Mower with grasscatcher

In a mower equipped with a grasscatcher, the grasscatcher is attached easily by means projecting upwardly from a deck of the mower, means being integral to a rigid portion of the grasscatcher and embracing the projecting means when the grasscatcher is mounted to the deck, and a block which cooperates with an upper lip on the rigid portion so as to restrain the grasscatcher from being detached unintentionally from the deck if the grasscatcher happens to be bumped from beneath, but so as to enable the grasscatcher to be detached easily.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention pertains to an improvement in a mower of a type comprising a 
grasscatcher, which has a rigid portion including a mouth receiving 
cuttings when the grasscatcher is mounted to a deck of the mower, for 
discharge of cuttings rearwardly into the grasscatcher. Herein, all 
references to directions (rearwardly, upwardly, etc.) assume that the 
mower is operated on a level surface, by an operator behind the mower. 
As exemplified in Australian Patent Specification No. 443,028, British 
Patent Specification Nos. 1,176,634, 1,210,358, 1,242,515, and 1,278,157, 
and U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,983,095, 2,955,402, 2,955,404, and 3,517,493, it is 
known for the grasscatcher to have a rigid shell, which is made of molded 
plastic material. 
As exemplified by several models available from Sunbeam Outdoor Company, 
Division of Sunbeam Corporation, Manning, S.C. 29102, it is known for the 
mower to comprise a deck, which includes a cutting chamber opening at a 
portal for discharge of cuttings rearwardly from the cutting chamber, a 
door, which has an upper edge where the door is mounted pivotally to the 
deck near an upper margin of the portal for pivotal movement between a 
position wherein the door closes the portal, as for operation of the mower 
without a grasscatcher, and positions wherein the door is pivoted upwardly 
from the portal, an arm, which is integral to the door for pivotal 
movement with the door, and which extends upwardly when the door closes 
the portal, and means biasing the door and the arm toward the position 
wherein the door closes the portal. 
Furthermore, it is known for the grasscatcher to have a rigid portion 
including a mouth conforming approximately in size and shape to the 
portal, to be attachable to the deck behind the portal so as to receive 
cuttings from the cutting chamber through the mouth, and to be detachable 
from the deck, and for the rigid portion to have an upper lip, which 
engages the arm so as to cause the door to be pivoted upwardly and 
rearwardly away from the portal, through the mouth, and into the 
grasscatcher, and the arm to be pivoted downwardly and forwardly over the 
deck to a position wherein the arm tends to be held by the upper lip and 
the biasing means, when the grasscatcher is mounted to the deck. 
Various latches and other means have been used to secure the grasscatcher 
to the deck. Although such means have been generally satisfactory, there 
has been a need for an improvement enabling the grasscatcher to be 
attached easily to the deck and detached easily from the deck but to be 
restrained so as not to become detached unintentionally from the deck, as 
when the grasscatcher happens to be bumped from beneath, bounced, or 
lifted, and enabling an operator to ascertain visually whether the 
grasscatcher is attached effectively. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
As discussed hereinbefore, this invention pertains to an improvement in a 
mower of a type comprising a deck, which includes a cutting chamber having 
a portal for discharge of cuttings rearwardly from the cutting chamber, a 
door, which has an upper edge where the door is mounted pivotally to the 
deck near an upper margin of the portal for pivotal movement between a 
position wherein the door closes the portal, as for operation of the mower 
without a grasscatcher, and positions wherein the door is pivoted upwardly 
and rearwardly from the portal, an arm, which is integral to the door for 
pivotal movement with the door, and which extends upwardly when the door 
closes the portal, and means biasing the door and the arm toward the 
position wherein the door closes the portal. 
As in prior mowers, the rigid portion of the grasscatcher has an upper lip, 
which engages the arm so as to hold the door in a position wherein the 
door is pivoted upwardly and rearwardly away from the portal, through the 
mouth, and into the grasscatcher, and wherein the arm is pivoted 
downwardly and forwardly over the deck, when the grasscatcher is attached 
to the deck. 
As improved by this invention, the mower comprises means projecting 
upwardly from a position of the deck near the upper margin of the portal, 
the projecting means being integral to said portion of the deck, and means 
embracing the projecting means when the grasscatcher is mounted to the 
deck, the embracing means being integral to the rigid portion of the 
grasscatcher near the upper lip, and a block, which is integral to the 
arm, and which is adapted to cooperate with the upper lip of the 
grasscatcher when the grasscatcher is attached to the deck so as to 
restrain the grasscatcher from becoming detached unintentionally from the 
deck if the grasscatcher happens to be bumped from beneath, but so as to 
enable the grasscatcher to be detached from the deck by pivotal movement 
of the arm downwardly and forwardly over the deck beyond the position 
wherein the arm tends to be held by the upper lip and the biasing means. 
