Abstract:
A riding lawnmower outrigger ( 1 ) having a hollow outer tube ( 5 ) secured to a riding lawnmower ( 2 ), a telescoping inner tube ( 6 ) which locks within the outer tube ( 5 ), a vertical tube ( 11 ) connected to the inner tube ( 6 ), an outrigger wheel housing ( 16 ) secured to the vertical tube ( 11 ) and a wheel ( 7 ) secured within the outrigger wheel housing ( 16 ). When utilizing the riding lawnmower outrigger ( 1 ) on a ground surface ( 32 ) having a slope ( 31 ), the riding lawnmower ( 2 ) will not tip-over or rollover because the riding lawnmower outrigger ( 1 ) acts as a supporting arm to balance the riding lawnmower ( 2 ) and prevent tip-over thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to an accessory for a riding lawnmower, more particularly, a riding lawnmower outrigger that may be permanently or removably secured to a riding lawnmower to prevent tipping of the riding lawnmower when used on sloped surfaces. 
   Riding lawnmowers have become a popular tool for both residential and commercial purposes as the use of riding lawnmowers has many advantages over the use of traditional push lawnmowers. First and most importantly, the amount of energy expended by a person is drastically reduced when comparing the use of a riding lawnmower to a traditional push mower. Second, the amount of time expended by the person to cut a predetermined amount of grass is greatly reduced, thereby permitting a person to cut a larger amount of grass in a shorter amount of time as compared to traditional push lawnmowers. Finally, most people find riding lawnmowers much easier to use than traditional push lawnmowers. 
   However, there is a great risk associated with riding lawnmowers that is not associated traditional push lawnmowers. When a riding lawnmower is being used on a sloped surface, such as on a hillside, ditch or other inclined area, the riding lawnmower may tip-over. Because a user sits atop a riding lawnmower, the effects of the riding lawnmower tipping over may be catastrophic as the user may obtain serious bodily injury, such as gashes and broken bones, or even die. 
   Thus, a need exists for an outrigger for a riding lawnmower that may be permanently or removably secured to a riding lawnmower to prevent tipping of the riding lawnmower when used on sloped surfaces. 
   The relevant prior art includes the following references: 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
             
               U.S. Pat. No. 
                 
                 
             
             
               (U.S. unless 
                 
               Issue/ 
             
             
               stated otherwise) 
               Inventor 
               Publication Date 
             
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               2,767,995 
               Stout 
               Oct. 23, 1956 
             
             
               3,802,720 
               Ellis 
               Apr. 09, 1974 
             
             
               4,206,580 
               Truax et al. 
               Jun. 10, 1980 
             
             
               3,763,956 
               Ruff 
               Oct. 09, 1973 
             
             
               2,986,295 
               Shaffer 
               May 30, 1961 
             
             
               6,394,738 
               Springer 
               May 28, 2002 
             
             
               4,707,971 
               Forpahl et al. 
               Nov. 24, 1987 
             
             
               6,722,113 
               Atterbury et al. 
               Apr. 20, 2004 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The primary object of the present invention is to provide a riding lawnmower outrigger that prevents tipping of a riding lawnmower when used on sloped ground surfaces. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a riding lawnmower outrigger that may be permanently or removably secured to a riding lawnmower. 
   An even further object of the present invention is to provide a riding lawnmower outrigger that is easy to use. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a riding lawnmower outrigger that may be adjustable. 
   An even further object of the present invention is to provide a riding lawnmower outrigger that may be used on one or both sides of a riding lawnmower. 
   The present invention fulfills the above and other objects by providing a riding lawnmower outrigger having a hollow outer tube having a predetermined cross-sectional shape with a first end and a second end, a telescoping inner tube having a predetermined cross-sectional shape with a first end and a second end, a means for securing the outer tube to a riding lawnmower, a means for locking the inner tube within the outer tube, a vertical tube having a top end and a bottom end wherein the vertical tube is connected to the inner tube first end, at least one outrigger wheel housing secured to the vertical tube bottom end and at least one wheel secured between the outrigger wheel housing such that the wheel rolls in a predetermined direction along with the direction of the riding lawnmower. 
   Alternate embodiments of the present invention permit rotation of the outrigger wheel housing in a manner similar to that of caster wheels and pivoting of the outrigger wheel so as to pivot upwards and downwards according to the topography of the ground surface. 
   To use the present invention, a user first secures the outer tube to a riding lawnmower, preferably under the riding lawnmower base. Then, he or she adjusts the length of the inner tube to a desired position and locks the inner tube within the inner tube, preferably via a pin and apertures located in the inner and outer tubes. Thus, when the user is using the riding lawnmower on a ground surface having a slope, the riding lawnmower will not tip-over or rollover because the riding lawnmower outrigger acts as a supporting arm to balance the riding lawnmower and prevent tip-over thereof. 
   The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following detailed description, reference will be made to the attached drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the riding lawnmower outrigger of the present invention installed on a riding lawnmower; 
       FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the riding lawnmower outrigger of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is front view of a pivotal wheel used on the riding lawnmower outrigger of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a side plan view of an alternate embodiment of the riding lawnmower outrigger of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a front view of the riding lawnmower outrigger of the present invention in use on a sloped ground surface. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   For purposes of describing the preferred embodiment, the terminology used in reference to the numbered components in the drawings is as follows: 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               1. 
               riding lawnmower outrigger, generally 
             
