Abstract:
A deck for mowers including an upper and lower decks with structured frame members in between. Both upper and lower decks attach to front and rear cross members at substantially the same point. Upper deck at sides slopes down and is formed with smooth radius; lower deck attaches to bottom side of upper deck just inside of smooth radius. The upper deck is crowned or elevated so that it slopes downward in all directions—front, rear, and sides. The top deck is shaped so that debris and water will divert or fall off the deck.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     Applicant&#39;s invention relates to a deck for mowers, more particularly to a deck for rotary mowers.  
         [0003]     2. Background Information  
         [0004]     Rotary mowers are known in the art for cutting and shredding material by towing the cutter deck across the desired terrain. The cutter deck itself houses one or more mounted rotary blades that spin upon actuation by a power source. The construction of the cutter deck should be such that it protects the user from injury that can occur from the moving blades or from objects or debris being projected from the underside of the cutter deck when the blades are in operation. In this construction, the cutter deck should have a solid framework to provide extraordinary protection for the user. The present invention was designed with the safety of the user in mind incorporating a solid infrastructure which is herein further defined covered by a lower deck and upper deck.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel deck for mowers.  
         [0006]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel deck for mowers having a front cross member and rear cross member connected to a left and right skirt.  
         [0007]     Yet an additional object of the present invention is to provide a novel deck for mowers that incorporates a solid infrastructure covered by lower deck and upper deck.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel deck for mowers having a central cross channel connected across left and right channel members with the left and right channel members extending from the front cross member to rear cross member.  
         [0009]     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a novel deck for mowers that has an upper deck connected at its sides to a lip.  
         [0010]     In satisfaction of these and related objectives, Applicant&#39;s present invention provides for a deck for mowers. The present invention has a front cross member positioned parallel to a rear cross member. Rear cross member has a top section and a bottom section. One end of front cross member sits atop a left skirt while the remaining end sits atop a right skirt. Left skirt has an inward arch beginning near mid section of left skirt and extends to the left end of rear cross member while the right skirt has an inward arch beginning near mid section of right skirt and extends to the right end of rear cross member.  
         [0011]     Left skid shoe is positioned at the bottom edge of the left skirt and extends from approximately the mid section of left skirt to the front of the left skirt. Right skid shoe borders the bottom edge of the right skirt and extends from approximately the mid section right skirt to the front of right skirt.  
         [0012]     The remaining infrastructure of the present invention includes left and right channel members. Situated above left and right channel members are left and right hitch assemblies. These hitch assemblies have inside limbs and outside limbs. Both inside limbs and outside limbs extend up from channel members at an angle and are connected at their opposite end by links.  
         [0013]     Centrally located across the left and right channel members is the center cross channel that contains flanges with gear box shaft centered bores surrounded by gear box mounting holes which are designed to support a transversely spaced rotary cutter. Situated under the left and right channel members and center cross channel is the lower deck. The lower deck is covered by the upper deck to form the final structure of the present invention. The upper and lower deck have structured frame members in between for torsional stiffness. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with upper deck removed.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with upper deck and lower deck removed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present deck  100  for a rotary cutter (not shown). The deck  100  has a transverse front cross member  20  positioned parallel to the rear cross member  22 . Front cross member  20  only becomes a tube when the present deck  100  is welded. Rear cross member  22  is shorter in length than front cross member  20 . Front cross member  20  defines the front perimeter of the present deck  100 , while the rear cross member  22  defines the rear perimeter.  
         [0020]     Rear cross member  22  has a top section  240  and a bottom section  242 . The top section  240  is generally flat and bounded at both ends by pieces  244 . In the completed invention, pieces  244  look generally inverted L-shaped with the lower portion of the L extending over upper deck  96  at points  116  and  114  and the upper portion of the L extending down along the front of rear cross member  22  to the base of the present deck  100 . Centrally located along top section  240  are pieces  246  with pieces  248  located toward the ends of top section  240 . Pieces  246  and  248  are generally inverted J-shaped with the lower portion of the J extending over the topmost is portion of rear cross member  22  and the upper portion of the J extending down along the front of rear cross member  22  terminating at bottom section  242 . Top section  240  is contiguous with bottom section  242 . Bottom section  242  extends from top section  240  at an outward angle toward the base of the present deck  100 . Bottom section  242  is generally flat and bounded at both ends by pieces  244  which continue down from top section  240 . The lowermost portion of pieces  246  and  248  extends down to bottom section  242 .  
