Abstract:
A riding-type mower vehicle comprises a mower supported by a vehicle body; a grass collector configured to receive cut grass cut by the mower; a vehicle-side connector located at a rear position of the vehicle body and having a pair of inclined guide portions that face each other such that a distance between the inclined guide portions decreases toward lower portions of the inclined guide portions to open upwardly; and a collector-side connector provided to the grass collector to extend generally downwardly and having a pair of inclined guided portions whose distance from each other decreases toward lower portions of the inclined guided portions; wherein the collector-side connector is attached to the vehicle-side connector by inserting an inclined guided portion of the collector-side connector between the pair of inclined guide portions of the vehicle-side connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a structure for attachment and detachment of a grass collector in a riding-type mower vehicle that is provided with a mower in a portion in front of the front wheels or a portion between the front wheels and the rear wheels in a vehicle body, and is also provided with a grass collector in the rear part of the vehicle body, wherein the cut grass that is cut by the mower is fed to the grass collector. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    As disclosed in JP2002-36896, for example, a riding-type mower vehicle is known in which a frame connects to the front part of a grass collector and extends forward, and the frame of the grass collector is connected by bolts to a bracket connected to the rear part of the vehicle body. 
         [0005]    Since the bolts must be tightened or loosened when the grass collector is attached or detached according to the abovementioned reference, time is required to attach or detach the grass collector. 
         [0006]    Therefore, in the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,251, a boss part is connected to the rear part of the vehicle body, the frame of the grass collector is inserted in the boss part of the vehicle body, and a pin for preventing detachment is attached in an attachment hole of the boss part of the vehicle body. The frame of the grass collector can thereby be easily removed from the boss part of the vehicle body by attaching or removing the pin, and the crass collector can be removed. 
         [0007]    In U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,251, when the inner diameter of the boss part of the vehicle body and the outer diameter of the grass collector frame are not set with good precision, the grass collector frame sometimes rattles against the boss part of the vehicle body, and the grass collector rattles due to vibration during travel, thus imparting discomfort to the operator. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    An object of the present invention is to provide a configuration in a riding-type mower vehicle whereby the grass collector can be attached to the rear part of the vehicle body without rattling, while making the grass collector easy to attach and detach when the grass collector is configured so as to be detachable. 
         [0009]    The riding-type mower vehicle of the present invention comprises a vehicle body supported by a plurality of wheels; a mower supported by the vehicle body; a grass collector attached to a rear part of the vehicle body and configured to receive cut grass cut by the mower; a vehicle-side connector located at a rear position of the vehicle body and having a pair of inclined guide portions that face each other such that a distance between the inclined guide portions decreases toward lower portions of the inclined guide portions to open upwardly; and a collector-side connector provided to the grass collector to extend generally downwardly and having a pair of inclined guided portions whose distance from each other decreases toward lower portions of the inclined guided portions; wherein the collector-side connector is attached to the vehicle-side connector by inserting an inclined guided portion of the collector-side connector between the pair of inclined guide portions of the vehicle-side connector. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, when the grass collector is attached to the rear portion of the vehicle body, the inclined guided portions of the collector-side connector are inserted between the inclined guide portions of the vehicle-side connector from above, while the grass collector is moved downward. 
         [0011]    According to this configuration, the inclined guided portions of the collector-side connector can easily be inserted between the inclined guide portions of the vehicle-side connector from above, and the guiding function of the inclined guide portions of the vehicle-side connector allows the inclined guided portions of the collector-side connector to be guided to the inside (downward) between the inclined guide portions of the vehicle-side connector, and the grass collector (collector-side connector) to be easily attached to the rear portion (vehicle-side connector) of the vehicle body. 
         [0012]    After the grass collector is attached to the rear portion of the vehicle body, the grass collector (collector-side connector) is supported with minimal rattling by the rear portion (vehicle-side connector) of the vehicle body by the weight of the grass collector and the weight of the cut grass accumulated in the grass collector. 