             
                 
               2. 
               riding lawnmower 
             
             
                 
               3. 
               riding lawnmower base 
             
             
                 
               4. 
               riding lawnmower tire 
             
             
                 
               5. 
               outer tube 
             
             
                 
               6. 
               inner tube 
             
             
                 
               7. 
               outrigger wheel 
             
             
                 
               8. 
               handle 
             
             
                 
               9. 
               knob 
             
             
                 
               10. 
               vertical tube threads 
             
             
                 
               11. 
               vertical tube 
             
             
                 
               12. 
               connection tube threads 
             
             
                 
               13. 
               connection tube 
             
             
                 
               14. 
               spring 
             
             
                 
               15. 
               vertical tube aperture 
             
             
                 
               16. 
               outrigger wheel housing 
             
             
                 
               17. 
               wheel fastening means 
             
             
                 
               18. 
               inner tube aperture 
             
             
                 
               19. 
               pin 
             
             
                 
               20. 
               outer tube aperture 
             
             
                 
               21. 
               bracket 
             
             
                 
               22. 
               clamp 
             
             
                 
               23. 
               bolt 
             
             
                 
               24. 
               outer tube first end 
             
             
                 
               25. 
               outer tube second end 
             
             
                 
               26. 
               inner tube first end 
             
             
                 
               27. 
               inner tube second end 
             
             
                 
               28. 
               first plate 
             
             
                 
               29. 
               pivotal retaining means 
             
             
                 
               30. 
               vertical tube plate 
             
             
                 
               31. 
               slope 
             
             
                 
               32. 
               ground surface 
             
             
                 
               33. 
               top end 
             
             
                 
               34. 
               bottom end 
             
             
                 
               35. 
               outrigger wheel housing first side 
             
             
                 
               36. 
               outrigger wheel housing second side 
             
             
                 
               37. 
               second plate 
             
             
                 
               38. 
               outrigger wheel housing top side 
             
             
                 
               39. 
               vertical tube plate aperture 
             
             
                 
               40. 
               locking means 
             
             
                 