         [0021]     One end  158  of front cross member  20  abuts left skirt  26 . Left skirt  26  runs from front to rear of the present deck  100  and contains a substantially triangular section  52  (See  FIG. 2 ) which forms an apex  104  (See  FIG. 2 ) at the upper corner of left skirt  26 . Left skirt  26  has an inward arch  108  beginning near mid section of left skirt  26  (See  FIG. 3 ) and the rear end of left skid shoe  28 a (See  FIG. 3 ) at point  106  (See  FIG. 3 ) extending to the left end point  114  of rear cross member  22 .  
         [0022]     Left skid shoe  28   a  (See  FIG. 3 ) is a single track rail that borders the outer, bottom edge of the left skirt  26  and extends from approximately the mid section of left skirt  26  to the front of the left skirt  26  at point  118  (See  FIG. 3 ). Left skid shoe  28   a  is generally parallel with the left skirt  26  but at point  120  (See  FIG. 2 ) it angles at a sharp upward incline near the rear of section  52  (See  FIG. 2 ) and terminates near the apex  104  (See  FIG. 2 ) of section  52  (See  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0023]     The remaining end  160  of the front cross member  20  abuts right skirt  24 . Right skirt  24  runs from front to rear of the present deck  100  and contains a substantially triangular section  50  which forms an apex  102  at the upper corner of right skirt  24 . Right skirt  24  has an inward arch  110  beginning near the mid section of right skirt  24  and the rear end of right skid shoe  28   b  at point  112  and extending to the right end point  116  of rear cross member  22 .  
         [0024]     Right skid shoe  28   b  is a single track rail that borders the outer, bottom edge of the right skirt  24  and extends from approximately the mid section of right skirt  24  to the front of right skirt  24  at point  122 . Right skid shoe  28   b  is generally parallel with the right skirt  24  but at point  124  it angles at a sharp upward incline near the rear of section  50  and terminates near the apex  102  of section  50 .  
         [0025]     Situated at the top of the present deck  100  is an upper deck  96  having a left upper deck  162 , a center upper deck  164  and a right upper deck  166 . Left and right channel members  32  and  34  are shown toward the center of upper deck  96  with terminating ends  126  and  128  near the rear perimeter of upper deck  96 . At the front perimeter of upper deck  96  channel members  32  and  34  have terminating ends  130  and  132 . Situated above terminating ends  130  and  132  are left and right hitch assemblies  226  and  228 . These hitch assemblies  226  and  228  have inside limbs  224  and outside limbs  236  with inside limbs  224  positioned inside channel members  32  and  34  and outside limbs  236  positioned outside channel members  32  and  34 . Both inside limbs  224  and outside limbs  236  extend up from channel members  32  and  34  at an angle and are connected at their opposite end by links  238 .  
         [0026]     Left upper deck  162  includes sections  148 ,  150 ,  152 ,  154 , and  156 . Sections  148 ,  150 ,  152 ,  154 , and  156  and left section  38  make up a single pre-formed sheet where the front outer perimeter of sections  150  and  154  is attached to front cross member  20  and the rear outer perimeter of section  148  is attached to rear cross tube section  22 . Section  150  is substantially square and has a downward incline sloping toward left skirt  26  as well as toward front cross member  20 . Section  150  is contiguous with section  154  and bounded by left section  38 , outside limb  236  of left hitch assembly  226 , and outside portion  232  of left channel member  32 . Section  154  is substantially square as well and slopes downward from section  156  toward front cross member  20  and from section  150  toward left skirt  26 . Section  154  is contiguous with section  156 , which is substantially square. Section  156  forms a downward slope from left section  38  toward left skirt  26 . Section  156  is contiguous with left section  38 . Section  148  is substantially square and has a downward incline sloping from left section  38  toward rear cross member  22 . Section  148  is bounded by left section  38  and outside portion  232  of left channel member  32 . Bounded by section  156  and section  148  is section  152 . Section  152  is generally triangular with an arch portion  200 . The boundaries of sections  152 , 154  and  156  are separated from left skirt  26  by lip  202 . Left section  38  is bounded at each side by sections  148  and  150 . This section  38  is generally square and flat bounded at one end by the outside portion  232  of left channel member  32  and at the remaining end by section  156 . Left section  38  has a centrally located flange  134  with gear box shaft centered bore  136  surrounded by gear box mounting holes  138  which is designed to support a transversely spaced rotary cutter assembly (not shown).  
         [0027]     Center upper deck  164  includes sections  218 ,  220 , and  222  and middle section  40 . Section  218  is bounded at one side by front cross member  20  and at the opposing side by section  220 . The left and right ends of section  218  are bounded by inside limbs  224  of left and right hitch assemblies  226  and  228 . Section  218  is generally rectangular and slopes slightly downward from section  220  toward front cross member  20 . Left and right hitch assembly  226  and  228  are supported by left and right channel members  32  and  34  and front cross member.  
