Abstract:
The invention provides a mounting hitch for attaching an accessory, such as a grass collection unit, to a vehicle, such as a riding lawn mower. The lower portion of the hitch is disposed relatively close to the ground to aid with the mounting of the hitch to the riding mower. Being mountable relatively close to the ground also allows the riding mower to maintain a relatively low center of gravity such that the riding mower is relatively resistant to tipping when cutting on a hill or other uneven surface. The mounting hitch comprises a removably attachable portion and hitch attachment portions. The hitch attachment portions are directly connected to the riding mower and comprise structures for receiving the removably attachable portion. The removably attachable portion is mountable to the hitch attachment portions such that a single user is able to mount the hitch to the riding lawn mower.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention pertains to hitches, and more specifically, hitches used to mount objects to a vehicle, such as a riding lawn mower.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Mounting hitches are generally well known in the art. They permit an accessory, such as a collection system, to be attached to a vehicle, such as a riding lawn mower. The vehicle has one or more receiving portions for the hitch that are usually disposed relatively high above the ground. Thus, in order to connect these hitches, they must be raised to the level of the receiving portion(s) on the vehicle. Since these types of hitches are often heavy and awkward, they require more than a single individual to lift and mount. Therefore, even if an individual has the strength to lift the hitch (or hitch with the accessory attached) alone, the assistance of another person is still required to attach the hitch to the receiving portion(s). Therefore, there is a need for a mounting hitch that permits a single user to easily attach the hitch to a vehicle, such as a riding lawn mower.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The invention provides a mounting hitch for attaching accessories, such as a grass collector, to a riding lawn mower. The lower portion of the hitch is disposed relatively close to the ground to aid with the mounting of the hitch to the riding mower. Being mountable relatively close to the ground also allows the riding mower to maintain a relatively low center of gravity. The mounting hitch comprises a removably attachable portion and hitch attachment portions. The hitch attachment portions are directly connected to the riding mower and comprise structures for receiving the removably attachable portion. The removably attachable portion is mountable to the hitch attachment portions such that a single user is able to mount the hitch to the riding lawn mower.  
         [0004]     To mount the hitch, a user disposes the lower portion of the hitch near the riding mower. Each side of the lower portion of the hitch is connected to the riding mower. Due to the shape of the hitch and the relatively close proximity to the ground that the hitch is mounted, attaching the lower portions requires minimal, if any, lifting of the hitch. A user can then move to the rear of the hitch and lift the hitch to pivot the hitch upward and forward. Since most of the weight of the hitch is supported by the attachment of the lower portion of the hitch to the riding mower, it is relatively simple for a user to pivot the hitch. As the hitch moves forward, a latch on the hitch engages a receiving portion on the riding mower. The latch locks the hitch in place, and thus, the hitch is now mounted to the riding mower. Additional support in the form of adjustable linkages may be attached between the hitch and the riding mower. This attachment method and the structure of the hitch permitting this attachment method makes the mounting process simple for a single user even if a heavy accessory is attached.  
         [0005]     The invention further provides a hitch for connecting an accessory to a riding lawn mower. The hitch comprises a lower mounting portion and an upper mounting portion. The lower mounting portion is for removably and pivotably mounting the hitch to the riding lawn mower. The upper mounting portion is disposed above the lower mounting portion for removably connecting an upper portion of the hitch to the riding lawn mower. If the lower mounting portion is mounted to the riding lawn mower, the hitch can be pivoted toward the riding lawn mower, and the upper mounting portion can secure the hitch to the riding lawn mower  
         [0006]     The invention further provides a riding lawn mower for cutting grass. The riding lawn mower comprises a lower receiving portion, an upper receiving portion, and a hitch. The lower receiving portion is disposed near the rear of the riding lawn mower. The upper receiving portion is disposed near the rear of the riding lawn mower and above the lower receiving portion. The hitch comprises a lower mounting portion and an upper mounting portion. The lower mounting portion is removably and pivotably coupled to the lower receiving portion and the upper mounting portion is removably connected to the upper receiving portion.  
