Abstract:
An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes a frame which is attached to the front or rear of a lawn mower, and a spike assembly attached to the frame which provides spikes on rotating collars. The spikes penetrate and are withdrawn from the soil when the mower is moved, thereby aerating the soil. Embodiments can be attached to a vertical or horizontal surface on a mower. Guards optionally may protect the user from any injury.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX.” 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    This invention relates to a lawn aeration attachment for wheeled lawn husbandry implements. 
         [0005]    Aeration is the process of treating soil in order to improve penetration of air into the soil. Benefits from lawn aeration include improvement of exchange of air between the soil and the atmosphere, enhancement of water uptake by the soil, and improvement of nutrients and fertilizer uptake by the grass, thereby improving the grass growth. By allowing penetration of fertilizers and insecticides into the soil, undesirable chemical runoff into surface waters is prevented. In addition, aeration prevents the development of hard spots and erosion of the soil. Grass rooting also is improved by aeration, resulting in enhanced drought and heat tolerance in the lawn. In addition, aeration reduces soil compaction, a common lawn condition. In general, lawn cushioning and resiliency is improved by aeration. Finally, microbial degradation of thatch, the collection of lawn clippings at the soil surface, also is enhanced by aeration. This has the desirable advantage of removing thatch from the lawn. 
         [0006]    Aeration of lawns is recommended at least twice annually, in the spring and the fall. Lawns on poor soil will benefit from more frequent treatment. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART INCLUDING INFORMATION DISCLOSED UNDER 37 CFR 1.97 AND 37 CFR 1.98. 
       [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 2,476,084 discloses an aerator attachment behind a mower which is attached by supporting brackets. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,176 discloses a power driven aerator attached to the front of a lawn mower. The power driven aerator is located between the driven wheels of the lawn mower. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,616,714 discloses a hand aerator with spikes mounted on freely rotating sleeves on an axle. The aerator handle has a hitching yoke for attachment to a towing riding mower. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,828 discloses an aerator with spikes on a roller which attaches to a mower via support arms or mounting members which may be pivoted to raise the aerator. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,657 discloses an aerator attachment for a mower with a hydraulic actuator which raises and lowers the aerator, thereby allowing the weight of the mower to bear on the aerator, insuring penetration of the tubular tines. 
         [0012]    The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0013]    The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tool and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements. 
         [0014]    An aerator attachment for a lawn mower comprises a frame comprised of a bracket with means for reversible attachment to the mower and two support arms attached to the bracket. A spike assembly is attached to the frame and comprises an axle extending between the support arms and a multiplicity of sleeves mounted on the axle. A multiplicity of collars is rotatively mounted on the axle, the collars are interspersed between the sleeves, and a multiplicity of spikes are arrayed about the circumference of the collars. Embodiment aerators are demountably attached to either the front or rear of a lawn mower. The mower may be push or powered, and may have freely-rotating or driven wheels. Embodiment aerators are easily attached and removed so the lawn can be simultaneously cut and aerated when lawn aeration is desired, and only mowed when aeration is not desired. 
         [0015]    In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following descriptions. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment aerator attachment attached to the front of a lawn mower. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the first embodiment aerator attachment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a first embodiment frame. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment frame. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an optional first embodiment guard. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an optional second embodiment guard. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment aerator attachment attached to the front of a lawn mower. The first embodiment attachment is the same as the second embodiment except the first embodiment attachment includes the first embodiment frame. The second embodiment aerator includes the second embodiment frame. In both the first and second embodiments the same spike assembly is used. 
         [0024]    The front end of a lawn mower  10  is partially visible in  FIG. 1 . Also visible are the front wheels  16  which are attached to the deck  18 , and the motor  14  which powers the mower. The first embodiment aerator attachment  20  is attached by the frame  22  to the approximately vertical skirt  13  portion at the front of the deck  18  by bolts  27 . 