         [0013]    The riding-type mower vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention preferably comprises a disengagement prevention member for preventing the collector-side connector from disengaging from the vehicle-side connector. 
         [0014]    The riding-type mower vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is preferably configured such that each of the pair of inclined guide portions has a linear portion having a length that is 50% or greater of a vertical length of the vehicle-side connector. 
         [0015]    The riding-type mower vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is preferably configured such that each of the pair of inclined guide portions has a linear portion having a length that is 80% or greater of a vertical length of the vehicle-side connector. 
         [0016]    The riding-type mower vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is preferably configured such that substantially the entire linear portion comes in contact with a corresponding portion of the pair of inclined guided portions when the collector-side connector is attached to the vehicle-side connector. 
         [0017]    The riding-type mower vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is preferably configured such that the vehicle-side connector supports substantially the entire weight of the collector when the collector-side connector is attached to the vehicle-side connector. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the configuration described below can also be adopted to obtain the same effects. The riding-type mower vehicle comprises a vehicle body supported by a plurality of wheels; a mower supported by the vehicle body; a vehicle-side connector located at a rear position of the vehicle body to extend generally upwardly and having a pair of inclined guide portions whose distance therebetween decreases toward upper portions of the inclined guide portions; and a collector-side connector attached to a grass collector and having a pair of inclined guided portions that face each other such that a distance from each other decreases toward upper portions of the inclined guided portions to open generally downwardly; wherein the collector-side connector is attached to the vehicle-side connector by causing the inclined guide portions of the vehicle-side connector to be inserted between the pair of inclined guided portions of the collector-side connector. 
         [0019]    The riding-type mower vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention preferably further comprises a disengagement prevention member for preventing the collector-side connector from disengaging from the vehicle-side connector. 
         [0020]    The riding-type mower vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is preferably configured such that each of the pair of inclined guided portions has a linear portion having a length that is 50% or greater of a vertical length of the vehicle-side connector. 
         [0021]    The riding-type mower vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is preferably configured such that each of the pair of inclined guided portions has a linear portion having a length that is 80% or greater of a vertical length of the collector-side connector. 
         [0022]    The riding-type mower vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is preferably configured such that substantially the entirety of the linear portion comes in contact with a corresponding portion of the pair of inclined guide portions when the collector-side connector is attached to the vehicle-side connector. 
         [0023]    The riding-type mower vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is preferably configured such that the vehicle-side connector supports substantially the entire weight of the collector when the collector-side connector is attached to the vehicle-side connector. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a side view showing the entire riding-type mower vehicle; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a plan view showing the entire riding-type mower vehicle; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a rear view showing the entire riding-type mower vehicle; 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing the support frame, the connecting frame, and the grass collection bag in the grass collector; 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a longitudinal sectional side view showing the grass collector and the vicinity of the vehicle-side connector; 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional rear view showing the grass collector and the vehicle-side connector; 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal sectional side view showing the vehicle-side connector; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a plan view showing the vehicle-side connector; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a rear view showing the vehicle-side connector; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a transverse sectional plan view showing the grass collector; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a rear view showing the grass collector, the collector-side connector, and the vehicle-side connector in a first other embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a longitudinal sectional side view showing the vehicle-side connector in a second other embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0036]    Embodiments of the present invention will next be described. Combinations of one feature of an embodiment with features of another embodiment are also understood to fall within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the riding-type mower vehicle has a configuration in which a mower  4  is supported at the bottom of the center of a vehicle body frame  3  that is supported by right and left front wheels  1  and right and left rear wheels  2 , an operation chair  5  is provided at the top of the rear portion of the vehicle body frame  3 , and a grass collector  6  is supported by the rear portion of the vehicle body. The grass collector  6  is provided with a support frame  7 , a connecting frame  8  (which corresponds to the collector-side connector), a front cover  9 , a rear cover  10 , and two grass collecting bags  11  or the like. 