         [0028]     Section  220  of center upper deck section  164  is bounded on one side by section  218  and at the opposing side by middle section  40 . The left and right ends of section  220  are bounded by inside portions  230  of left and right channel members  32  and  34 . Section  220  is generally rectangular and slopes downward from middle section  40  toward section  218 .  
         [0029]     Middle section  40  is bounded at each side by sections  220  and  222 . This section  40  is generally rectangular and flat and bounded at each end by inside portions  230  of left and right channel members  32  and  34 . Middle section  40  has a centrally located flange  134  with gear box shaft centered bore  136  surrounded by gear box mounting holes  138  which is designed to support a transversely spaced rotary cutter assembly (not shown).  
         [0030]     Section  222  is bounded on one side by rear cross member  22  and at the opposing side by middle section  40 . The left and right ends of section  220  are bounded by inside portions  230  of left and right channel members  32  and  34 . Section  220  is generally rectangular and slopes downward from middle section  40  toward rear cross member  22 .  
         [0031]     Right upper deck  166  includes sections  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 , and  212  and the top of right section  42 . These multiple sections are used for torsional stiffness. Sections  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 , and  212  make up a single pre-formed sheet where the front outer perimeter of sections  206  and  210  is attached to front cross member  20  and the rear outer perimeter of section  204  is attached to rear cross member  22 . Front cross member  20  and rear cross member  22  attach to said upper deck  96  and said lower deck  30  at the front and rear of both said upper deck  96  and said lower deck  30  where said upper deck  96  and said lower deck  30  meet. Section  210  is substantially square and has a downward incline sloping toward right skirt  24  as well as toward front cross member  20 . Section  210  is contiguous with section  206 . Section  206  is substantially square as well and slopes downward from right section  42  toward front cross member  20 . Section  206  is bounded by right section  42 , outside portion  234  of right channel member  34 , and outside limb  236  of right hitch assembly  228 . Section  210  is contiguous with section  212 , which is substantially square. Section  212  forms a downward slope from right section  42  toward right skirt  24 . Section  204  is substantially square and has a downward incline sloping from right section  42  toward rear cross member  22 . Section  204  is bounded by right section  42  and outside portion  234  of right channel member  34 . Bounded by section  204  and section  212  is section  208 . Section  208  is generally triangular with an arch portion  214 . The boundaries of sections  208 ,  210 , and  212  are separated from right skirt  24  by lip  216  having a width X (See  FIG. 4 ). Right section  42  is bounded at each side by sections  204  and  206 . This section  42  is generally square and flat and bounded at one side by outside portion  234  of right channel member  34  and at the remaining side by section  212 . Right section  42  has a centrally located flange  134  with gear box shaft centered bore  136  surrounded by gear box mounting holes  138  which is designed to support a transversely spaced rotary cutter assembly (not shown).  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  is a left side view of the preferred embodiment of the present deck  100 . Left skirt  26  is shown which runs from the front to rear of the present invention and contains a substantially triangular section  52  which forms an apex  104  at the upper corner of left skirt  26 . Left skid shoe  28   a  borders the outer, bottom edge of left skirt  26  and extends from approximately the mid section of left skirt  26  at point  106  to the front of the left skirt at point  118 , but at point  120  left skid shoe  28   a  angles at a sharp upward incline near the rear of section  52  and terminates near the apex  104  of section  52 . Left channel member  32  is shown as is left hitch assembly  226 . Piece  244  is also shown.  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The deck  100  has a transverse front cross member  20  positioned parallel to the rear cross member  22 . Flat bracket  256  is shown extending from a central position of front cross member  20 . One end  158  of front cross member  20  sits atop a left skirt  26 . Left skirt  26  runs from front to rear of the present deck  100 . Left skirt  26  has an inward arch  108  beginning near mid section of left skirt  26  and the rear end of left skid shoe  28   a  at point  106  extending to the left end point  114  of rear cross member  22 .  
         [0034]     Left skid shoe  28   a  borders the outer, bottom edge of the left skirt  26  and extends from approximately the mid section of left skirt  26  to the front of the left skirt  26  at point  118 . The remaining end  160  of the front cross member  20  sits atop a right skirt  24 . Right skirt  24  runs from front to rear of the present deck  100 . Right skirt  24  has an inward arch  110  beginning near the mid section of right skirt  24  and the rear end of right skid shoe  28   b  at point  112  and extending to the right end point  116  of rear cross member  22 . Right skid shoe  28   b  borders the outer, bottom edge of the right skirt  24  and extends from approximately the mid section of right skirt  24  to the front of right skirt  24  at point  122 .  