         [0007]     The invention further provides a method of mounting a hitch to a riding lawn mower. The method comprises disposing the hitch near the riding lawn mower, mounting a lower portion of the hitch to the riding lawn mower, pivoting the hitch upward and toward the riding lawn mower; and attaching an upper mounting portion of the hitch to the riding lawn mower 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a riding mower with a mounting hitch and a collection system attached.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the mounting hitch and collection system shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the mounting hitch and collection system shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the mounting hitch shown in  FIG. 1  with a bag collection system.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is an elevational side view of the bag collection system shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the mounting hitch shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the mounting hitch shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the mounting hitch shown in  FIG. 1  attached to a riding mower chassis.  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the mounting hitch shown in  FIG. 1  and a riding mower chassis.  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a removably attachable portion of the mounting hitch shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is an elevational side view showing the removably attachable portion of  FIG. 10  disposed near hitch attachment portions.  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is an elevational side view showing the removably attachable portion of  FIG. 10  attached to a hitch bracket.  
         [0020]      FIG. 13  is another elevational side view showing the removably attachable portion of  FIG. 10  attached to a hitch bracket.  
         [0021]      FIG. 14  is an elevational side view showing the removably attachable portion of  FIG. 10  attached to a hitch bracket and rear guard.  
         [0022]      FIG. 15  is an elevational side view showing the removably attachable portion of  FIG. 10  attached to a hitch bracket, rear guard, and support bracket. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     Turning to the figures, there is shown in  FIG. 1 , a riding mower  100  with a mounting hitch  150  and collection system  200  attached thereto. The riding mower  100  may include a chassis  102 , wheels  104 , a motor  106 , and a seat  108 . The riding mower  100  has a cutting deck  110  that includes one or more cutting blades (not shown) that are used to trim blades of grass. Oftentimes, as the blades of grass are trimmed, they are directed through a side exit on the cutter deck  110  and back onto the user&#39;s lawn. Frequently, however, it is desirable to collect the grass trimmings in a collection system  200  mounted to the rear of the mower  100 . The collection system  200  is mounted via a mounting structure such as the mounting hitch  150  described in further detail below. As shown, a blower assembly  120  may be mounted on the cutting deck  110  such that as grass is discharged out of the cutting deck  110 , the grass passes into the blower assembly  120 . The blower assembly  120  has an internal impeller. The grass exits out of the rear of the blower assembly  120  into a hose  130 . The grass is forced up the hose  130  from the air flow that is created from the impeller and the deck  110 . As the grass exits the hose  130 , it is dispersed into the collection system  200 . The blower may be located at another position along the hose  130 . For example, the blower may be located near the collection system  200 .  
         [0024]     As described above, the mounting hitch  150  may be used to attach an accessory, such as a collection system  200  having a dumping mechanism, to the riding mower  100 . An example of such a dumping mechanism is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and is described in more detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (LVM Matter No. 235458, Express Mail Number EV420402993US, Inventor Nickolas T. Moore), filed Jun. 3, 2005, and entitled “COLLECTION SYSTEM,” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. This type of collection system  200  permits an operator to transport grass clippings via the riding mower  100  to a location where the clippings are to be disposed, and allows the operator to dump the clippings via a dumping mechanism at a desired location without leaving the seat of the mower  100 .  
         [0025]     The collection system  200  may comprise a hood assembly  210 , a hopper assembly  220 , and a dumping actuation assembly  240 . The hood assembly  210  may comprise a hood  212 , a hood hinge  214 , a hose receiving portion  216 , and a ventilation portion  218 . The hopper assembly  220  may comprise a front wall  221 , a rear wall  222 , sidewalls  223 ,  224 , a support plate  225 , a forward door  226 , a rear door  230 , and tracks  236 . The forward door  226  may comprise forward door lift tabs  227  and forward door hinges  228 . The rear door  230  may comprise rear door lift tabs  232  and roller bearings  234 . The dumping actuation assembly  240  may comprise a handle assembly  242 , a latch assembly  250 , and a linkage assembly  260 . The handle assembly  242  may comprise a handle  244 , a grip  246 , and a cable  248 . The latch assembly  250  may comprise a latch strap  252 , a latch pin  254 , and a latch tension spring  256 . The linkage assembly  260  may comprise handle links  262 , link arms  264 , adjustable links  266 , links  268 , forward door lift arms  270 , rear door lift arms  272 , shaft  274 , and bushing  276 .  