         [0038]    The support frame  7  in the grass collector  6  will next be described. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the support frame  7  is formed by a single round metal pipe that is bent into a bracket shape as viewed from above, a support frame  12  formed by bending a metal sheet into a bracket shape is fixed to the center part of the support frame  7 , and connectors  7   a  formed by short round pipes are fixed at the right and left sides of the support frame  7 . An open portion  12   a  is provided in the center of the support frame  12 , and a round rod locking part  12   b  is fixed to the end of the support frame  12 . 
         [0040]    The connecting frame  8  in the grass collector  6  will next be described. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the connecting frame  8  is provided with a pair of connectors  8   a  formed by bending a single round metal pipe. Each of the pair of connectors  8   a  is bent in a middle location in the vertical direction as viewed from the side ( FIG. 5 ). Normally, the connectors  7   a  of the support frame  7  are inserted into the connectors  8   a  of the connecting frame  8 , the connectors  7   a ,  8   a  of the support frame  7  and connecting frame  8  are connected in advance by a connecting pin  13 , and the support frame  7  and the connecting frame  8  can be separated by removing the connecting pin  13 . 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the lower part of the connecting frame  8  is bent in a V shape as viewed from the front (see  FIG. 6 ), and right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  that face each other such that the distance between the inclined guided portions  8   b  decreases toward the lower portion thereof are oriented downward. In the connecting frame  8  (see  FIG. 6 ), the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  are eccentrically positioned away from the grass intake vent  9   a  of the front cover  9  described hereinafter. 
         [0043]    The front cover  9  in the grass collector  6  will next be described. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  10 , the front cover  9  is integrally formed by synthetic resin, and the rear side thereof is opened. A small, duct-shaped grass intake vent  9   a  is provided to the right front part of the front cover  9 ; a duct  14  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) is connected across the cut-grass discharge vent (not shown) of the mower  4 , and the grass intake vent  9   a  of the front cover  9 ; and an eave-shaped guide plate  15  is fixed to the upper side part of the grass intake vent  9   a  of the front cover  9  in the inside of the front cover  9 . 
         [0045]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  10 , the front lower end part  9   b  and the right and left side lower end parts  9   c  of the front cover  9  form a cross-sectional bracket shape that opens outward to the front and the side, and the support frame  7  is fitted into the front lower end part  9   b  and the right and left side lower end parts  9   c  of the front cover  9  and connected by bolts. In this case, notches  9   d  for preventing interference between the connectors  7   a  of the support frame  7  and the support frame  12  are provided to the front lower end part  9   b  of the front cover  9 . 
         [0046]    The rear cover  10  in the grass collector  6  will next be described. 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  10 , the rear cover  10  is integrally formed by synthetic resin, and the front side thereof is open. The rear portion of the rear cover  10  is provided with an overhanging portion  10   a  across the substantial entire left-right width, a horizontal portion  10   b  is provided to the lower portion of the right and left transverse side portions of the rear cover  10 , and the lower end portion  10   c  extends downward from the horizontal portion  10   b.    
         [0048]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 10 , in the inside of the rear cover  10 , a mesh ventilation sheet  16  extends over the entire left-right width of the overhanging portion  10   a  of the rear cover  10 , and is fixed at a slight distance from the overhanging portion  10   a  of the rear cover  10 ; and an exhaust vent  10   d  is formed between the lower end of the ventilation sheet  16  and the lower end of the overhanging portion  10   a  of the rear cover  10 . A hinge member  17  is fixed to the upper portion of the front portion of the rear cover  10 , the rear cover  10  is supported by the front cover  9  so as to be able to swing by the hinge member  17 , and the rear cover  10  can be operated to a closed position (see the solid line in  FIG. 5 ) and an open position (see the double-dashed line in  FIG. 5 ) that is swung upward from the closed position. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  5 , and  10 , a rubber locking part  10   e  is fixed to the lower end portion of the overhanging portion  10   a  of the rear cover  10 . The locking part  10   e  of the rear cover  10  is engaged with the locking part  12   b  of the support frame  12  in the closed position of the rear cover  10 , whereby the rear cover  10  can be fixed in the closed position. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 10 , a guide plate  18  is fixed inside the rear cover  10  in the left-right direction. In the closed position of the rear cover  10 , the guide plate  18  connects with the guide plate  15  and the grass intake vent  9   a  of the front cover  9 , and when the rear cover  10  is placed in the open position, the guide plate  18  moves upward together with the rear cover  10  and separates from the guide plate  15  and the grass intake vent  9   a  of the front cover  9 . 
