Pivoting grass chute

A grass discharge member for a lawn mower discharge chute automatically converted to/from a grass bag use or a direct discharge use positions upon the mounting/dismounting of the grass bag.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an improved grass discharge member and, more 
particularly in the preferred embodiment, a pivoting discharge member 
selectably moveable between a direct discharge and grass bag use 
positions. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Lawn mowers having grass chutes have been utilized in consumer and 
professional applications for many many years. The ubiquitous rotary mower 
is a familiar sight on urban and suburban landscapes. Typically this type 
of rotary mower, whether it be single or multiple bladed, has a discharge 
chute for transferring the grass clippings from underneath the rotary 
mower deck, which clippings may be dispersed over the lawn (as in the case 
of the direct discharge lawn mower), or which may be collected in a 
collection means such as a grass bag for later processing. Some lawn 
mowers are convertible, typically having some sort of cover member which 
is movably mounted to the lawn mower, so as to allow for the selective 
connection/disconnection of a grass bag from an otherwise blocked 
discharge chute. Typically, however, these conversion means are 
inconvenient to use and/or require additional steps in order to accomplish 
a successful interconnection of the grass bag to the lawn mower. This is 
often inconvenient and difficult for the typical consumer to manage. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to increase the ease of conversion 
of lawn mowers from dispersal to a collection mode. 
It is yet another object of the invention to improve the efficiency of lawn 
mowers with grass bags. 
It is yet another object of the present invention to simplify the process 
of converting a lawn mower from direct discharge to collection mode. 
It is still another object of the present invention to increase the 
serviceability of lawn mowers. 
Other objects in a more complete understanding of the invention may be had 
by referring to the following description and drawings in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an improved lawn mower. 
The invention will be described in a preferred embodiment of a single 
bladed riding lawn mower having a rear mounted grass bag. This lawn mower 
includes a mower frame 10 (shown in representational form in FIG. 5) 
supported by wheels (not shown) for controlled travel over the ground. The 
particular mower frame 10 disclosed is that of a rear engine riding lawn 
mower having a mower deck 11 suspended underneath for accomplishing the 
actual mowing function. Other types of mowers including push mowers can 
utilize the invention. The invention can also be utilized with other 
discharge locations including side discharge. 
The particular mowing deck 11 disclosed is a 30-inch single bladed deck 13 
(FIG. 5). The rear discharge chute 14 is pivotally connected at its front 
15 to the mower deck and at its rear portion 16 to the mower frame 10 so 
as to allow the mower deck 11 to be selectively moved upwards and 
downwards to order to control the height of cut and/or to avoid scalping 
the lawn. 
Invention of this particular application relates to a discharge member 20. 
This discharge member 20 is located axially off of the end 16 of the rear 
discharge chute 14. 
This discharge member 20 is movable between two positions. In a first 
position (FIG. 4) the discharge member 20 cooperates with the discharge 
chute 14 so as to deflect grass clippings and/or residue upwards and 
backwards into the associated grass bag 50. In a second position (FIG. 2) 
the discharge member 20 cooperates with the discharge chute 14 in order to 
deflect grass clippings downward into the lawn for eventual 
disintegration. The discharge member is biased into the second position. 
As the discharge member 20 disclosed is utilized in a rear discharge lawn 
mower, it is mounted in the back section of the mower frame 10. 
The mounting for the preferred rotating discharge member 20 includes 
mounting brackets 30 and an air dispersal member 40. 
The mounting brackets 30 are adapted to interconnect the air dispersal 
member 40 fixedly to the mower frame 10. As the mower is a rear discharge 
mower, the mounting brackets 30 are fixedly bolted to the aft section of 
the mower frame 10 so as to extend axially off of such frame. 
The mounting brackets 30 allow for room for the moving discharge member 20 
and the rear discharge chute 14, while at the same time fixedly 
interconnecting the air dispersal member 40 to the frame 10. 