         [0026]     Other types of collection systems, such as the bag collection system  300  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , may be utilized with a mounting hitch  150 . The bag collection system  300  comprises a hood assembly  310 , a bag support structure  320 , and one or more bags  330  that are removably attachable from the collection system  300 . A hose  130  connects the cutting deck  110  to the hood  312  such that the grass clippings travel through the hose  130  from the cutting deck  110  to the collection system  200 . Oftentimes, a blower assembly  120  as described above is utilized to aid the transport of the grass clippings through the hose  130 .  
         [0027]     The hood assembly  310  may comprise a hood  312 , a hood hinge  314 , a hose receiving portion  316 , and a ventilation portion  318 . The bag support structure  320  may comprise support arms  322  and a hanger receiving portion  324 . The collection bags  330  comprise a frame  332  disposed at the mouth  334  of the bags  330  and a bag hanger  336 . The frame  332  rests on the support arms  322  and the bag hanger  336  rests on the hanger receiving portion  324  when the bags  330  are attached to the collection system  300 . The collection bags  330  are removably attachable so that a user can remove the bags  330  when they become full. To empty the bags  330 , the user removes the bags  330  from the collection system  300  and dumps the contents of the bags  330  at a desired location, typically by inverting the bags  330  such that the grass clippings can escape through the mouth  334  of the bags  330 .  
         [0028]     Although two examples of collection systems  200 ,  300  are described above, any suitable grass collection system may be utilized with the mounting hitch  150  of the present invention. Moreover, the mounting hitch  150  is not limited for use with collection systems and may be utilized with any suitable accessory that may be attached to a riding lawn mower  100 , such as a fertilizer dispenser, seeder, sprayer, aerator, dethatcher, etc.  
         [0029]     Turning to  FIGS. 6-9 , there is shown a mounting hitch  150 . The hitch  150  permits a user to attach one or more accessories to a vehicle, such as a riding lawn mower  100 . The hitch  150  is designed to permit a single user to relatively easily attach the hitch  150  to the riding mower  100 . The mounting hitch  150  comprises a removably attachable portion  164  that may be mounted to the riding mower  100  without the need for tools, and one or more hitch attachment portions  152  that receive the removably attachable portion  164  and secure it to the mower  100 .  
         [0030]     The hitch attachment portions  152  may be individual components that may be connected to the riding mower  100 , or they may be constructed as part of the riding mower  100 . They may be provided pre-attached or formed as part of the riding mower  100  so that a user is able to connect the removably attachable portion  164  without any prior installation. Alternately, when the hitch attachment portions  152  are individual components, they permit a user to attach and remove components as desired, and they also allow a user to purchase them individually and attach them to a previously purchased riding mower  100 .  
         [0031]     The hitch attachment portions  152  are typically attached to a relatively sturdy portion of the riding mower, such as the lawn mower chassis  102 . The hitch attachment portions  152  comprise one or more hitch brackets  154 , one or more skid plates  156 , one or more support straps  158 , a rear guard  160 , and one or more support brackets  162 . As shown, the hitch brackets  154  may be generally S-shaped and comprise apertures for bolting the hitch brackets  154  to the chassis  102  and a ball joint  153  for receiving a hitch pin  180 . Each skid plate  156  comprises a proximal end  155  and a distal end  157 . The proximal end  155  attaches to the chassis  102 , and the distal end  157  attaches to the rear guard  160 . The support straps  158  are generally L-shaped, and similar to the skid plates, one leg of the L is connected to the chassis  102  and the other leg is connected to the rear guard  160 . The rear guard  160  is connected indirectly to the chassis  102  via the skid plate  156  and support strap  158  as described above. The rear guard  160  comprises a hitch centering lobe  159  and a latch flange  161 , which will be described in further detail below. The support brackets  162  comprise apertures for connecting the support brackets  162  to the chassis  102  and an aperture for attaching an adjustable support linkage  174 , described in more detail below. Any suitable hitch attachment portions  152  may be utilized such that the removably attachable portion  164  can be securably mounted to the riding mower  100 .  