         [0051]    The grass collecting bags  11  in the grass collector  6  will next be described. 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , casing frames  19  are formed by bending a round metal rod into a square shape as viewed from above (see  FIG. 10 ), and air-permeable cloth grass collecting bags  11  are wrapped onto and attached to the casing frames  19 . In this case, the grass collecting bags  11  are provided with notches  11   a  in a plurality of locations and are configured such that portions of the casing frames  19  are exposed. The operator can manually hold the exposed portions of the casing frames  19 . In the portion of a single notch  11   a  of the grass collecting bags  11 , a downward-facing protrusion  19   a  is fixed to the casing frame  19 . 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  10 , when the grass collecting bags  11  are attached to the support frames  7 ,  12 , the casing frames  19  are placed at the front lower end part  9   b  of the front cover  9 , the right and left side lower end parts  9   c , and the support frames  7 ,  12 ; the protrusions  19   a  of the casing frames  19  are inserted into openings  12   a  of the support frame  12 ; and the rear cover  10  is placed in the closed position and fixed. The positions of the grass collecting bags  11  are determined by the engaging of the protrusions  19   a  of the casing frames  19  with the openings  12   a  of the support frame  12 , and the grass collecting bags  11  are fixed by the pushing of the horizontal portion  11   b  of the rear cover  10  against portions of the casing frames  19  from above. 
         [0054]    In the state shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  10 , the cut grass cut by the mower  4  is carried by the air current of the mower  4  into the grass intake vent  9   a  of the front cover  9  from the duct  14 , and the cut grass is primarily fed from the grass intake vent  9   a  of the front cover  9  to the grass collecting bag  11  farthest from the grass intake vent  9   a  by the guiding action of the guide plates  15 ,  18 , and is then fed to the grass collecting bag  11  closest to the grass intake vent  9   a  of the front cover  9 . During this operation, the air current of the mower  4  passes through the ventilation sheet  16 , passes between the ventilation sheet  16  and the overhanging portion  10   a  of the rear cover  10 , and exits downward from the exhaust vent  10   d  of the rear cover  10 . 
         [0055]    The structure for connecting the grass collector  6  to the vehicle body frame  3  will next be described. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the vehicle-side connector 
         [0057]    is provided to the rear portion of the vehicle body frame  3  so as to face upward and tilt to the rear. As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9 , the vehicle-side connector  20  is composed of a first connector  21 , a second connector  22 , a base plate  23 , a prevention member  24  (which corresponds to the prevention mechanism), and other components, and the base plate  23  is bolted to the rear portion of the vehicle body frame  3 . 
