Patent Abstract:
A side cart mounted directly to one side of a tractor or rider lawn mowing blade housing deck. The side cart has an opening adjacent to the grass cutting discharge chute. Fastened to the bottom of the side cart is a steel sheet which is bent upwards at the front and rear. In one embodiment of the invention a hard plastic liner is pivotally installed in the side cart. The liner has a long handle attached thereto which permits the user to empty the side cart to the rear of the side cart without using a snow shovel.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to grass catchers, and in particular, to grass catcher for a rider lawn motor having a side grass discharge port in the blade housing. 
   Riding lawn mowers are widely used. These mowers are generally used for cutting grass on large lawns, and further for clipping and mulching leaves and other organic material on such lawns. It is desirable to have all of the debris thrown from the outlet of the mowing blade housing such as grass clippings, thatch, and leaves, collected so that they do not fall on the cut lawn. It is, therefore, necessary to provide means to contain the clippings on the mower and easily dispose of the container contents. 
   Various types of containers for collecting debris produced from a riding lawn mower have previously been suggested. Periodically, as the container is filled to capacity, the container must be emptied before equipment operation can continue. In the absence of automatically powered emptying means (which are very expensive and complicated), a user must stop the rider mower, dismount, and manually empty the container, either by physically removing and upending it, or by directly removing the collected load of debris itself. Proper safety precautions demand that the user completely halt operation of the rider mowing equipment and fully deboard prior to carrying out such emptying procedure. 
   The disruptive effect this causes to the user&#39;s efforts to complete the required work and the added physical exertion it requires of him or her are significant. This is especially so given that, where a receptacle container is reduced in size to lessen the weight and volume of its load capacity (so as to minimize the physical exertion required to empty it), the frequency with which the container must be emptied is necessarily increased. Conversely, where the receptacle assembly&#39;s container is increased in capacity to reduce the frequency with which it must be emptied, the container quickly becomes much more cumbersome and difficult to empty. Yet, prompt and regular emptying of the receptacle assembly&#39;s container remains a necessity, lest a clog form in the chuted path through which solid debris is expelled and directed from the vehicular equipment&#39;s working mower deck to the receptacle assembly not only interrupting further equipment operation, but requiring the user to take the necessarily time consuming and inconvenient remedial measures. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The rider mower grass catcher of the present invention provides a simple, effective and efficient method of cutting and collecting grass, leaves and other debris in one operation. The present invention provides a side cart mounted directly to one side of a tractor or rider lawn mowing blade housing deck. As grass is cut and expelled out the side of the mower deck, it enters directly into an opening in the side cart. The side cart has a lid which may be opened by the user riding the mower without dismounting. Any side cart entrance pile ups may be easily moved to the side cart rear with a modified straw broom. When the side cart is full, the grass is taken to a central disposable location where it is easily emptied with a snow shovel. In one embodiment of the invention a hard plastic liner is pivotally installed in the side cart. The liner has a long handle attached thereto which permits the user to empty the side cart to the rear of the side cart without using the snow shovel. Fastened to the bottom of the side cart is a galvanized steel sheet which is bent upwards at the front and rear. This allows the side cart to glide over the lawn. Since prior art suction tubes are eliminated, grass can be cut when it is wet and when it is as high as three feet or more. The invention is especially useful on lawns of one half acre and larger. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a right side view of a rider mower with side cart attached. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the rider mower and side cart of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the side cart. 
       FIG. 4  is a view of the side cart of  FIG. 3  with lid open. 
       FIG. 5  is a left side view of the side cart of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a front view of the side cart of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top view of the side cart attached to a mower assembly housing deck. 
       FIG. 8  is a rear view of a mounting block. 
       FIG. 9  is a front view of a mounting block. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of a mounting block. 
       FIG. 11  is a rear diagrammic view of a side cart stabilizer bar attached to the bottom of a rider lawn mower. 
