Abstract:
A grass bag apparatus includes a bag portion, a lower bag attachment subassembly, and an upper bag attachment subassembly. The lower bag attachment subassembly includes a hoop portion and a handle portion. The upper bag attachment subassembly includes a first upper subportion element (itself including a main wireform subportion and hook portions) and a second upper subportion element (itself including a main wireform subportion and a shield portion). When the grass bag apparatus is attached to a convention lawnmower having a handle assembly, the lower bag attachment subassembly is mounted proximate the discharge opening of the lawnmower. The upper bag attachment subassembly is mounted proximate the handle assembly, particularly at a location including a crossbar. Hook portions being part of the first upper subportion element hook over the crossbar such that the first and second upper subportion elements tend to be locked together during such mounting on said crossbar.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit and priority of pending Provisional Application Serial No. 60/366,730, filed Mar. 22, 2002, entitled “WIRE FRAME GRASS BAGGER”. The entire contents of said application are likewise incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses for use in lawn and garden care, and more specifically to methods and apparatuses for use in collecting lawn debris that has been cut by a walk-behind lawn mower. The present invention particularly relates to grass or other vegetation storage containers, or “grass bags”, used therewith.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Homeowners frequently collect and bag grass and other clippings generated when they mow their lawns. This practice is adopted to provide a lawn having a more finished and desirable appearance. If the grass clippings are not composted by the homeowner, generally they must be placed in a refuse can or bag for disposal.  
           [0004]    Commonly, material collection bags attach to a discharge chute carried at the rear of walk-behind mowers and extend rearwardly behind them. The bags include an opening at their forward portion, which serves to receive clippings from the discharge chute and permit collected clippings to be emptied. It is often necessary to remove the grass bag so that the lawn debris can be discarded. After it is emptied the empty grass bag then is repositioned on the mower.  
           [0005]    Many such “grass bags”, or other suitable containers, are known. Such bags include those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,258 to Lawn-Boy, as well as others.  
           [0006]    However, improvements to such containers are always welcome, especially should they provide grass bags with suitable containment and emptying features at an acceptable price.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention generally relates to a lawn mower clippings bag which includes a mounting subassembly having improved features which maintain the rear end of the bag in a closed position when mounted. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a lawn mower  5  having a grass bag apparatus  10  attached thereto. This view is from behind and to the left of the mower  5 . The bag portion  20  also is shown. The upper grass bag attachment subassembly  40  is also shown attached to the handle assembly  8 .  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a partial pictorial view of the grass bag apparatus  10 , showing a portion of the bag portion  20 , and the upper bag attachment subassembly  40 , attached to the crossbar  9  of the handle assembly  8  of the lawnmower  5 . The inclined frame members  6  of the handle assembly are also shown.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a partial pictorial view from a standpoint to the right and generally to the rear of the apparatus  10 . The view includes a partial view of the upper bag attachment subassembly  40 , and a partial view of the crossbar  9  and one inclined frame member  6 . A portion of the grass bag  20  is also shown.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a partial pictorial view showing the upper bag attachment subassembly  40  detached from the handle assembly  8  of the lawnmower  5  with the upper bag attachment subassembly  40  opened by a user such that the interior of the bag may be accessed. Panel members “P” are likewise is shown in their partially folded configurations. This configuration could be the configuration just prior to opening or closing the bag.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a view that shows the handle portion  32  of the lower bag attachment subassembly  30  with the lower bag attachment subassembly  30  being detached from the discharge chute  6  of the lawnmower. As may be understood, the hooped portion of this subassembly is separated from the chute  6  by a sliding action by the user pulling upwardly and forwardly on the handle portion  32 . This lower bag attachment subassembly could be as known in the art.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a view of a second embodiment upper bag attachment assembly  40 , showing the two hook portions  43 . It should be understood that a difference between the first and second upper bag attachment subassembly embodiments  40 ,  40 ′ is that the handles (the parts that are grasped) overlap and provide a locking configuration in the second embodiment  40 ′, whereas they are substantially parallel in the first embodiment  40  (see FIG. 2).  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.  
         [0016]    The following are elements relating to the invention:  
         [0017]    Lawnmower  5   
         [0018]    Inclined Side Frame Members  6   
         [0019]    Handle Assembly  8   
         [0020]    Crossbar  9   
         [0021]    Grass Bag Apparatus  10   
         [0022]    Bag Portion  20   
         [0023]    Lower Bag Attachment Subassembly  30   
         [0024]    Hoop portion  31   
         [0025]    Handle portion  32   
         [0026]    Transverse wireform hanger member  35   
         [0027]    Upper Bag Attachment Subassembly  40   
         [0028]    First Upper Subportion  41   
         [0029]    Main wireform subportion  42   
         [0030]    Hook portions  43   
         [0031]    Second Upper subportion  46   
         [0032]    Main wireform subportion  47   
         [0033]    Shield Portion  48   
         [0034]    The grass bag apparatus  10  is configured to operate in conjunction with a typical lawn mower  5  having a rear discharge chute  6  defining a rearwardly-directed opening  7 . The mower also includes a handle assembly  8  including a cross bar  9 .  