         [0058]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9 , the first connector  21  is formed by bending a metal plate, and is composed of a receiving portion  21   a  in an inverted triangle shape as viewed from the front (see  FIGS. 6 and 9 ), right and left inclined guide portions  21   b , an upper inclined guide portion  21   c , and other components, and the end portions of the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  are connected to the base plate  23 . In this case, the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  are configured so as to face each other in a V shape as viewed from the front (see  FIGS. 6 and 9 ) such that the distance between the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  decreases towards the lower portions thereof. 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9 , the second connector  22  is formed by bending a metal plate, and is composed of a receiving portion  22   a  in an inverted triangle shape as viewed from the front (see  FIGS. 6 and 9 ), an upper inclined guide portion  22   b , and other components. The end portions of the receiving portion  22   a  of the second connector  22  are connected to the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  such that the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  are at the same distance (parallel) along the entire length thereof as viewed from the side (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0060]    In this case, the gap between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  is set so as to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  9 , an open portion  25  is formed between the lower end portion of the base plate  23  and the lower end portions of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22 , and cut grass, debris, or the like that enters between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  exits downward from the open portion  25 . 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  9 , a support bracket  26  is formed by folding a metal plate, the support bracket  26  is connected to the receiving portion  21   a  of the first connector  21 , the pin-shaped prevention member  24  is supported by the support bracket  26  so as to be able to slide to the left and right in the drawing, and the prevention member  24  is inserted between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  from the open portion of the receiving portion  21   a  of the first connector  21 . The distal end portion  24   a  of the prevention member  24  is formed by an inclined surface as viewed from the side (see  FIG. 7 ), a spring  27  is provided between the support bracket  26  and a pin  24   b  fixed to the prevention member  24 , and the prevention member  24  is urged in between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  by the spring  27 . 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 ,  8 , and  9 , a crank-shaped elongated hole  26   a  is provided to the support bracket  26 , the pin  24   b  of the prevention member  24  is inserted into the elongated hole  26   a  of the support bracket  26 , the rotation of the prevention member  24  is stopped, and the distal end portion  24   a  of the prevention member  24  is maintained in the orientation shown in the side view of  FIG. 7 . The prevention member  24  is withdrawn from between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22 ; and the pin  24   b  of the prevention member  24  is engaged in the bent portion of the elongated hole  26   a  of the support bracket  26 , whereby the prevention member  24  can be retained in the position of withdrawal from between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22 . 
         [0063]    Attachment of the grass collector  6  (connecting frame  8 ) to the vehicle body frame  3  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) will next be described. 
         [0064]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  8 , the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ) are inserted from above from between the inclined guide portions  21   c ,  22   b  above the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) to between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) while the grass collector  6  (connecting frame  8 ) is moved downward. 
         [0065]    In this case, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 9 , the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) face each other so that the distance between the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  decreases towards the lower portions thereof. Therefore, the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ) can easily be inserted between the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) from above. The guiding function of the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) allows the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ) to be guided towards the inside (downward) between the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  (vehicle-side connector  20 ). 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 , and  9 , when the lower end portions of the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ) reach the distal end portion  24   a  of the prevention member  24 , the prevention member  24  is pushed to the left in  FIG. 7  against the prevention member  24  by the lower end portions of the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ), the prevention member  24  is again moved to the right in  FIG. 7  by the spring  27 , and the distal end portion  24   a  of the prevention member  24  enters above the lower end portions of the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ). 
         [0067]    In this state, as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9 , the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ) are in contact with the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) as viewed from the side (see  FIG. 7 ), and in contact with the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) as viewed from the front (see  FIGS. 6 and 9 ). The distal end portion  24   a  of the prevention member  24  enters above the lower end portions of the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ), whereby the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ) does not escape upward from the vehicle-side connector  20 , and the grass collector  6  (connecting frame  8 ) is securely attached to the vehicle body frame  3  (vehicle-side connector  20 ). 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9 , in the state in which the grass collector  6  (connecting frame  8 ) is attached to the vehicle body frame  3  (vehicle-side connector  20 ), the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ) continue to enter (wedge) inside (downward) between the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) as a result of the guiding action of the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  (vehicle-side connector  20 ), as well as the guiding action of the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ), due to the weight of the grass collector  6  itself and the weight of the cut grass accumulated in the grass collector  6 . Through the aforementioned wedging action, the grass collector  6  (connecting frame  8 ) is supported by the vehicle body frame  3  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) with minimal rattling. 
         [0069]    When the grass collector  6  (connecting frame  8 ) is then removed from the vehicle body frame  3  (vehicle-side connector  20 ), the prevention member  24  is withdrawn from between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22 , and the pin  24   b  of the prevention member  24  is engaged in the bent portion of the elongated hole  26   a  of the support bracket  26 , whereby the prevention member  24  is retained in the position of withdrawal from between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22 . The right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ) are then withdrawn upward from between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) while the grass collector  6  (connecting frame  8 ) is moved upward, whereby the grass collector  6  (connecting frame  8 ) can be detached from the vehicle body frame  3  (vehicle-side connector  20 ). 