         [0025]    Also visible in  FIG. 1  is the spike assembly  24  which is attached to the frame  22 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the first embodiment aerator attachment. The first embodiment frame  22  comprises the bracket  28 , left arm  24  and right arm  26 . The arms are attached at approximately right angles to the bracket, and may be integral to the bracket. Alternatively, the arms may be welded to the bracket or be attached by other means such as bolts. 
         [0027]    The tine assembly comprises an axle  30  which extends through holes in the left  24  and right  26  arms. The axle is secured in the holes in the arms by pins  31  and washers  32 . A multiplicity of cylindrical collars  34  are mounted on the axle. Short sleeves  33  and  35  separate collars  34  from the left  24  and right  26  arms, respectively. Long sleeves  38  separate the collars  34  from each other. Washers  32  are mounted on the axle between the collars and sleeves and between the sleeves and arms. Each collar has a multiplicity of spikes arrayed about the circumference of the collar. In some embodiments four to eight spikes are attached to each collar. In some embodiments holes in the circumference of a collar are threaded and threaded spikes are inserted into the holes. Threaded lock nuts  37  are used to secure the spikes  36  in the collars  34 . The spikes are long enough to penetrate the soil, thereby aerating the soil. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of the first embodiment aerator attachment taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . The first embodiment frame  22  comprises the bracket  28 , left arm  24  and right arm  26 , also visible are the holes  29  for attachment of the frame to the mower. 
         [0029]    The tine assembly comprises an axle  30  which extends through holes  21  and  23  in the left  24  and right  26  arms, respectively. The axle is secured in the holes in the arms by pins  31  (not visible in  FIG. 3 ) and washers  32 . A multiplicity of cylindrical collars  34  are mounted on the axle. The collars  34  are separated by sleeves  38 . Washers  32  are mounted on the axle between the collars and sleeves and between the sleeves and arms. Each collar has a multiplicity of spikes arrayed about the circumference of the collar. In some embodiments holes in the circumference of a collar are threaded and threaded spikes are inserted into the holes. Threaded lock nuts  37  are used to secure the spikes  36  in the collars  34 . The spikes are long enough to penetrate the soil, thereby aerating the soil. In embodiments spikes are removable and a variety of different length spikes may be used. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a first embodiment frame  22 . The first embodiment frame is used when it is desirable to attach the aerator attachment to an approximately vertical portion of a mower deck. 
         [0031]    The first embodiment frame  22  comprises the left arm  24  attached to one end of the bracket  28  and the right arm  26  attached to the other end of the bracket  28 . The rectangular bracket  28  has a long edge  40  and a short edge  41 . Holes  29  in the bracket  28  are used to attach the frame via bolts, screws, clamps, hooks, cables, latches or other suitable fastener means on the mower deck. Left arm  24  has an upper long edge  44  and a lower long edge  45  and an end  46 . Right arm  26  has an upper long edge  42 , lower long edge  43 , and end  47 . Holes  21  and  23  are used for attachment of the spike assembly to the left  24  and right  26  arms, respectively. The angle between the plane of the bracket  28  and the long edges of the arms, angle A, is approximately 45°. When attached to a mower, the bracket  28  of the first embodiment frame  22  is approximately vertical. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a second embodiment frame. The second embodiment frame is used when it is desirable to attach the aerator attachment to an approximately horizontal portion of a mower deck. Holes  229  in the bracket  228  are used to attach the frame via bolts or other suitable fasteners on the mower deck. The second embodiment frame  222  comprises the left arm  224  attached to one end of the bracket  228  and the right arm  226  attached to the other end of the bracket  228 . Holes  221  and  223  are used for attachment of the spike assembly to the left  224  and right  226  arms, respectively. The angle between the plane of the bracket  228  and the long edges of the arms, angle B, is approximately 135°. When attached to a mower, the bracket  228  of the second embodiment frame  222  is approximately horizontal. 