         [0032]     The removably attachable portion  164  has a structure that permits it to be relatively easily mounted and removed from a riding mower  100  by a single user. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the removably attachable portion  164  of the mounting hitch  150  may comprise a hitch weldment  168 , a latch  172 , and one or more adjustable linkages  174 . The hitch weldment  168  may comprise an aperture  167  for receiving a hitch pin  180 . The hitch weldment  168  may also comprise one or more generally L-shaped members  195  with a first portion having the aperture  167  and a second portion attached to the support plate  170 . The support plate  170  has one or more protruding members  169  for pivotally attaching a latch  172 . The support plate  170  may also comprise one or more centering slots  171  to assist with the proper alignment of the rear guard  160  with the support plate  170 . Further, the hitch weldment  168  may be attached to a main support member  196  for an accessory. The main support member  196 , if provided, may be any suitable shape or size.  
         [0033]     The latch comprises latch weldments  182 , a latch handle  184 , and one or more tension springs  186 . The latch weldments  182  comprise apertures for attaching the latch weldments  182  to the support plate  170 , connecting the handle  184 , and receiving a tension spring  186 . The latch weldments  182  also comprise a stop tab  183  for preventing the advancement of the rear guard  160  beyond the stop tab  183 , and a latch notch  185  for receiving the latch flange  161  of the rear guard  160 . The latch weldments  182  are pivotably attached to the protruding members  169  on the support plate  170  at a latch pivot point  188 . The latch handle  184  is disposed between and is connected to both latch weldments  182 . The tension springs  186  are disposed between the latch weldments  182  and the support plate  170  to aid in the retention of the hitch weldment  168  to the rear guard  160  when the hitch  150  is attached to the riding mower  100 .  
         [0034]     Turning back to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an adjustable support linkage  174  may be provided to add additional support to the mounting hitch  150  when it is mounted to the riding mower  100 . The adjustable support linkage  174  comprises a proximal L-shaped member  176 , a middle adjustment mechanism  177 , and a distal L-shaped member  178 . An end of the distal member  178  may be connected to a support bracket  190  attached, for example, to the support plate  170  or the main support member  196 . An end of the proximal member  176  may be connected to the riding mower  100  directly or otherwise attached to a support bracket  162  connected to the riding mower  100 . The adjustment mechanism  177  allows a user to extend or contract the adjustable support linkage  174  as necessary to line up the proximal and distal members  176 ,  178  with their respective support brackets  162 ,  190 . Adjustment is made by rotating the middle adjustment mechanism  177 .  
         [0035]     The removably attachable portion  164  is connectable to the hitch bracket  154 , the rear guard  160 , and the support bracket  162  to allow a user to mount a grass collection system  200 ,  300  or other accessory to a riding mower. Thus, the mounting hitch  150  may have three separate types of support structures to provide a secure attachment of the hitch  150  to the riding mower  100 . This enhances the stability of the mounting hitch  150  and the accessory attached to the mounting hitch  150 .  
         [0036]     The following example further illustrates the invention but, of course, should not be construed as in any way limiting its scope. As mentioned above, the mounting hitch  150  may be used to mount a grass collection system  200 ,  300  to the rear of a riding mower  100 . The individual hitch attachment portions  152  may be constructed as part of the riding mower  100 , may be attached to the riding mower  100  prior to the user receiving the riding mower  100 , and/or may be provided as individual components that the user may attach to the riding mower  100 .  