               41. 
               securing means 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , a side perspective view of the riding lawnmower outrigger of the present invention installed on a riding lawnmower is shown. The riding lawnmower outrigger, generally  1  includes an outer tube  5  secured to a riding lawnmower  2 , preferably beneath a riding lawnmower base  3 , an inner tube  6  which is telescopingly adjustable within the outer tube  5 , a vertical tube  11  connected to the inner tube  6 , a handle  8  connected at one end of the vertical tube  11  and an outrigger wheel  7  connected to an opposite end of the vertical tube  11 . A spring  14  may wrap around the vertical tube  11  at a location adjacent to the outrigger wheel  7  to act as a shock absorber when the riding lawnmower  2  is used on ground surfaces. The riding lawnmower outrigger  1  is preferably secured to a riding lawnmower  2  at a substantially perpendicular angle to the riding lawnmower  2  to provide maximum support when the riding lawnmower  2  is used on a ground surface  32  having a slope  31  (see  FIG. 7 ). When the riding lawnmower tires  4  move in a predetermined direction, the outrigger wheel  7  also moves in the same predetermined direction. For instance, if the riding lawnmower  2  moves in a forward direction, then the outrigger wheel  7  also moves in a forward direction. Conversely, if the riding lawnmower  2  moves in a reverse direction, the outrigger wheel  7  also moves in a reverse direction. 
   With respect to  FIG. 2 , a front plan view of the riding lawnmower outrigger of the present invention is shown. The riding lawnmower outrigger  1  of the present invention includes an outer tube  5  having an outer tube first end  24  and an outer tube second end  25 , an inner tube  6  having an inner tube first end  26  and an inner tube second end  27 . The outer tube  5  is preferably hollow having a predetermined cross-sectional shape, which is preferably square but which also may be any other shape, and the inner tube  6  preferably has the same predetermined cross-sectional shape as the outer tube  5 . The outer tube  5  preferably includes at least one outer tube aperture  20  while the inner tube  6  preferably includes at least one inner tube aperture  18 . When the inner tube  6  is secured within the outer tube  5 , a locking means  40 , which is preferably a pin  19 , is used to lock the inner tube  6  at a predetermined position within the outer tube  5 . The pin  19  is simply inserted into the desired outer tube aperture  20  and desired inner tube aperture  18  to provide a user with a customized length of the riding lawnmower outrigger  1 . 
   A vertical tube  11  is secured to the inner tube first end  26 , preferably via a connection tube  13 . The vertical tube  11  has a top end  33  and a bottom end  34  wherein a handle  8  is secured to the top end  33  and a outrigger wheel housing  16  is secured to the bottom end  34 . The handle  8  preferably includes a knob  9  for a user to easily grasp and hold the handle  8 . Vertical tube threads  10  are located on the vertical tube  11  and correspond with connection tube threads  12  located within the connection tube  13  to permit a user to adjust the height of the vertical tube  11  in order to accommodate a user&#39;s armlength. A spring  14  is preferably located on the vertical tube  11  beneath the connection tube  13  and above the outrigger wheel housing  16  to act as a shock absorber. 
   The outrigger wheel housing  16  includes an outrigger housing first side  35 , an outrigger housing second side  36  and an outrigger housing top side  38  which preferably form a C-shape. The outrigger wheel  7  is secured within the outrigger wheel housing  16  by a wheel fastening means  17 . The outrigger wheel housing  16  is connected to the bottom end  34  of the vertical tube  11  in such a manner as to provide rotation of the outrigger wheel housing  16  when the handle  8  is manipulated. In the alternative, the outrigger wheel housing  16  may be secured to the vertical tube  11  in such a manner so as to create a caster wheel wherein the outrigger wheel  7  is freely rotational when the riding lawnmower outrigger  1  is used. Because the outrigger wheel housing  16 , and thus outrigger wheel  7 , is rotational, the outrigger wheel  7  is able to turn when the riding lawnmower  2  turns. 
   To secure the outer tube  5  to the riding lawnmower  2 , a securing means  41  is provided. The securing means  41  is preferably two brackets  21  having an L-shape. The brackets  21  are secured on each side of the riding lawnmower base  3  via bolts  23  which extend through the brackets  21  and riding lawnmower base  3 . Clamps  22 , which are preferably C-shaped, hold the brackets  21  on the outer tube  5  and permit a user to easily adjust the brackets  21  along the outer tube  5  to create a space wide enough to accommodate the riding lawnmower base  3 . 
   Next,  FIG. 3  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . The outrigger wheel  7  moves in a predetermined direction, depending upon which direction a riding lawnmower is moving, the predetermined direction which may be forward or reverse. 
     FIG. 4  shows front view of a pivotal wheel used on the riding lawnmower outrigger of the present invention. Similar to the outrigger wheel  7  and outrigger wheel housing  16  described above, the pivotal outrigger wheel  7  is secured between the outrigger wheel housing first side  35  and the outrigger wheel housing second side  36 . However, a first plate  28  is secured between the outrigger wheel housing first side  35  and the outrigger wheel  7  and a second plate  37  is secured between the outrigger wheel housing second side  36  and the outrigger wheel  7  by a pivotal retaining means  29 . A wheel fastening means  17  secures the outrigger wheel  7  between the first plate  28  and the second plate  37 . 
   In  FIG. 5 , a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  is shown. Because the outrigger wheel  7  is secured within the first plate  28  and second plate  37  (not shown) and the plates  28  and  37  are secured to the outrigger wheel housing  16  by a pivotal retaining means  29 , the plates  28  and  37 , and thus outrigger wheel  7 , are pivotal in an upward and downward direction. The pivotal movement of the outrigger wheel  7  permits a wider range of use of the riding lawnmower outrigger  1  on ground surfaces having various topographies. 
     FIG. 6  shows a side plan view of an alternate embodiment of the riding lawnmower outrigger of the present invention. Similar to the aforementioned riding lawnmower outrigger  1 , this embodiment of the riding lawnmower outrigger  1  of the present invention includes an inner tube  6  and an outer tube  5  which is securable to a riding lawnmower  2  (not shown). However, this embodiment includes a plurality of vertical tube apertures  15  extending through the vertical tube  11 . In addition, as opposed to having a connection tube  13  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , this embodiment of the present invention includes a vertical tube plate  30  having at least one vertical tube plate aperture  39  secured on the inner tube first end  26 . In this manner, a user may adjust the height of the vertical tube  11  by inserting a pin  19  into the vertical tube plate apertures  39  and the desired vertical tube apertures  15 . 
   Finally,  FIG. 7  shows a front view of the riding lawnmower outrigger of the present invention in use on a sloped surface. Because the riding lawnmower outrigger  1  extends a predetermined distance away from a riding lawnmower  2 , the riding lawnmower outrigger  1  acts as a support arm to balance the riding lawnmower  2  when used on a ground surface  32  having a slope  31 . 
   The use of the present invention will prevent tipping of a riding lawnmower when used on sloped ground surfaces. 
   It is to be understood that while a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and drawings.