         [0033]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an optional first embodiment guard  60 . The first embodiment guard is used with the first embodiment frame. The first embodiment guard is comprised of a approximately hemispheric canopy  62  attached to a approximately rectangular flange  64 . The plane of the flange is approximately parallel to a radius to the canopy. Holes  66  in the flange are used in connecting the guard to a mower. The guard flange may be attached between the approximately vertical skirt portion of the front or rear of the deck and the aerator bracket or, alternatively, the guard flange may be attached to the front of the bracket. The bolts which secure the bracket to the mower also secure the guard. 
         [0034]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an optional second embodiment guard  260 . The second embodiment guard is used with the second embodiment frame. The second embodiment guard is comprised of a approximately hemispheric canopy  262  attached to a approximately rectangular flange  264 . The plane of the flange is approximately tangent to the canopy. Holes  266  in the flange are used in connecting the guard to a mower. The guard flange may be attached between the approximately horizontal skirt portion of the front or rear of the mower deck above the aerator bracket. The bolts which secure the bracket to the mower also secure the guard. 
         [0035]    The optional guards are used to protect the mower/aerator user from any injury associated with the spikes. 
         [0036]    The guards are constructed from any light, strong, resilient material such as aluminum, steel, or plastic. 
         [0037]    Embodiments of the aerator attachment may be attached between the wheels at either the front or the rear of lawn mowers which have side chutes for emitting lawn clippings. Embodiments are attached to the front of mowers which have clipping emitters or clipping baggers on the rear of the mower. The first embodiment aerator attachment is suitable for mowers with accessible vertical portions of the deck between the wheels. Some mowers have flanges or flaps extending between the wheels which obstruct the vertical portion of the deck. The second embodiment aerator attachment is suitable for attachment to the horizontal portion of the deck of these mowers. 
         [0038]    It is anticipated that specific models of the various mowers will require slight modifications in the shape of the brackets of the embodiments, in the length of the arms, and in the angles between the plane of the bracket and the sides of the arms. Accordingly, the exact dimensions of the attachment are not crucial. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, the frame, axle, collars, and spikes, are manufactured of any suitable strong, hard, durable material, for example, steel, iron, aluminum. In embodiments the sleeves are made of plastic or aluminum. 
         [0040]    In operation the collars rotate freely and the tines pierce and are withdrawn from the soil as the mower moves forward and backward, thereby aerating the soil. 
         [0041]    In one embodiment of a first embodiment frame as depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the frame is constructed throughout of ¼ inch thick steel plate. 
         [0042]    The bracket has a long edge  40  or length of 16 inches and a short edge  41  or width of 2 inches. Bracket holes  29  are centered approximately 3½ inches from the bracket short edges. 
         [0043]    The arms have upper long edges  42  and  44  with a length of 7¼ inches and lower edges  43  and  45  with a length of 6¾ inches. The arm ends  46  and  47  are 2 inches in length. Holes  21  and  23  in the arms are centered approximately 2 inches from the ends  46  and  47 , respectively. The arms are welded to the bracket. 
         [0044]    In this embodiment the axle  30  is constructed of ±2 inch diameter steel rod 16 inches long. 
         [0045]    In this embodiment there are 4 collars  34 . Each collar is constructed of aluminum and is a cylinder with a length of ¾ inch and has an outer diameter of 2 inches and an inner diameter of approximately ½ inch. 
         [0046]    In this embodiment  6  spikes  36  are arrayed at equidistance about the circumference of each collar. Each spike is ¼ inch in diameter, 3¾ inch in length, and penetrates the ground approximately 1½ inch. Each spike is threaded on one end and sharpened on the other end. 
         [0047]    This embodiment includes two short sleeves  33  and  35  of 1¼ inch in length and three long sleeves  38  of 3 inch in length. Sleeves are constructed of plastic cylinders. While this example describes the dimensions of one embodiment, other embodiments will have other dimensions. For example, spikes of length 2 inches to 6 inches are contemplated. 
         [0048]    While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and subcombinations thereof. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.