       FIG. 12  is a view of a stabilizer bar assembly. 
       FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of a side cart liner. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like elements are indicated by like numerals, there is shown a rider lawn mower  10  having a front  11 , rear  12 , right side  13 , left side  14 , a top  15 , and a bottom  16 , said front  11  and rear  12  defining a rider lawn mower longitudinal axis. In this embodiment of the invention the rider lawn mower  10  has an engine  17  toward the front  11  above two forward wheels  18 . The top  15  has a seat  9  above two rearward wheels  19 . The rider lawn mower  10  has a mower assembly  20  attached to the rider lawn mower bottom  16  longitudinally positioned between the forward wheels  18  and the rearward wheels  19 . The mower assembly  20  has a housing deck  21  covering a mower blade assembly (not shown), said housing deck  21  having a discharge port  22  extending past the rider lawn mower right side  13 . The mower assembly housing deck  21  has a front  23 , rear  24 , left side  25 , right side  26  and a top  27 . 
   The present invention is comprised of a side cart  30  adapted to be positioned to the rider lawn mower right side  13  and attached to the mower assembly housing deck front  23 . The side cart  30  has an open front  31 , rear panel  32 , right side panel  33 , left side panel  34 , bottom  35 , and open top  36 , said side cart front  31  and rear  32  defining a side cart longitudinal axis. The side cart front  31 , rear panel  32 , right side panel  33 , left side panel  34 , bottom  35 , and open top  36  define a side cart interior  37 . The side cart right side panel  33  has a top edge  38 . The side cart left side panel  34  has an opening  39  extending from the side cart front  31  a predetermined distance toward the side cart rear  32 , and extending from side cart bottom  35  to top  36 . 
   A lid  40  is pivotally attached to the side cart right side top edge  38 . The lid  40  has a generally rectangular shape with a front edge  41 , rear edge  42 , hinged right edge  43 , left edge  44 , exterior surface  45  and interior surface  46 , said front edge  41  and rear edge  42  defining a lid longitudinal axis. The lid  40  has dimensions approximately equal to the dimensions of the side cart bottom  35 . The hinged right edge  43  is joined to the side cart right side top edge by means of a hinging means  47 . The lid front edge  41  has a canvas flap  48  attached thereto. A handle  49  is centrally attached to the lid exterior surface  45  near to the lid left edge  44 . 
   The side cart bottom  35  along the left side opening  39  has a protective tin flap  50  attached thereto. A 20 AWG galvanized steel sheet  51  is attached externally to the side cart bottom  35 . The steel sheet  51  has a forward portion  52  which is bent upwards past the side cart front  31 . The steel sheet  51  also has a rearward portion  53  which is bent upwards past the side cart rear  32 . 
   An elongated mounting bar  60  is attached to the side cart bottom  35  adjacent the side cart front  31 , said mounting bar  60  having an elongated body  61  with a proximal end  62  and a distal end  63 , said proximal end  62  and distal end  63  defining a mounting bar longitudinal axis. A portion of the mounting bar body  61  is attached to the side cart bottom  35  adjacent the side cart front  31 . The mounting bar body proximal end  62  is positioned nearly at the side cart right side  33 . Apertures  64  are formed in the mounting bar elongated body  61  for the insertion of fasteners  65  for holding the mounting bar  60  to the side car  30 . Two round apertures  66  are formed in the elongated body  61  near to the bar distal end  63  along the mounting bar longitudinal axis. 