         [0070]    A configuration such as the one shown in  FIG. 11  may be adopted in the embodiment described above. 
         [0071]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  are omitted in the connecting frame  8 , a collector-side connector  31  (provided with the first connector  21 , the second connector  22 , the prevention member  24 , the support bracket  26 , and the spring  27 , but not the base plate  23 ) configured in the same manner as the vehicle-side connector  20  shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9  is set vertically backwards, and the collector-side connector  31  is fixed to the connecting frame  8 . In this case, the collector-side connector  31  is provided with right and left inclined guided portions  31   a  that face each other (i.e., open downward) so that the distance between the right and left inclined guided portions  31   a  decreases towards the upper portions thereof. A vehicle-side connector  32  is formed by folding a single round metal pipe into an inverted V shape, the vehicle-side connector  32  is fixed to the rear portion of the vehicle body frame  3 , and right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  are provided to the vehicle-side connector  32  so that the distance between the right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  decreases towards the upper portions thereof. 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the grass collector  6  (collector-side connector  31 ) is attached to the vehicle body frame  3  (vehicle-side connector  32 ), the right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  of the vehicle-side connector  32  are inserted from below between the right and left inclined guided portions  31   a  of the collector-side connector  31  while the grass collector  6  (collector-side connector  31 ) is moved downward. 
         [0073]    In this case, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the right and left inclined guided portions  31   a  of the collector-side connector  31  face each other so that the distance between the right and left inclined guided portions  31   a  decreases towards the upper portions thereof. Therefore, the right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  of the vehicle-side connector  32  can easily be inserted between the right and left inclined guided portions  31   a  of the collector-side connector  31  from below. The guiding function of the right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  of the vehicle-side connector  32  allows the right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  of the vehicle-side connector  32  to be guided towards the inside (upward) between the right and left inclined guided portions  31   a  of the collector-side connector  31 . 
         [0074]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the upper end portions of the right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  of the vehicle-side connector  32  reach the distal end portion  24   a  of the prevention member  24 , the prevention member  24  is pushed against the spring  27  by the upper end portions of the right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  of the vehicle-side connector  32 , the prevention member  24  is again entered by the spring  27 , and the distal end portion  24   a  of the prevention member  24  enters below the upper end portions of the right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  of the vehicle-side connector  32 . 
         [0075]    In this state, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the right and left inclined guided portions  31   a  of the collector-side connector  31  are in contact with the right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  of the vehicle-side connector  32 , and the distal end portion  24   a  of the prevention member  24  enters below the upper end portions of the right and left inclined guide portions  32   a  of the vehicle-side connector  32 , whereby the collector-side connector  31  does not escape upward from the vehicle-side connector  32 , and the grass collector  6  (collector-side connector  31 ) is securely attached to the vehicle body frame  3  (vehicle-side connector  32 ). 
         [0076]    A configuration such as the one shown in  FIG. 12  may be adopted in the two embodiments described above. 
         [0077]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , when the distal end portion of the receiving portion  22   a  of the second connector  22  is connected to the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21 , a configuration may be adopted in which the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  spread upward as viewed from the side (see  FIG. 12 ). Through this configuration, the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ) can easily be inserted from above between the receiving portions  21   a ,  22   a  of the first and second connectors  21 ,  22  (vehicle-side connector  20 ). 
         [0078]    Through this configuration, the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  (grass collector  6 ) are in contact with the receiving portion  21   a  of the first connector  21  (vehicle-side connector  20 ), and in contact with the right and left inclined guide portions  21   b  of the first connector  21  (vehicle-side connector  20 ) through the weight of the grass collector  6  itself and the weight of the cut grass accumulated in the grass collector  6 , and the right and left inclined guided portions  8   b  of the connecting frame  8  are slightly separated from the receiving portion  22   a  of the second connector  22 .