         [0035]     Extending from the front of the present deck  100  are left and right hitch assemblies  226  and  228 . These hitch assemblies  226  and  228  have inside limbs  224  and outside limbs  236 . Links  238  connect inside limbs  224  to outside limbs  236 . Flanges  134  with gear box shaft centered bore  136  surrounded by gear box mounting holes  138  are located along the bottom of the present deck  100  and are contiguous with the respective flanges  134  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with upper deck  96  removed exposing lower deck  30 . The deck  100  has a front cross member  20  positioned parallel to the rear cross member  22 . Front cross member  20  is positioned forward and beneath said upper deck  96  and said lower deck  30  defining a front perimeter. Rear cross member  22  has a top section  240  and a bottom section  242 . Rear cross member  22  is positioned rearward and beneath said upper deck  96  and said lower deck  30  defining a rear perimeter. The top section  240  is bounded at both ends by pieces  244 . In the completed invention, pieces  244  look generally inverted L-shaped with the lower portion of the L extending over lower deck  30  at points  116  and  114  and the upper portion of the L extending down along the front of rear cross member  22  to the base of the present deck  100 . Centrally located along top section  240  are pieces  246  with pieces  248  located toward the ends of top section  240 . Pieces  246  and  248  are generally inverted J-shaped with the lower portion of the J extending over the topmost portion of rear cross member  22  and the upper portion of the J extending down along the front of rear cross member  22  terminating at bottom section  242 . Top section  240  is contiguous with bottom section  242 . Bottom section  242  extends from top section  240  at an outward angle toward the base of the present deck  100 . Bottom section  242  is generally flat and bounded at both ends by pieces  244  which continue down from top section  240 . The lowermost portion of pieces  246  and  248  extends down to bottom section  242 .  
         [0037]     One end  158  of front cross member  20  abuts left skirt  26  (See  FIG. 1 ). The remaining end  160  of the front cross member  20  abuts right skirt  24 . Right skirt  24  runs from front to rear of the present deck  100  and contains a substantially triangular section  50  which forms an apex  102  at the upper corner of right skirt  24 . Right skirt  24  has an inward arch  110  beginning near the mid section of right skirt  24  and the rear end of right skid shoe  28   b  at point  112  and extending to the right end point  116  of rear cross member  22 . Left skirt  26  and right skirt  24  are positioned to opposing sides and beneath said upper deck  96  and said lower deck  30 .  
         [0038]     Right skid shoe  28   b  extends from approximately the mid section of right skirt  24  to the front of right skirt  24  at point  122 . Right skid shoe  28   b  is generally parallel with the right skirt  24  but at point  124  it angles at a sharp upward incline near the rear of section  50  and terminates near the apex  102  of section  50 .  
         [0039]     Lower deck  30  is bounded by front cross member  20  and rear cross member  22  and extends short of the inner perimeter of the left and right skirts  26  and  24 , respectively. Located on the top side of the lower deck  30  is a transverse, centrally located, oblong box-shaped center cross channel  36 . Center cross channel  36  is one continuous piece and has three sections being the left section  338 , middle section  340  and right section  342 . Lower deck  30  has left deck sheet section  258 , middle deck  19  sheet section  260  and right deck sheet section  262 . Left deck sheet section  258  incorporates sheet section  266  and left section  338 . Left section  338  of center cross channel  36  is positioned over sheet section  266  and against the outside portion  232  of left channel member  32 . Left section  338  has a centrally located flange  134  with gear box shaft centered bore  136  surrounded by gear box mounting holes  138  which is designed to support a transversely spaced rotary cutter assembly (not shown).  
         [0040]     Middle deck sheet section  260  has sheet section  268  and middle section  340 . Middle section  340  is positioned over sheet section  268  between the inside portions  264  of left channel member  32  and right channel member  34 . Middle section  340  has a centrally located flange  134  with gear box shaft centered bore  136  surrounded by gear box mounting holes  138 . Right deck sheet section  262  incorporates sheet section  270  and right section  342 . Right section  342  is positioned over sheet section  270  and against the outside portion  234  of right channel member  34 . Right section  342  has a centrally located flange  134  with gear box shaft centered bore  136  surrounded by gear box mounting holes  138 . Sheet section  270  incorporates a blade bolt access tube  300 . A similar blade bolt access tube is positioned on sheet section  266 .  
         [0041]     Attached at the end of left section  338  are left gusset plates  46  and  48  with an apex extending toward the center of the deck  100  while attached at the end of right section  342  are right gusset plates  144  and  146  with an apex extending toward the center of the deck  100 . Extending toward the rear of middle section  340  is latch  272  with connecting base  274 .  
