor tillers, water pumps, generators, air compressors, log splitters, wood chippers, shredders, or boats, or any equipment operated with a horizontal shaft motor. 
     A receiver and a stabilizing box are attached to the motorless equipment shells. The supporting plate of the mobile motor device slides into the stabilizing box, the connecting latch is secured to the receiver and power is transferred from the motor device to the tool implement by means of a pulley drive belt system. 
     The cost is greatly reduced by utilizing one universal motor for several motorless equipment shells. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mobile motor device attached to a motorless equipment shell. 
     FIG. 2A is an enlarged detailed side view of the mobile motor engine plate on the mobile motor device. 
     FIG. 2B is an enlarged detailed planar view of the mobile motor engine plate on the mobile motor device. 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged detailed side view of the T-bar on the mobile motor device. 
     FIG. 3B is an enlarged detailed planar view of the stabilizing bracket for the T-bar. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed side view of the receiver located on the motorless equipment shell. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed isometric view of the stabilizing box located on the motorless equipment shell. 
     FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate the motorless lawn mower shell. 
     FIG. 7A illustrates the mobile motor device mounted on a sidewalk edger shell. 
     FIG. 7B illustrates the motorless sidewalk edger shell. 
     FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the motorless boat shell. 
     FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate the motorless generator shell. 
     FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate the motorless compressor shell. 
     FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate the motorless water pump shell. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will now be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views. FIG. 1 depicts the mobile motor device 1 attached to a motorless equipment shell 2. A handle 3 is attached to the mobile motor device to provide for a means to carry the device from one motorless equipment shell to another motorless equipment shell. The mobile motor device 1 consists of an universal motor 4 having a fuel tank 5, heat sink 6, and pulley 7 which is a power driving member. Power is transferred from the motor device to the motorless equipment shell by a pulley drive belt system (the belt, the pulley on the motorless equipment shell and the tension means are not shown in this figure). The universal motor 4 is attached to a motor plate 8 by threaded studs 9 and nuts 10. The motor plate has an isolator pad 11 and carbon steel plate 12. Being made of rubber, the isolator pad 11 dampens the vibrations created by the universal motor 4 during operation. 
     A T-bar 13 is used to attach and detach the mobile motor device 1 to the motorless equipment shell 2. The T-bar 13 is guided by stabilizing bracket 14, which allows for translational and rotational motion along the T-bar&#39;s longitudinal axis. The T-bar 13 also includes a washer spring 16 and a pin 17. 
     The motorless equipment shell 2 consists of stabilizing boxes 18 and a receiver 19, a pulley 37, and tension means 35. (See e.g. FIGS. 6A and 6B). 
     FIG. 2A is an enlarged detailed side view of the mobile motor plate 8 and. FIG. 2B is an enlarged detailed planar view of the mobile motor plate 8. The mobile motor plate 8 has an isolator pad 11. A 3/4 inch thick carbon steel plate 12 is located on the isolator pad 11. Motor plate 8 has a first end 20 and a second end 23. 
     Located on the steel plate are four threaded studs, 9A, 9B, 9C, and 9D. A distance of 63/8 inches separate stud 9A from stud 9C and stud 9B from stud 9D. A distance of 31/8 inches separates stud 9A from stud 9B and stud 9C from stud 9D. 
     First end 20 of the steel plate 12 is 51/2 inches wide. At the top and bottom portions of end 20 are two flanges, 21. Flanges 21 each have a length of 3/4 of an inch and a width of 1 inch. 
     At second end 23, at a distance of 3/4 of an inch from the center of studs 9B and 9C, the steel plate 12 extends upwards and then outwards, forming a flange 22. The height from the bottom of the steel plate 12 to the top of flange 22 is 2 inches. The length of flange 22 is 21/2 inches. At a distance of 1 inch from end 23 of flange 22 is the middle of an aperture 24. Aperture 24 has a diameter of 9/16 of an inch. Flange 22 is also illustrated in FIG. 3A. 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged detailed side view of the T-bar 13. The T-bar has handle 25 having a length of 4 inches and a height of 5/8 of an inch. This handle 25 is welded to bar 26 at location 27. Approximately 14 inches from handle 25 is a washer 15 welded to bar 26. Located between flange 22 of steel plate 12 and washer 15 is a spring 16. A pin 17 is attached on the T-bar 13, below flange 22. 
     The bracket 14, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, is 3/16 of an inch thick and has a width of 1 inch. Aperture 28, having a diameter of 11/16 inches, is for guiding the motions of the T-bar 13. Apertures 29, each having a diameter of 3/8 of an inch, are for receiving bolts for securing the bracket to the mobile motor device (not illustrated in this figure but shown in FIG. 1). 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed side view of the receiver unit of the motorless equipment shell 2. The receiver unit is welded to the motorless equipment shell 2. It has a height of 13/4 inches and a diameter of 3/4 of an inch. A cut out portion 30, forms a J-shape channel having a diameter of 1/4 of an inch. This cut out portion acts as a guiding channel which receives the pin 17 of the T-bar 13. 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed isometric view of the stabilizing box 18. The stabilizing box 18 is an inverted C-channel. The C-channel has two flanges 31 and 32, and a web 33. The flanges have a length of 3/4 of an inch and a height of 1/4 of an inch. The web has a length of 1 inch and a width of 3/4 of an inch. The flanges and web are 1/8 of an inch thick. The stabilizing box is welded to the equipment at portions 34. 
     FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7B and 8A-11B all illustrate various embodiments of a motorless equipment shell. In all of these figures, there is a receiver 19, two stabilizing boxes 18 and tension means 35. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a motorless push lawn mower shell 36, having a pulley 37 and tension means 35. FIG. 7B illustrates a motorless sidewalk edger shell 38, having a pulley 37, and tension means 35. FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C illustrate a motorless boat shell 39 having a pulley 37, and tension means 35. FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a motorless generator shell 40. FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a motorless air compressor shell 41. FIG. 11A and 11B illustrate a motorless water pump shell 42. 
     FIG. 7A illustrates a mobile motor device 1 attached to a motorless sidewalk edger shell 38. Power is transferred from the mobile motor device 1 to the motorless sidewalk shell by a pulley drive belt system 43. 
     In order to secure the mobile motor device 1 to a motorless equipment shell 2, the mobile motor 1 is positioned so that flanges 21 are slid into stabilizing boxes 18 located on the motorless equipment shell 2. At this point pin 17 is located just above cutout portion 30 of receiver unit 19. The user pushes down on handle 25 so that pin 17 is inserted into cutout portion 30 of receiver unit 19. When pin 17 reaches the horizontal portion 30A of cutout portion 30 the user twists handle 25 so that pin 17 traverses the entire length of portion 30A and reaches end portion 30B. Thereafter the user releases handle 25. Spring 16, being contracted, causes an upward force on washer 15 which in turn causes an upward force on bar 26. This causes pin 17 to be displaced into end portion 30B and rest in a locked position. Residual forces exist, causing an effective preload which resists motion of the pin 17 thereby ensuring stability of the T-bar 13. 
     A pulley belt 43 is connected between the mobile motor device pulley 7 and the motorless equipment shell pulley 37. The pulley belt 43 transfers power from the mobile motor device 1 to the motorless equipment shell 2. Appropriate tension is retained on the pulley belt 43 by tension means 35. 
     While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.