         [0035]    The Lawnmower  
         [0036]    The lawnmower  5  (see FIG. 1) includes a discharge chute  6  (see FIG. 5), which is generally directed upwardly and rearwardly at an angle relative to horizontal. When the lawnmower  5  is operating, grass clippings are cut by an associated blade as known in the art, and detached grass clippings are blown through the rear discharge opening of the chute  6  of the lawnmower  5 .  
       General Construction and Operation  
       [0037]    Grass Bag Apparatus  10   
         [0038]    Generally described, the detachable clippings container  10  includes a flexible bag portion  20 , a lower bag attachment subassembly (a.k.a. “and inlet end fastening assembly”)  30 , and upper bag attachment subassembly (a.k.a. “discharge end fastening assembly”)  40 .  
         [0039]    Generally described, the assembly  10  is attached to a conventional walk-behind lawnmower such as  5  shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0040]    The bag assembly  10  is attached to the lawnmower  5  generally at two locations, proximate the lower end and the upper end of the bag  10 . The lower end is the location where the grass clippings enter the bag assembly  10  and the upper end is the end at which the grass clippings are discharged from the bag assembly  10 . This discharge is selective, in that the user (not shown) can selectively discharge the clippings from the discharge end by detaching the assembly  10  from the lawnmower, opening the upper end of the bag assembly  10 , and “dumping” discharging grass clippings or other vegetation from therein.  
         [0041]    Bag Portion  20   
         [0042]    The bag portion  20  is configured to accept grass or other vegetation clippings through an inlet and to store the clippings until discharge is deemed necessary.  
         [0043]    The bag portion  20  is relatively flexible, and is made of flexible fabric or other suitable as known in the art.  
         [0044]    However, the bag is not part of the present claimed invention.  
         [0045]    Lower Bag Attachment Subassembly  30   
         [0046]    The lower end of the bag assembly  10  includes a wireform assembly referenced as a lower bag attachment subassembly  30 . This subassembly  30  includes a hoop portion  31 , a handle portion  32  (See FIG. 5) and a hanger portion  35  (shown concealed in fabric). This subassembly  30  allows the lower end of the bag to be removably attached to the lawnmower  5  such that grass clippings can pass into the lower end of the bag assembly.  
         [0047]    The hoop portion  31  defines an opening around which the lower flexible mouth of the bag may fit. In one embodiment this can be done by use of a flexible bag mouth opening which includes flexible string or rope inside, such that the opening may be stretched, passed over the hoop portion  31 , and then allowed to retract snugly into place.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 5 also discloses the use of a transverse wireform hanger member  35  which is substantially elongate and has one end attached to the hoop portion  31  and extends generally horizontally, transversely, and leftwardly as the operator stands. This wireform member  35  extends within a corresponding sleeve sewn in the bag, and serves to hold the bag out in a more open position.  
         [0049]    A “grasping handle portion”  32  is likewise facilitated (see FIG. 5), which extends generally upwardly relative to the mouth portion and provide a manner for a user (not shown) to grasp and disengage the assembly  30  and the attached lower end of the bag  20  from the chute  6  of the mower  5 .  
         [0050]    As will be discussed later in this application, the lower wireform assembly  30  is grasped by the user, and withdrawn from the discharge opening of the lawnmower, such that the lower end of the grass bag assembly  10  may be detached from the lawnmower.  
         [0051]    Upper Bag Attachment Subassembly  40  (See FIGS. 2, 3 and  4 )  
         [0052]    The upper end of the grass bag assembly  10  includes an upper bag attachment subassembly  40  which attaches the upper end of the bag  20  to the handle assembly  8  of the lawn mower, and also serves to provide a means for selective opening of the top of the bag so that it can be emptied as needed.  
         [0053]    This assembly  40  generally includes two portions which can be selectively “attached” or “detached” to provide selective opening and closing, respectively, of the upper end of the grass bag assembly  10 . These mating members shall be referenced as a first upper subportion member  41  and the second upper subportion member  46 .  
         [0054]    Both the first and second upper subportions are attached to different locations proximate the mouth of the flexible bag  20 . The first upper subportion member  41  and the second upper subportion member  46  are both formed of metal or other suitably rigid material, thus the first and second upper subportions maintain respective edges of the mouth of the flexible bag in a straight configuration. When the subportions are together the straight portions “mate”. When the subportions are apart, the bellows shape of the upper opening (provided by the panels labeled “P”) of the bag provides for a readily closable opening. The “bellows” type mouth itself is conventional.  