         [0042]     Left and right channel members  32  and  34  are shown positioned above and toward the center of lower deck  30  with terminating ends  126  and  128  near the rear perimeter of lower deck  30 . At the front perimeter of lower deck  30  channel members  32  and  34  have terminating ends  130  and  132 . Situated above terminating ends  130  and  132  are left and right hitch assemblies  226  and  228 . These hitch assemblies  226  and  228  have inside limbs  224  and outside limbs  236 . Both inside limbs  224  and outside limbs  236  extend up from channel members  32  and  34  at an angle and are connected at their opposite end by links  238 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the deck  100  with both upper deck  96  (See  FIG. 1 ) and lower deck  30  (See  FIG. 4 ) and center upper deck  164  removed. The deck  100  has a front cross member  20  positioned parallel to the rear cross member  22 . Front cross member  20  is generally channeled and incorporates a centrally positioned flat bracket  256 . Rear cross member  22  has a top section  240  and a bottom section  242 . The top section  240  is bounded at both ends by pieces  244 . In the completed invention, pieces  244  look generally inverted L-shaped with the upper portion of the L extending down along the front of rear cross member  22  to the base of the present deck  100 . Centrally located along top section  240  are pieces  246  with pieces  248  located toward the ends of top section  240 . Pieces  246  and  248  are generally inverted J-shaped with the lower portion of the J extending over the topmost portion of rear cross member  22  and the upper portion of the J extending down along the front of rear cross member  22  terminating at bottom section  242 . Top section  240  is contiguous with bottom section  242 . Bottom section  242  extends from top section  240  at an outward angle toward the base of the present deck  100 . Bottom section  242  is generally flat and bounded at both ends by pieces  244  which continue down from top section  240 . The lowermost portion of pieces  246  and  248  extends down to bottom section  242 .  
         [0043]     One end  158  of front cross member  20  abuts left skirt  26 . The remaining end  160  of the front cross member  20  abuts right skirt  24 . Left skirt  26  and right skirt  24  run from front to rear of the present deck  100 . Right skirt  24  contains a substantially triangular section  50  which forms an apex  102  at the upper corner of right skirt  24 . Right skirt  24  has an inward arch  110  beginning near the mid section of right skirt  24  and the rear end of right skid shoe  28   b  at point  112  and extending to the right end point  116  of rear cross member  22 .  
         [0044]     Right skid shoe  28   b  extends from approximately the mid section of right skirt  24  to the front of right skirt  24  at point  122 . Right skid shoe  28   b  is generally parallel with the right skirt  24  but at point  124  it angles at a sharp upward incline near the rear of section  50  and terminates near the apex  102  of section  50 .  
         [0045]     Located across the center of the present deck  100  is a transverse, centrally located, oblong box-shaped center cross channel  36 . Center cross channel  36  is one continuous piece and has three sections being the left section  338 , middle section  340  and right section  342 . Left section  338  of center cross channel  36  is positioned against the outside portion  232  of left channel member  32 . Left section  338  has a centrally located flange  134  with gear box shaft centered bore  136  surrounded by gear box mounting holes  138  which is designed to support a transversely spaced rotary cutter assembly (not shown). Middle section  340  is positioned between the inside portions  264  of left channel member  32  and right channel member  34 . Middle section  340  has a centrally located flange  134  with gear box shaft centered bore  136  surrounded by gear box mounting holes  138 . Right section  342  is positioned against the outside portion  234  of right channel member  34 . Right section  42  has a centrally located flange  134  with gear box shaft centered bore  136  surrounded by gear box mounting holes  138 .  
         [0046]     Attached at the end of left section  338  are left gusset plates  46  and  48  with an apex extending toward the center of the deck  100  while attached at the end of right section  342  are right gusset plates  144  and  146  with an apex extending toward the center of the deck  100 . Extending toward the rear of middle section  340  is latch  272  with connecting base  274 .  
         [0047]     Left and right channel members  32  and  34  are shown toward the center of the present deck  100  with terminating ends  126  and  128  near the rear perimeter of the present deck  100 . At the front perimeter of the present deck  100  channel members  32  and  34  have terminating ends  130  and  132 . Situated above terminating ends  130  and  132  are left and right hitch assemblies  226  and  228 . These hitch assemblies  226  and  228  have inside limbs  224  and outside limbs  236 . Both inside limbs  224  and outside limbs  236  extend up from channel members  32  and  34  at an angle and are connected at their opposite end by links  238 .  
         [0048]     Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.