Accordingly, the projecting means may comprise parallel pins projecting 
upwardly from said portion of the deck, and the embracing means may 
comprise spaced openings, which are provided in the rigid portion of the 
grasscatcher near the upper lip, and through which the pins project when 
the grasscatcher is attached to the deck. Preferably, there are a pair of 
such pins, between which the arm is disposed when the grasscatcher is 
attached to the deck. 
Preferably, the pins project forwardly, as well as upwardly, so as to guide 
the upper lip into the block if the grasscatcher happens to be bumped from 
beneath. Preferably, the pins project forwardly about 15.degree. from 
vertical. Preferably, the upper lip of the grasscatcher has a forward 
edge, and the block has a groove opening rearwardly and receiving the 
forward edge when the upper lip is guided into the block. 
If the rigid portion or a rigid shell including the rigid portion is made 
of molded plastic material, a metal grommet may be provided at each of the 
openings. 
Accordingly, the grasscatcher can be attached easily to the deck and can be 
detached easily from the deck but is restrained so as not to become 
detached unintentionally from the deck, as when the grasscatcher happens 
to be bumped from beneath in use of the mower, and an operator can 
ascertain visually whether the grasscatcher is attached effectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in the drawings, this invention is embodied in a rotary, electric, 
lawn mower 10, which comprises a deck 12, which includes a cutting chamber 
14, an electric motor 16, which is arranged to drive a rotary blade (not 
shown) within the cutting chamber 14, four wheels 18, three of which are 
shown, and which are mounted rotatably to the deck 12 so as to allow the 
mower 10 to move across a lawn, and a handle 20, which is mounted 
pivotably to the deck 12 so as to enable an operator behind the mower 10 
to push the mower 10. The cutting chamber 14 opens at a substantially 
rectangular portal 22, which is formed in a substantially vertical wall 24 
of the deck 12, for discharge of cuttings rearwardly from the cutting 
chamber 14. 
The mower 10 also comprises a door 30, which at its upper edge 32 is 
mounted pivotally to the deck 12 near an upper margin 32 of the portal 22, 
for pivotal movement between a position wherein the door 30 closes the 
portal 22, as for operation of the mower 10 without a grasscatcher, and 
positions wherein the door 30 is pivoted upwardly and rearwardly from the 
portal 22. In FIG. 3, the door 30 is shown in phantom lines in the 
position wherein the door 30 closes the portal 22, and the door 30 is 
shown in full lines in a position wherein the door 30 is pivoted upwardly 
and rearwardly from the portal 22. 
The mower 10 also comprises an arm 40, which is integral to the door 30 for 
pivotal movement with the door 30, and which extends upwardly when the 
door closes the portal 22, and a pair of coiled springs 42, which are 
piloted about a door hinge pin 44 extending laterally and coaxially from 
the upper edge 32 of the door 30 into respective sockets (not shown) in a 
flanged portion 46 of the deck 12, and which are arranged to bias the door 
30 and the arm 40 toward the position wherein the door 30 closes the 
portal 22. In FIG. 3, one of the springs 42 and one end of the door hinge 
pin 44 are shown. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the springs 42 bias the door 
30 and the arm 40 in a sense being opposite to that of wide arrows 
suggesting pivotal movement of the door 30 away from the position wherein 
the door closes the portal 22. 
As described so far, the mower 10 is similar to prior mowers available from 
Sunbeam Outdoor Company, supra, as exemplified by the Sunbeam Model 3347 
Electric Rotary Lawn Mower, and as exemplified by the Sunbeam Model 3548 
Gas Rotary Lawn Mower. 
The mower 10 also comprises a grasscatcher 50, which has a rigid shell 52 
of molded plastic material, blow-molded polyethylene or equivalent 
material being preferred. The rigid shell 52 is made in an upper, rigid 
part 54 and a lower, rigid part 56. Before final assembly, the upper, 
rigid part 54 and the lower, rigid part 56 may be nested, one within the 
other, so as to enable the grasscatcher to be shipped in a compact 
package. In final assembly, the upper, rigid part 54 and the lower, rigid 
part 56 are fastened together by threaded metal fasteners 58. The 
grasscatcher 50 is provided with one or more screened openings (not shown) 
so as to enable air pressure within the grasscatcher 50 to be relieved but 
so as to retain clippings within the grasscatcher 50. 
The rigid shell 52 of the grasscatcher 50 includes a mouth 62 being defined 
by the upper, rigid part 54 and the lower, rigid part 56 and conforming 
approximately in size and shape to the portal 22. The grasscatcher 50 is 
attachable to the deck 12, behind the portal 22, so as to receive cuttings 
from the cutting chamber 14 through the mouth 62. The grasscatcher 50 is 
detachable from the deck 12. 
