Exerciser mower

A manually powered, pedal-powered exerciser mower includes a frame, a mower assembly mounted to the front of the frame, and a pedal-operated chain drive that drives the mower in both forward and rear directions. A movable kickstand raises the rear of the mower so that the mower may also be used as a stationary exercise bicycle. A brake enables the user to selectively vary pedaling resistance when the mower is used as a stationary exercise bicycle but the brake can also be applied while mowing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a manually powered, pedal-powered exerciser mower that uses no hydrocarbon fuel or electricity and emits no pollutants. The exerciser mower can be used as a lawn mower to cut grass or other ground cover, or as a stationary exercise bike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A first set of pedal-operated lawn mowers have a frame that includes a steerable front wheel. A mower assembly trails the front wheel. See for example Porath, U.S. Pat. No. 4,455,816 and Chun, U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,058. The front wheel compresses down a strip of uncut grass prior to cutting, resulting in a strip of uncut or poorly cut grass being left behind. The lawn mower can also slide and be difficult to turn in wet grass due to turning forces being generated by a single wheel.

Woodling, U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,393 discloses a pedal-operated lawn mower in which the mower assembly is attached to the front forks of a conventional bicycle whose front tire has been removed. The resulting lawn mower eliminates the problem of uncut grass but turning causes the mower assembly to urge tipping of the bicycle frame to one side. Furthermore, conventional bicycles that would be adapted for use cannot operate in reverse, making it impossible for the lawn mower to back out from under trees or bushes.

Chun further teaches that a pedal-operated lawn mower can also be used as a stationary exercise bike, an advantageous feature. However when the lawn mower disclosed in Chun is used as a stationary exercise bike, pedaling causes the cutting blades to also turn. This poses a safety hazard.

Thus there is a need for an improved pedal-operated lawn mower that can also be adapted for use as a stationary exercise bike. The improved lawn mower should cut the grass without leaving strips of uncut grass, should be stable in turns without the frame being urged to tip, and when used as a stationary exercise bike the mower cutting blades should remain stationary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an improved pedal-operated lawn mower that can also be used as a stationary exercise bike. The improved pedal-operated lawn mower cuts the grass without leaving strips of uncut grass, is stable in turns, and when used as a stationary exercise bike the cutting blades remain stationary.

A pedal-operated lawn mower in accordance with the present invention for cutting grass or other ground cover includes a frame having front and rear portions spaced apart along a longitudinal axis. A drive assembly includes a rear axle rotatably mounted to the rear portion of the frame, the rear axle carrying a rear wheel non-rotatably connected to the rear axle for conjoint rotation with the rear axle. Pedals are rotatably mounted to the frame, and a first drive operatively connects the pedals to the rear axle. The pedals are rotatable about a lateral axis of rotation to drive the rear axle, the lateral axis and the longitudinal axis defining a horizontal plane.

A steerer assembly rotatably mounted to the front portion of the frame is rotatable about a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and a mower assembly is nonrotatably attached to the steerer assembly. The mower assembly has cutting blades, a pair of front wheels, and a cutting drive operatively connecting the pair of front wheels with the cutting blades so that rotation of the front wheels drives the cutting blades. The front wheels and the rear wheel are configured to support the frame on a horizontal surface.

The vertical steering axis enables the mower to be steered for turning without the mower assembly urging the frame to tip over. The mower assembly is mounted to the front of the frame, allowing the cutting blades to cut grass that has not been compressed by a front wheel as in some conventional pedal-operated mowers. The pedal drive allows the user to pedal in either forward or reverse so that the mower can cut up to a fence or beneath shrubs and trees and yet can be backed up without the user getting off the mower.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the mower assembly is a reel-type mower assembly having a cutting blade that rotates about a horizontal axis, and the mower includes a pair of back wheels, the wheels spaced apart on opposite sides of the frame. The mower assembly and the pair of wheel wheels provide a stable base to resist tipping of the mower during use. In a further preferred embodiment the mower assembly is longitudinally spaced away from the frame for a longer wheelbase and even greater stability.

In further preferred embodiments the mower includes a kickstand that raises the rear wheel or wheels of the mower to enable the mower to be used as a stationary exercise bicycle. The cutting blades do not move while the mower is being used as a stationary exercise bicycle.

In yet further preferred embodiments the mower includes an adjustable brake that enables a user to adjust resistance to pedaling while the mower is being used as a stationary exercise bicycle. The brake can also be used to provide braking force while mowing, which can be useful for downhill grades.

The brake is preferably a prony brake in which a flexible member is pressed against the outer periphery of a disk carried on the rear axle. The prony brake provides a relatively uncomplicated mechanical brake that can be used when pedaling in either forward or backward directions, and offers a wide range of adjustment.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing sheets illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-4illustrate an exerciser mower10in accordance with the present invention. The exerciser mower10includes a frame12, a steerer assembly14attached to a front portion of the frame12, and a drive assembly16that includes a pair of rear wheels18,20mounted to a rear axle22carried on a rear portion of the frame12. A mower assembly24is attached to a lower end of the steerer assembly14. The rear wheels18,20and the mower assembly24support the frame12on a horizontal surface represented by the line26, which line26can represent the horizontal surface or plane of a lawn to be cut by the exerciser mower10. The rear wheels18,20are located on opposite sides of the frame12and spaced from the frame12to cooperate with the mower assembly24in forming a stable base that resists tipping of the frame12.

The drive assembly14includes a pair of pedals28carried on the frame12for rotation about a lateral axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame12. The pedals28drive a front sprocket30that in turn drives a rear sprocket32carried on the rear axle22via a bicycle roller chain34. Additional idler sprockets, such as the idler sprocket36, can be provided along the chain path. Preferably the chain34is enclosed within a chain guard38.