   A mounting block  70  is provided. The mounting block attaches directly to the mower deck front  23  near to the mower deck right side  26 . In one embodiment of the invention, the mounting block  70  has an “L” shape with a horizontal base  71  through which two threaded bolts  72  protrude vertically in an upward direction. Two hex nuts  73  engage each threaded bolt  72 . The mounting block  70  has a vertical section  74  attached to said horizontal base  71 . The vertical section  74  has four threaded apertures  75  formed therethrough. Three of the apertures  75  have threaded fasteners  76  threadingly inserted, said fasteners  76  adapted to engage corresponding apertures  28  in the mower assembly housing deck front  23 . A mounting block bracket  77  is also provided. The bracket  77  has two vertical clearance holes  78  and one horizontal clearance hole  79 . The bracket  77  is fitted over the threaded bolts  72  by means of the two vertical clearance holes  78 . A fastener  29  is inserted through the horizontal clearance hole  79 , through the remaining vertical section threaded aperture  75 ′ into a corresponding aperture (not shown) in the mower assembly housing deck front  23 . 
   The side cart  30  is attached to the mower assembly housing deck  21  by attaching the mounting bar  60  to the mounting block  70  which is fixedly attached to the housing deck front  23 . The mounting bar  60  is attached to the mounting block  70  by fitting the mounting bar distal end apertures  66  over the threaded bolts  72 . Each threaded bolt set of hex nuts  73  engage each side of a distal bar end aperture  66 . The mounting block bracket  77  is then installed over the threaded bolts  72  and attached to the mounting bar vertical section  74 . 
   In another embodiment of the invention an elongated stabilizer rod assembly  87  is provided, said assembly having a stabilizer rod  80  having an elongated body  81  with a rear end  82  and a forward end  83 , said rear end  82  and forward end  83  defining a stabilizer rod longitudinal axis. The stabilizer rod forward end  83  is attached to a rod bracket  84  attached to the side cart rear  32  adjacent the side cart bottom  35 . A hollow stabilizer sleeve  89  is also provided. The sleeve  89  has a length which is less than the length of the stabilizer rod  80  and is fitted over the stabilizer rod  80 . The stabilizer rod rear end  82  is slidably attached to a stabilizer mounting bracket  85  bolted to the rider lawn mower bottom  16 . The stabilizer mounting bracket  85  has an aperture  86  through which the stabilizer rod rear end  83  is inserted, said aperture  86  having a diameter less than the diameter of the stabilizer sleeve  89 . The stabilizer rod  80  may slid through the stabilizer mounting bracket aperture  86  until the sleeve  89  engages the mounting bracket  85 . The stabilizer rod  80  keeps the side cart longitudinal axis generally parallel to the rider lawn mower longitudinal axis. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, a hard plastic side cart liner  90  is provided. The liner  90  has a front  91 , rear  92 , right side panel  93 , left side panel  94 , bottom  95 , and open top  96 , said liner front  91  and rear  92  defining a liner longitudinal axis. The liner front  91 , rear  92 , right side panel  93 , left side panel  94 , bottom  95 , and open top  96  define a liner interior  97 . The liner left side panel  94  has an opening  99  extending from the liner front  91  a predetermined distance toward the liner rear  92 , and extending from liner bottom  95  to top  96 . The liner rear  92  has a pivot groove  98  at the liner top  96 . The side cart  30  has a metal pivot rod  100  attached adjacent the side cart rear  32  and top  36  extending from the right side  33  to the left side  34 . The liner  90  is adapted to fit into the side cart interior  37  with the liner pivot groove  98  engaged with the side cart pivot rod  100 . The liner  90  has an elongated handle  101  rotatably attached to the liner front  91  at the liner top  96 . The handle  101  extends to the liner rear  92 . In operation, when the liner  90  is full of debris, the rider lawn mower  10  is brought to a desired central disposable location and halted. The side cart lid  40  is opened and the liner handle  101  pulled rearward. The liner  90  will pivot rearwardly about the metal pivot rod  100  thereby emptying the liner contents to the side rear  32 . 
   It is understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of the application. Other embodiments may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof. In other embodiments, runners, rollers or wheels could be attached to the side cart bottom  35 . Also, an open container could be mounted to the outside of the side cart rear  32  for holding a modified broom adapted to cut grass to the rear of the side cart.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0