The upper, rigid part 54 of the rigid shell 52 of the grasscatcher 50 has 
an upper lip 70, which has a forward edge 72, and which engages the arm 40 
so as to hold the door 30 in a position wherein the door 30 is pivoted 
upwardly and rearwardly away from the portal 22, through the mouth 62, and 
into the grasscatcher 50, and wherein the arm 40 is pivoted downwardly and 
forwardly over the deck 12, when the grasscatcher 50 is attached to the 
deck 12. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the lower rigid part 56 of the rigid shell 52 of the 
grasscatcher 50 has a lower lip 74, which penetrates the cutting chamber 
14, overlies a lower margin 76 (FIG. 3) of the portal 22, and overlies a 
rear axle 78, so as to guide clippings from the cutting chamber 14 into 
the grasscatcher 50. 
As described so far, the grasscatcher 50 is similar to prior grasscatchers 
available from Sunbeam Outdoor Company, as exemplified by the grasscatcher 
for the Sunbeam Model 3347, Electric Rotary Lawn Mower, and as exemplified 
by the grasscatcher for the Sunbeam Model 3548 Gas Rotary Lawn Mower. 
As improved by this invention, the mower 10 also comprises a bracket 100, 
which is mounted on an upper surface 102 of the flanged portion 46 of the 
deck 12 by threaded fasteners or rivets 104 so as to be integral to the 
deck 12, and which has two stepped portions 106, 108. The mower also 
comprises a pair of parallel pins 110, 112. The pin 110 projects upwardly 
and forwardly from and is mounted integrally to the stepped portion 106 of 
the bracket 100. The pin 112 projects upwardly and forwardly from and is 
mounted integrally to the stepped portion 108 of the bracket 100. The pins 
110, 112, project forwardly about 15.degree. from vertical. 
The upper, rigid part 54 of the rigid shell 52 of the grasscatcher 50 also 
has integral gussets 120, 122, which are located respectively on opposite 
sides of the upper lip 70. The gusset 120 is provided with an opening 124, 
which embraces the pin 110 when the grasscatcher 50 is attached to the 
deck 12, and is reinforced at the opening 124 by a metal grommet 126, 
which fits slidably around the pin 110. The gusset 122 is provided with an 
opening 128, which embraces the pin 112 when the grasscatcher 50 is 
attached to the deck 12, and is reinforced at the opening 128 by a metal 
grommet 130, which fits slidably around the pin 112. 
The mower 12 also comprises a block 140, which is fastened to the arm 40 by 
a screw 142 so as to be integral to the arm 40, and which has a groove 144 
opening. As discussed below, the block 140 is manipulated by an operator, 
whenever the grasscatcher 50 is to be attached to the deck 12, and 
whenever the grasscatcher 50 is to be detached from the deck 12. 
When the grasscatcher 50 is to be attached to the deck 12, the block 140 is 
moved by an operator forwardly and downwardly (as indicated by an arrow in 
FIG. 4) between the pins 110, 112, beyond the position wherein the block 
140 is shown in full lines in FIG. 3 and in phantom lines in FIG. 4, to a 
position wherein the block 140 is shown in full lines in FIG. 4, so as to 
provide sufficient clearance between the block 140 and the forward edge 72 
of the upper lip 70 for the grasscatcher 50 to be lowered so as to pass 
the pins 110, 112, through the grommets 126, 130, until the gussets 120, 
122, rest upon the stepped portions 106, 108, of the bracket 100. 
Thereupon, the grasscatcher 50 is lowered as mentioned above, and the 
block 140 is released so as to allow the arm 40 to move against the upper 
lip 70, as the arm 40 and the door 30 are biased by the springs 42 to the 
position wherein the arm 40 is shown in full lines in FIG. 3. The operator 
can ascertain visually whether the grasscatcher 50 is attached 
effectively. 
When the grasscatcher 50 is attached to the deck 12, and if the 
grasscatcher 50 happens to be bumped from beneath, bounced, or lifted, the 
grasscatcher 50 is guided by the pins 110, 112, forwardly, as well as 
upwardly, into the block 140, whereupon the groove 144 of the block 140 
receives the forward edge 72 of the upper lip 70 so as to restrain the 
grasscatcher 50, which thus does not become detached unintentionally from 
the deck 12. 
When the grasscatcher 50 is to be detached from the deck 12, the block 140 
also is moved by the operator forwardly and downwardly (as indicated by 
the arrow in FIG. 4) between the pins 110, 112, beyond the position 
wherein the block 140 is shown in full lines in FIG. 3 and in phantom 
lines in FIG. 4 to a position wherein the block 140 is shown in full lines 
in FIG. 4, so as to provide sufficient clearance between the block 140 and 
the forward edge 72 of the upper lip 70 for the grasscatcher to be lifted 
away. Thereupon, the block 140 is released so as to allow the arm 40 and 
the door 30 to return to the position wherein the door 30 closes the 
portal 22, as the arm 40 and the door 30 are biased by the springs 42. 
Hence, the grasscatcher 50 can be attached easily to the deck 12 and can be 
detached easily from the deck 12 but is restrained so as not to become 
detached unintentionally from the deck 12, as when the grasscatcher 50 
happens to be bumped from beneath in use of the mower 10, and an operator 
can ascertain visually whether the grasscatcher 50 is attached 
effectively.