         [0055]    When the two members  41 ,  46 , are separated such as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, for example, the upper end of the bag is open and grass or other clippings may be discharged from the upper end of the bag by “dumping” the bag. When the members  41 ,  46 , are attached as shown in FIG. 5, the upper end of the bag  20  is closed and the assembly  40  may be attached to the lawnmower handle assembly as shown.  
         [0056]    As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, when in stalled the second upper subportion member  46  has its sidewardly-extending ends in contact with the inclined side frame members  6  of the handle assembly  8 .  
         [0057]    First Upper Subportion  41   
         [0058]    The first upper subportion member  41  is formed primarily of wireforms, and as shown in FIG. 4 includes a main wireform subportion  42  and a pair of hook members  43 , each of which extends from the main subportion  42 .  
         [0059]    The pair of U-shaped “hook” members (or “portions”)  43  are configured to fit partially around the outer circumference of a horizontal cross member of the handle assembly of the lawn mower, such that the hook members attach to the cross member.  
         [0060]    Second Upper Subportion  46   
         [0061]    Continuing to refer to FIG. 4, the second upper subportion  46  includes a main wireform subportion  47 , as well as a shield portion  48 . This shield  48 , as will be discussed later in this application, provides a shield for grass clippings or other suitable objects that might tend to pass out of the closed mouth of the bag  20 .  
         [0062]    Opening and Closing the Upper End of the Bag  
         [0063]    To mate the two members  41  and  46  together, the barrier or shield portion  48  is situated such that one of its two long edges fits within a corresponding slot defined by the main wireform subportion  47  of the other member  42  as shown in FIG. 3. The two members  41 ,  46 , are urged together so that they are “matched” or registered together, such as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0064]    When the members  41 ,  46 , are positioned in their mating configurations, under one embodiment the wireforms substantially match on a “handle” portion of their lengths, such that a handle is provided that consists of two substantially parallel segments of wireform. This allows a person to grasp both of the members  41 ,  46 , at the same time. At this point, the combined members  41 ,  46 , (which together form the upper bag attachment assembly  40 ), may be grasped with one hand and attached to the handle assembly  7  of the lawnmower  5 . However, it should be noted that there is an alternate preferred embodiment shown in  6 , in which the handle portion of the second upper subportion  46  is not straight, but includes a slight, “broad V” shape which allows the V-shaped portion to fit underneath the handle portion of the first upper subportion member  41 . This provides somewhat of a interlocking feature which allows causes a slight interlocking action between the two handle portions while their respective assemblies are being installed on the cross tube  9 . As with the other “parallel handle” embodiment, once the combined members  41 ,  46 , are installed the interaction of the handles, the hook portions  43 , and the cross tube  9 , provides a locking action as described elsewhere in further detail.  
         [0065]    Removal Process  
         [0066]    To remove the bag assembly  10  from the supporting lawnmower, the following process is used:  
         [0067]    Assuming the user is standing to right side of the mower and facing the mower, the upper assembly  40  is grasped with the left hand of the user, and pulled first leftwardly and then upwardly. This movement is done so as to detach the hooks  43  from their respective engagement with the transverse horizontal cross member  9  of the handle assembly  8  of the lawnmower  5 .  
         [0068]    The lower bag attachment subassembly  30  is then removed from the lawnmower  5  by the user grasping the handle portion and pulling upwardly, such that the subassembly  30  is detached from the mower.  
         [0069]    For reattachment, the lower assembly  30  is attached first followed by attachment of the upper assembly  40 .  
         [0070]    Attachment Process  
         [0071]    It should be understood that the handle assembly  8  of the lawn mower  5  includes a horizontal transverse frame member  9 , which extends generally transverse (a/k/a perpendicular) to the normal straight forward movement of the lawnmower. As may be understood, this horizontal cross member  9  in one configuration is made of tubular steel, (although other configurations are obviously contemplated under the present invention) and is structurally suitable for supporting the weight of the filled bag.  
         [0072]    To attach the subassembly  40  to the member  9 , the subportion  41  and the subportion  46  are matched together as noted elsewhere in this application. The combined members  41 ,  46  are then moved toward the handle  8 , and the hook portions  43  are hooked over the cross bar  9 . The upper bag attachment subassembly  40  is thus attached to the lawnmower  5 .  
         [0073]    It may be understood that, when the transverse cross member  9  is supporting the two members  41 ,  46 , the transverse cross member is likewise “blocking” the movement of the first upper subportion member  41  from the coming out of engagement with the second upper subportion member  46 , thus providing a locking action which preferably will not be disengaged until the two members are detached from the transverse cross member  9 .  
       CONCLUSION  
       [0074]    Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.