Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1898
In the drawings in which similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all

page_text: frame 3, the connection between the frame 3 and the shaft 2 being preferably as
shown in Figure 2, the ends of the shaft 2 being squared to fit in squared recesses
formed in the frame 3, suitable set screws 4 being provided to prevent the frame 3
from spreading and also to hold the shaft in its fixed position. The roller is also
provided interiorly with a circular rack 5 within which a pinion 6, mounted on a
shaft 7, is adapted to contact with and be operated by said circular rack. To protect
the rack 5 from the entrance of cut grass, dust, etc., I have provided a protecting
plate 8 formed substantially as shown in Figures 2 and 9, the plate being preferably
removably secured to the shaft 2, in order that the pinion 6 may be held in a fixed
position and prevent the liability of having the parts work loose.
The frame 3 is provided at its rear, with downwardly extending plates 9, adjustably
connected to said frame, in which is mounted a roller 10, the adjustment serving to
regulate the distance between the surface of the ground and the plane of the frame 3.
and thus vary the height of the shaft 7. A handle 11 is pivotally mounted in the
frame 3, which handle serves as a means for moving the mower forward or backward.
Inasmuch as the pinion 6 is fixedly connected with the circular rack 5, it will be
apparent that a movement of the roller 1 forward or backward would impart a similar
movement to the pinion 6. This would be disadvantageous as it would cause the
knives to move in both directions, which is not desirable, and to remedy this, I have
mounted the pinion 6 loosely on the shaft 7 and provide a suitable mechanism, such
as shown in Figure 8, whereby the shaft 7 will be operated only when the pinion 6 is
moved in a forward direction, the pinion riding loosely when the roller is moved in the
opposite direction.
The shaft 7 is mounted in suitable journals or bearings formed in the frame 3, and
extends laterally therefrom a short distance and has its free end connected to a
universal joint 12, formed substantially as shown in Figure 6, from which joint a
shaft 13, extends laterally, as shown in Figure 1, said shaft 13 forming the supporting
means for the cutting mechanism, the shaft being mounted in suitable bearings 14
formed in the frame 1. The frame 15 is preferably formed as shown in Figure 1,
being hingedly connected to the frame 3 in a suitable manner, and having its rear
ends provided with adjustable plates 16 in which is mounted a roller 17, which serves
to hold the cutting mechanism in proper position with relation to the surface being
cut, the ends of the frame 15 being provided with a laterally extending bent portion 18,
which serve to retain the plates 16 in a fixed position preventing any liability of
pivotal movement.
Mounted, to have pivotal movement within the frame 15, is a knife support 19 to
which is removably secured the cutting knife 20, the construction being best shown in
Figure 4. The pivotal movement of the knife support is provided for the purpose of
enabling the cutting edge of the knife to be adjusted as may be desired, the
adjustment being by means of suitable rods 21 having their front ends connected, as
at 22, to the knife support, and having their rear ends adjustably secured to the
frame 15 by suitable nuts 23. The knife support is also provided with a suitable
forwardly extending finger 24, which serves to direct the grass being cut inward
toward the cutting knives in an obvious manner.
Mounted on the shaft 13 is the revolving knife mechanism which is formed
substantially in the usual form of lawn mowers of this construction, with the exception
that the outer ends of the knives are bent at an angle, so that they may contact with
the cutting edge of the knife 25 secured to the frame 15, thus forming an edge
trimming attachment by means of which the edges of the surfaces being cut can be
readily trimmed. The frame 15 and the mechanism contained therein is connected
to the frame 3 in such manner as will allow the frame 15 to be moved forwardly above
or below the plane of the shaft 7, the frame 15 being hingedly connected to the frame 3,
as herein before described. This adjustment is accomplished by providing the
frame 3 with an upwardly extending standard 26, having a suitable spring operated
engaging pin 27, adapted to normally engage with one of the openings formed in
an operating lever 28 having one end secured to the frame 15, and having its

