COMBINATION MOWER AND EDGING DEVICE

A combination mower and edging device includes a chassis having a pair of front wheels, a pair of rear wheels and a pair of handlebars. An electric driving motor is connected to the rear wheels, and an electric mower motor is connected to a cutting blade that is positioned within an annular cutting chamber located beneath the chassis. An electric edging motor is coupled to a vertically oriented edging blade that is positioned along a distal end of an elongated support rod. The rod moves the edging blade between a raised and lowered configuration via a control lever on the handlebars. The mower motor, drive motor and edging motor are connected to an onboard controller and operated by user interface devices located along the handlebars. A housing encloses each of the motors and a collection bag is connected to an opening within the annular chamber to collect grass clippings.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to lawn and garden equipment, and more particularly to a combination mowing and edging device.

BACKGROUND

For millions of homeowners, renters, and other individuals, weekly or monthly lawn care is a chore that must be performed. To obtain the best results, this typically requires the individual to utilize a lawn mower to cut their grass, and to then utilize a mechanical edger to prevent the grass from growing onto secondary items such as gardens, driveways, and sidewalks, for example.

The prior art has many known types of manual, self-propelled and riding lawn mowers. Likewise, there are many known types of mechanical edging devices having a motor and vertical blade. Although these devices are useful in their own rights, the requirement to purchase, store, maintain, and ultimately utilize two separate machines for this related work requires a relatively high investment on the part of the user.

The present invention, directed to a combination mower and edging device differs from the conventional art in a number of aspects. The manner by which will become more apparent in the description which follows, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a combination mower and edging device. One embodiment of the present invention can include a chassis having a pair of front wheels, a pair of rear wheels and a pair of handlebars. In one embodiment, an electric driving motor can be connected to the wheels in order to self-propel the mower in accordance with a user command.

In one embodiment, the device can include an electric mower motor having an output shaft that is connected to a horizontally oriented blade positioned within an annular cutting chamber located beneath the chassis. The mower motor can be connected to an onboard controller and operated by a user interface located along the handlebars.

In one embodiment, the device can include an electric edging motor that is mechanically coupled to a vertically oriented edging blade. The edging blade can be connected onto an elongated support rod and can transition between a raised and lowered configuration. A control lever can be positioned along the handlebars and can mechanically raise and lower the support rod in order to selectively operate the edging motor.

A housing can be provided along the chassis to protect the device components, and an optional bagger can be connected to an opening within the annular chamber to collect the cut grass clippings during device operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

As described herein, a “unit” means a series of identified physical components which are linked together and/or function together to perform a specified function.

As described throughout this document, the term “about” “approximately” “substantially” and “generally” shall be used interchangeably to describe a feature, shape, or measurement of a component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.

As described herein, the term “removably secured,” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together in a non-permanent manner so as to allow the same objects to be repeatedly joined and separated.

As described herein, the term “rotatably secured” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more identified objects are joined together in a manner that allows one or both of the objects to pivot, rotate, and/or move about or in relation to the other object in one or more of a horizontal, diagonal or vertical manner. Several nonlimiting examples of connectors for pivotally connecting objects together include traditional single or double hinge mechanisms, ball joint couplers, rotational couplers, pulley couplers, single axis pins, and/or swivel flanges, for example.

As described throughout this document, the term “complementary shape,” and “complementary dimension,” shall be used to describe a shape and size of a component that is identical to, or substantially identical to the shape and size of another identified component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.

FIGS.1-6illustrate one embodiment of a combination mower and edging device10that are useful for understanding the inventive concepts disclosed herein. In each of the drawings, identical reference numerals are used for like elements of the invention or elements of like function. For the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. For purposes of this description, the terms “upper,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented inFIG.1.

As shown best atFIGS.1and2, the device10can include a chassis11having a pair of front wheels12along the front end of the device, a pair of rear wheels13along the back end of the device, and a pair of handlebars14that extend away from the back end of the device. In one embodiment, one or more batteries15can be positioned along the chassis and can be connected to a controller50and any number of user controls such as a mower motor on/off button16, and/or a drive motor operation lever17, among others, for example.

In one embodiment, the device10can include an electric drive motor21which can preferably be positioned along the chassis11at the back end of the device. The electric drive motor can produce a rotary output which is operatively connected to one of the rear wheels13and/or or the rear axle22so as to selectively rotate one or both of the wheels during device operation. In either instance, the drive motor21can be connected to the batteries15and the drive lever17via below described controller50so as to be operated by a device user.

In one embodiment, the device10can include a mower motor25having an output shaft26onto which a rotary cutting blade27is secured. The motor can be positioned along the top surface of the chassis, and the output shaft can extend downward so as to position the rotary cutting blade27horizontally within an annular cutting chamber28. Although illustrated as a closed cutting chamber for use as a mulching-type mower, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the chamber includes a discharge opening for feeding grass clippings into a collection bag65(seeFIG.6).

In the preferred embodiment, the mower motor25can comprise an electric motor that is connected to the batteries15and the on/off controls16via the below described controller50so as to selectively rotate the cutting blade27with sufficient force to cut grass and weeds of varying heights and thicknesses. Of course, other embodiments are contemplated wherein the mower motor includes, comprises, or consists of a gasoline type motor having an onboard fuel tank.