The pedals28can rotate in forward and reverse directions to enable driving the mower10in either forward or reverse directions. The height of a seat40carried on the frame12is preferably adjustable to permit comfortable positioning of the user's feet on the pedals28.

The frame14includes a fixed, vertically oriented head tube located at the front of the frame. The head tube42cooperates with the steerer assembly14to enable steering of the exerciser mower10. The steerer assembly14includes a head set similar to the conventional head set used for bicycles housed in the head tube42, the head set including a steerer tube44rotatable within the head tube42. The steerer tube44rotates about a vertical steering axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal plane defined by the lateral and longitudinal axes and is also perpendicular to the plane26. A pair of elongate arms46fixed to the upper and lower ends of the steerer tube44carry a vertical support member48. The support member48is spaced from the head tube42to enable conjoint rotation or revolution of the member48with the steerer tube44about the vertical steering axis. A set of handlebars50is attached to the top of the vertical member48.

The mower assembly24is attached to the bottom end of the vertical member48via a horizontal support member52that spaces the mower assembly24away from the frame12, thereby cooperating with the rear wheels18,20to provide a longer wheelbase for greater stability of the exerciser mower10. The mower assembly24revolves about the vertical steering axis with rotation of the support member48, thereby enabling steering of the exerciser mower10.

The mower assembly24is similar to that used in a conventional reel-type manual lawnmower and includes a pair of spaced apart front wheels54,56and a set of reel-type cutting blades58extending between the wheels54,56. When the wheels54,56are rolling, the cutting blades58revolve about a horizontal axis. A conventional cutter height adjustment device60is used for adjusting the length of cut.

The mower assembly24further includes a front wheel guard62that partially extends around the cutting blades58and a rear wheel guard64attached to the frame12that partially extends around the rear axle22.

In operation as a mower cutting grass or other ground cover, the exerciser mower10is driven forward (to the left as shown inFIG. 2) by rotating the pedals28. This causes the front wheels52,54to roll and drive the cutting blades58. The mower assembly24is in front so that the cutting blades58receive undisturbed and uncompressed grass for efficient cutting. The front wheels52,54and the rear wheels18,20have sufficient track width and wheelbase to form a stable base wheelbase that resists tipping or instability during operation.

Turning the handlebars50turns the mower assembly24to the left or right for going around turns. The vertical steering angle enables the exerciser mower10to turn easily without the mower assembly24urging the frame12to tip or otherwise become unstable. The relatively wide track of the front wheels54,56provides good tracking around turns and resists slipping in wet grass as compared to single-wheel steering.

If an obstacle is reached, the exerciser mower10can move in reverse merely by pedaling in the opposite direction. This allows the exerciser mower10to trim efficiently under trees or shrubs or to react to hazards such as pets that might get in the way of the mower10.

The exerciser mower10also includes features that enable the mower to function as an effective stationary exercise bike. A kickstand66is pivotally mounted to the frame and is movable between a retracted position shown inFIG. 2for when the exerciser mower10is used as a mower to an extended position shown in phantom inFIG. 2for when the exerciser mower10is used as a stationary exercise bike. When in its extended position the kickstand66raises the rear wheels18,20and supports the rear portion of the frame12on a horizontal surface represented by the line67. A retainer68carried on the rear wheel guard64releasably holds the kickstand66in its retracted position.

A brake system70enables a user to selectively apply torque resisting rotation of the rear axle22. An enlarged side view of the brake system70is shown inFIG. 5. The illustrated brake system70is a prony brake that enables the user to selectively vary the resistance applied to the rear axle22.

The prony brake70includes a coaxial pulley or disk72nonrotably attached to the rear axle22. A flexible, elongate belt74extends around the outer circumference of the disk72and is closely spaced from the disk72. One end of the belt74is attached to a fixed anchor76carried on the rear wheel guard64and the other end of the belt74is attached to an adjustable anchor78also carried on the rear wheel guard64. The adjustable anchor has a generally radially-aligned threaded rod80carried in the threaded bore of a rotatable tension adjustment nut82. The belt74is attached to the radially-inner end of the rod82. Rotating the nut80moves the rod82to tighten or loosen the belt74against the disk72. To resist slipping of the belt74off the disk72and to increase available friction area, the belt74is a V-belt received in a corresponding circumferential V-notch in the disk72.

The prony brake70is configured to enable a user to sufficiently loosen the brake70so that no resistive torque is applied to the disk72when the exerciser mower10is used as a mower, yet enables the user to selectively apply the desired resistance when the exerciser mower10is used as a stationary exercise bike.

During operation as a stationary exercise bike, the pedals28can be rotated in either direction as desired for exercise. The kickstand66and the front wheels52,54form a stable base that resists tipping of the frame12. The front wheels52,54remain stationary and the cutting blades58remain stationary during exercise.

During operation of the exerciser mower10as a mower, a user can apply braking torque to the rear axle by utilizing the prony brake70. This can be helpful, for example, when going downhill.

The illustrated braking system70is a prony brake. Other braking systems that apply selective resistance are known in the stationary exercise bike art and can be applied to the mower10. Preferably such alternative braking systems should also be usable to selectively apply braking when the exerciser mower10is used as a mower. Alternatively, a separate braking system could be provided for dedicated use while mowing. For example, the rear axle22could include a disk brake actuated by a handle grip carried on the handlebars50.

In yet other embodiments rolling the mower assembly24can include gearing in which rolling the front wheels52,54rotates cutting blades around a vertical axis of rotation for cutting instead of around a horizontal axis.

While this disclosure has illustrated and described one or more embodiments of the invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and that the invention is not limited to the precise details set forth, but includes such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.