The air dispersal member 40 serves as an intermediate member between the 
mower frame 10 and the grass bag 50, serving primarily to cooperate with 
the latter in grass collection. 
The particular air dispersal 40 member disclosed is a flat sheet of stamped 
steel 41 which has a clearance opening 42 and a multitude of air openings 
43. 
The air dispersal member 40 is mounted off of the back of the mower frame 
10 by the mounting brackets 30 with the clearance opening 42 generally in 
line with the discharge chute 14 of the mower deck 11. The discharge 
member 20 itself is located in the clearance opening 42 pivotally or 
rotatively mounted to the air dispersal member 40 for movement between the 
first position--directing the clippings upward and backward and a second 
position--directing the clippings downward (contrast FIG. 4 with FIG. 2). 
The discharge member 20 is biased in the second position such that upon 
removal or non-existence of the grass bag 50, the discharge member 20 is 
located to direct the grass clippings downward onto the lawn instead of 
through the clearance opening 42 in the air dispersal member. The 
preferred form of biasing is a spring 27. Alternately weights or an off 
center pivot point could be utilized. Typically in each position, it is 
preferred that the deflection surface 27 of the discharge member 20 is in 
contact (or close proximity with) the discharge chute 14 (top of bottom 
edge respectively). This provides for efficient transfer or directing of 
the clippings. 
A hanger bar 45 is located across the top of the air dispersal member. This 
hanger bar 45, together with the alignment hooks 46 thereon, are for 
mounting of the grass bag 50 onto the air dispersal member 40 (and thus 
the mower frame 10). 
The grass bag 50 itself has a generally rectangular frame 51 surrounded by 
a porous material 52 on all but one side. This side is the open front 53. 
A front handle 54, a rear handle 55 and two reinforcing bars 56 complete 
the assembly. 
In use, two mounting brackets 57 locating extending off of the top front 
edge of the frame 51 hook over the hanger bar 45 at the alignment hooks 46 
so as to selectively interconnect the grass bag 50 to the air dispersal 
member 40. The act of lowering these mounting brackets 57 of the grass bag 
50 onto the hanger bar 45 has the effect of causing the bottom front edge 
59 of the grass bag to contact the then exposed activation section 24 of 
the discharge member 20 (FIG. 2). Due to the angular orientation of this 
activation section 24 in respect to the dispersal member 30 the edge 59 of 
the grass bag 50 is temporarily affixed in a position to activate the 
discharge member 20. 
Further physical connecting movement causes further movement of the grass 
bag 50 downwards to rotate the discharge member 20 between its second 
position directing the grass clippings downwards to a first position 
directing clippings upwards and backwards through the clearance opening 42 
and thus into the grass bag 50 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Note that as the front 
edge 59 moves downward the lever arm effect in respect to the activation 
section 24 increases, thus lowering the amount of force necessary to move 
and then retain the discharge member 20 in its second position. As shown 
in FIG. 3 on early positioning the spring 27 might bias the grass bag 50 
outwards absent operator counterforce. 
Due to the fact that in the first position the trailing surface 25 of the 
discharge member 20 is generally directed to the back top end edge 58 of 
the grass bag 50, virtually the entire grass bag 50 can be filled with 
clippings before significant back pressure occurs. In this unlikely event, 
the open top 26 of the discharge member 20 would allow grass clippings to 
escape into the area between the air dispersal member 40 and the mower 
frame 10, thus allowing continued operation of the lawn mower itself. 
In addition to the above, the air openings 43 in the air dispersal member 
40 are oversized, each being some half inch deep by four inches long. This 
allows for efficient air movement from the grass bag 50 to the surrounding 
atmosphere irrespective of the condition of the porous material 52 of such 
grass bag. Further, the cooperation of the discharge member 20 and air 
dispersal member 40 also provides that there is minimal residual leakage 
of grass clippings out of these openings 43. 
Although the invention has been described in the preferred mode to a 
certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that numerous 
changes can be made without deviating from the claims as hereinafter set 
forth.