In one embodiment, an edging motor31can be positioned along the top surface of the chassis along one side of the device, and the first end32aof an elongated support arm32can be rotatably connected to the side of the chassis body at a location adjacent to the edging motor. As shown best at cutoutFIG.3, the edging motor31can include an output shaft having a pulley33that is connected to a drive belt34which connects to a second pulley35. The second pulley35is coupled to a vertically oriented rotary edging blade36that is positioned within a safety housing37located along the second end of the support arm32.

An operating cable41such as a steel cable, for example, can be connected to a lever42located along the handlebars at a first end. The body of the cable can be routed along the length of one of the handlebars and can engage a pulley43located adjacent to the motor31, before terminating onto a bracket44of the support arm. As shown best atFIGS.4A and4B, the cable can be tensioned such that a downward movement (arrow a) of the lever42acts to rotate the support arm32in a clockwise manner so as to lower the edging blade (arrow a′) and activate the edging blade motor31. Conversely, an upward movement (arrow b) of the lever42acts to rotate the support arm32counterclockwise so as to raise the edging blade (arrow b′) and disengage the edging blade motor.

Although described above with regard to a particular arrangement of components for selectively raising and lowering the edging blade36, this is for illustrative purposes only. To this end, any number of other components can be provided for selectively transitioning the edging blade between the raised and lowered position. Moreover, the edging motor31can include any number of different types and sizes of motors capable of rotating the cutting blade36with sufficient force to penetrate natural surfaces (e.g., grass, dirt, gravel, etc.,) and to cut weeds and other vegetation positioned therein.

The controller50can function to link and control the operation of the device10so as to perform the functionality described herein. As shown best atFIG.5, one exemplary embodiment of the controller50can include a processor51that is connected to a memory52, a component interface unit53, and a power regulation unit54.

Although illustrated as separate elements, those of skill in the art will recognize that one or more system components may comprise or include one or more printed circuit boards (PCB) containing any number of integrated circuit or circuits for completing the activities described herein. Of course, any number of other analog and/or digital components capable of performing the below described functionality can be provided in place of, or in conjunction with the below described controller elements.

The processor51can be any type of central processing unit (CPU) or any other type of device, or multiple devices, capable of manipulating or processing information such as program code stored in the memory52and for causing the circuitry to complete the activities and functionality described herein.

Memory52can act to store operating instructions in the form of program code for the processor51to execute. Although illustrated inFIG.5as a single component, memory52can include one or more physical memory devices such as random-access memory or other non-persistent memory device(s), along with a persistent data storage device.

The component interface unit53can function to provide a communicative link between the processor51and various other device components such as the drive motor21, the mower motor25, the edging motor31and the user interface devices and levers such as those described at elements16and17, among many others for example. In this regard, the component interface unit can include any number of different components such as one or more PIC microcontrollers, internal bus, USB connections and other such hardware capable of providing a direct link between the various components. Of course, any other means for providing one- or two-way communication between the identified components can also be utilized herein.

The power regulation unit54can function to regulate and/or distribute power being provided to and/or from the batteries15. In this regard, the power regulation unit can include an onboard battery charger for engaging a power cable to charge the batteries15, along with any number of surge protectors to prevent the devices electrical components from becoming damaged from an under power or overpower situation.

As shown best atFIG.6, the device10can include an outer housing61beneath which the above noted components can be located. The housing can function to protect the onboard batteries, and the various motors21,25and31, along with the respective electrical connections from impacts with foreign objects during operation of the mower. As shown, one side of the housing can include an opening62for the edging blade36and housing37. An optional battery cover63can be provided for allowing access to the onboard batteries, and an optional catch bag65can be positioned along the back end of the device in order to collect grass cut by the cutting blade27.

In operation, a user can selectively operate the drive motor and mower cutting motors in order to mow their lawn. Although not specifically shown, height adjustment mechanisms can be provided along each wheel to allow the user to adjust the length of the grass after it is cut. Whenever appropriate, the user can selectively lower the edging blade to perform an edging operation wherein a vertical path is cut along the ground.

Moreover, it is noted that each of the drive system (e.g., motor21and wheels13), the edging system (e.g., motor31and blade32), and mowing system (e.g., motor25and blade27) may be operated together (e.g., at the same time) or independently from each other in any combination so as to result in 7 distinct operating modes as follows: 1) Walk mode wherein the drive motor is active, the mower motor is inactive and edging motor is inactive; 2) Manual mow mode wherein the drive motor is inactive, the mower motor is active and edging motor is inactive; 3) Self-propelled mow mode wherein the drive motor is active, the mower motor is active and edging motor is inactive; 4) Manual edging mode wherein the drive motor is inactive, the mower motor is inactive and edging motor is active; 5) Self-propelled edging mode wherein the drive motor is active, the mower motor is inactive and edging motor is active; 6) Manual mow and edging mode wherein the drive motor is inactive, the mower motor is active and edging motor is active; and 7) Self-propelled mow and edging mode wherein the drive motor is active, the mower motor is active and edging motor is active.

Accordingly, the above-described mowing and edging device provides a novel solution for allowing users to mow and edge any type of landscape without the hassle of obtaining, maintaining and using multiple pieces of different equipment.

As described herein, one or more elements of the device10can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment means such as, for example, screws, glue, compression fittings and welds, among others. Moreover, although the above embodiments have been described as including separate individual elements, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skill in the art will recognize that one or more individually identified elements may be formed together as one or more continuous elements, either through manufacturing processes, such as welding, casting, or molding, or through the use of a singular piece of material milled or machined with the aforementioned components forming identifiable sections thereof.