page_text: opposite end provided with a handle, the intermediate portion extending through a
guide 29 formed on the standard 26.
It will be apparent that when the pin 27 is released from engagement with the
lever 28, that by moving the lever, the frame 15 will be moved on its hinged connec-
tion to an angle with the normal horizontal position of the in wer, the arrangement
being such that the frame 13 may be moved to a position within a few degrees of a
right angle. While I have shown that the construction is such that the frame 15
may be inoved to any position and held in such adjusted position by means of the
pin 27 engaging with the openings in the lever 28, it will yet be apparent that by
moving the pin 27 to a position where it will be out of the path of movement of the
openings in the lever 28, such as by moving it to a false opening formed in the
guide 29, that the frame 15 will have a flexible connection with the frame 3, and
thus enable the cutting mechanism to move over irregular surfaces and during its
inovement retain its relative position with the surface of the ground.
The operation of my construction is thought to be clearly set forth, while the
advantages are many and have been herein before partially described.
In addition however, it will be readily seen that by the construction shown and
described, I have provided a mechanism which will cut as readily on inclines or slopes
as on the level surfaces. While there have been mowers which attempted to do this,
yet these mowers were unsuccessful by reason of the fact that the operator was
required to walk on the incline or slope in moving the apparatus. This is disadvan-
tageous by reason of the fact that the entire weight of the mower must be borne by
the operator especially when cutting midway of the slope, the construction of such
mowers being such that the operator was moving directly in rear of the cutting
mechanism. In the construction herein set forth however, the operator moves on the
level surface, and adjusts the position of the cutting mechanism either above or
below, as may be found necessary, by which it will be apparent that instead of the
operator supporting the entire machine, that the cutting mechanism is supported
from the roller itself, and as the operator is moving directly behind the roller and
not the cutting mechanism, the mower can be easily and readily operated. It will
also be seen that with my construction the cutting mechanism travels entirely on
the untrodden grass, the roller being moved on the portion which has already been
cut, or when the first cut is being made, the roller travelling on the side-walk, etc.,
that it will also be seen that the cutting knife will operate up to a point within
a slight distance of the frame 15, and inasmuch as there are no projecting portions
to this frame, that the grass may be cut up to a very slight distance from the objects
such for instance as trees, dwellings, etc., the edge trimming attachment making a
clean-cut edge where the mower is operated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1º. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; a surface cutting mechanism
connected to said ground wheel and operated thereby; and an edge trimmer operated
conjointly with said cutting mechanism.
2º A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; and cutting mechanism connected
therewith and operated thereby, said cutting mechanism being located out of the
path of movement of said ground wheel.
3º. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; cutting mechanism connected
therewith and operated thereby, said cutting mechanism being located out of the
path of movement of said ground wheel; and an edge trimming attachment
operated conjointly with said cutting mechanism.
4º. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; and cutting mechanism connected
therewith and operated thereby, said mechanism being located out of the path of
movement of said ground wheel and in lateral alignment therewith.
5º. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; cutting mechanism connected
therewith and operated thereby, said mechanism being located out of the path of

page_text: movement of said ground wheel and in lateral alignment therewith; and an edge
trimming attachment operated conjointly with said cutting mechanism.
6°. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; and cutting mechanism connected
therewith and operated thereby, said cutting mechanism being adjustable vertically
to a position at an angle to the plane of said wheel.
7°. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; cutting mechanism connected
therewith and operated thereby; sait cutting mechanism being adjustable vertically
to a position at an angle to the plane of said wheel; and an edge trimming attach-
ment operated conjointly with said cutting mechanism.
8°. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; and cutting mechanism hingedly
connected therewith and operated thereby, said cutting mechanism being adjustable
vertically to a position at an angle to the plane of said wheel.
9°. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; cutting mechanism hingedly
connected therewith and operated thereby, said cutting mechanism being adjustable
vertically to a position at an angle to the plane of said wheel; and an edge trimming
attachment operated conjointly with said cutting mechanism.
10. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; cutting mechanism connected
therewith and operated thereby, said cutting mechanism being movable vertically;
and means for adjusting the vertical position of said cutting mechanism.
11. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; cutting mechanism connected
therewith and operated thereby, said cutting mechanism having a vertical movement;
an edge trimming attachment operated conjointly with said cutting mechanism; and
means for adjusting the vertical position of said cutting mechanism and said edge
trimming attachment.
12. A lawn mower, comprising a ground wheel; a frame connected thercto; a
cutting mechanism frame connected to said frame; cutting mechanism mounted in
said cutting mechanism frame; and means for adjusting the position of said cutting
mechanism relative to the surface which is being cut.
13. In a lawn mower, the combination with the cutting mechanism and its
operative mechanism; of an edge trimming attachment located in juxtaposition to
said cutting mechanism and operated conjointly therewith.
14. In a lawn mower, the combination with a series of rotary knives and the
operating mechanism for imparting movement thereto; of a stationary knife
adapted to co-operate with said series of knives; and means for adjusting the
position of the knife edge of said stationary knife relative to the path of movement
of said series of knives.
Dated this 9th day of Sentember 1898
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.