         [0037]     When the hitch attachment portions  152  are provided as individual components to the user, the user attaches these portions before attaching the removably attachable portion  164 . Two hitch brackets  154  and two support brackets  162  are bolted or otherwise connected directly to the mower  100 . The rear guard  160  is bolted or otherwise attached to four support straps  158  and two skid plates  156 . The support straps  158  and skid plates  156  are also bolted or otherwise attached to the chassis  102  of the mower  100 .  
         [0038]     To mount the hitch weldment  168  to the mower  100 , the hitch weldment  168  is placed on the ground  400  near the rear of the mower  100  as shown in  FIG. 11 . Turning to  FIG. 12 , the aperture  167  of the hitch weldment  168  is lined up with the hitch bracket  154  on one side of the mower  100 , and a hitch pin  180  is placed through the aperture  167  and the hitch bracket  154 . The hitch  150  is designed such that it need only to be lifted slightly, if at all, to align these apertures. A key ring or other suitable device may be disposed through an aperture in the hitch pin  180  to prevent the hitch pin  180  from laterally sliding out of the aperture  167  and hitch bracket  154 . This process is repeated on the other side of the hitch  150 . At this point, the lower portion of the hitch  150  is attached to the riding mower  100 .  
         [0039]     Once the lower portion of the hitch  150  is secured to the riding mower  100 , a user may move to the rear of the hitch  150  and lift the removably attachable portion  164  to pivot the removably attachable portion  164  around the hitch pins  180 . Referring to  FIG. 13 , as the removably attachable portion  164  is rotated toward the rear of the riding mower  100 , the latch  172  will contact the upper portion of the rear guard  160 . As the hitch  150  continues to pivot further, the latch  172  pivots around a latch pivot point  188 . A follower edge of the latch  172  will follow the formed radius of the latch flange  161  on the rear guard  160  and extend the tension springs  186 . Once the follower edge of the latch  172  terminates, the tension springs  186  will pull down on the latch  172  to cause the latch flange  161  of the rear guard  160  to engage the latch notch  185  of the latch weldment  182 . The hitch centering lobe  159  is received by the centering slots  171  on the support plate  170 . The hitch centering lobe  159  prevents the latch  172  from engaging unless the removably attachable portion  164  is centered. As shown in  FIG. 14 , this secures the upper portion of the hitch  150  to the mower  100 .  
         [0040]     Turning to  FIG. 15 , the ends of the adjustable support linkages  174  are inserted into a respective aperture in the support brackets  162 ,  190 , and a key ring or other suitable device may be used to prevent the adjustable support linkages  174  from disengaging the support brackets  162 ,  190 . Alternately, the adjustable support linkages  174  may be already attached to one of the support brackets  162 ,  190  prior to attachment. Adjustment of the middle adjustment mechanism  177  on the adjustable support linkages  174  may be required to obtain proper alignment of the linkage  174  and the aperture in the support brackets  162 ,  190 . Once this has been completed, the hitch  150  is secured to the mower  100 .  
         [0041]     To remove the hitch  150 , the key rings or other devices are removed from the adjustable support linkages  174 , and the adjustable support linkages  174  are detached from the apertures on one or both of the support brackets  162 ,  190 . The user may move the removably attachable portion  164  forward toward the riding mower  100 , and the latch handle  184  may be lifted to free the latch  172  from the rear guard  160  and permit the mounting hitch  150  to rotate back and downward around the hitch pins  180 . Once the hitch weldment  168  is supported on the ground, the key rings or other securing devices are removed from the hitch pins  180 , and the hitch pins  180  are removed from the aperture  167  and hitch brackets  154 . The removably attachable portion  164  of the hitch  150  is now completely disconnected from the riding mower  100 .  
         [0042]     Any one or more of the individual components described above may be formed as part of one or more single components.  
         [0043]     The mounting hitch may be utilized with any suitable vehicle.  
         [0044]     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.  
         [0045]     The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.  
         [0046]     Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor(s) for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor(s) expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor(s) intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.