Patent Description:
For example, a riding grass mower described in <CIT> includes a self-propelled chassis equipped with a pair of left and right front wheels and a pair of left and right back wheels. A mower device is provided between the front and back wheels of the self-propelled chassis. The mower device includes a discharge opening formed at a back portion of a housing, and cut grass is discharged backward of the self-propelled chassis from the discharge opening. In this type of riding grass mower, cut grass mowed by the mower device is discharged backward from the mower device, but if the discharged cut grass disperses backward from a space between the left and right back wheels, the cut grass disperses over a wide area behind the chassis. For this reason, there is a need for prevention of such dispersing. The present invention provides a riding grass mower that includes a rear discharge type of mower device and can be operated while preventing cut grass from dispersing backward of the chassis.

Non-patent literature document Anonymous: "<NPL>, retrieved from the internet: https://mowerboss. com/info/riding-mower-toolbox/ discloses a composite box having a locking lid and capable of being attached to a platform mounted to a riding mower. Chinese Patent Application Publication No. <CIT> discloses a riding type electric tool, which enables loads of a front wheel and a rear wheel to be uniformly distributed by arranging a battery assembly in the riding type electric tool. United States Patent Application Publication No. <CIT> discloses turf vehicles such as riding lawn mowers and, more particularly, to accessory attachment systems for use with the same.

A riding grass mower according to claim <NUM> is provided.

According to the present invention, a space that is behind the mower device and between the pair of left and right back wheels can be effectively used as a space for arranging the toolbox.

In the above configuration, it is preferable that the toolbox is located between a pair of left and right main frames that constitute the chassis frame, and is supported so as to be attachable to and removable from the duct member.

According to this configuration, the toolbox can be rigidly held by the pair of left and right main frames, and deformation or the like of the toolbox due to contact with other objects can be easily inhibited by the rigid main frames.

In the above configuration, it is preferable that the toolbox includes a closable opening on a chassis back side, and a lid for closing the closable opening, and that the lid can be opened and closed from the chassis back side.

According to this configuration, an operator can easily perform operations to open and close the toolbox from the chassis back side, in a state of having alighted from the chassis.

The riding grass mower according to the present configuration may include a cover for covering a space between the left back wheel and the right back wheel from behind the back wheels.

According to the present configuration, any cut grass discharged backward from the mower device that would disperse backward from the space between the left and right back wheels is received by the cover. Thus, a mowing operation can be performed while preventing cut grass from dispersing backward of the chassis.

In the present invention, it is preferable that, in a back view of the traveling chassis, the cover spans between a traveling-chassis laterally-outer end portion of the left back wheel and a traveling-chassis laterally-outer end portion of the right back wheel.

According to this configuration, since the cover overlaps the left and right back wheels in a back view of the traveling chassis, it is possible to accurately prevent cut grass from dispersing backward of the chassis. In addition, even if sand or the like is bounced up by the back wheels, the sand that is bounced up is received by the cover. Thus, the cover is used as a fender for the back wheels, and the sand or the like bounced up by the back wheels can be prevented from entering a boarding driving portion.

It is preferable that the riding grass mower of the present invention further comprises a ROPS (rollover protection system) provided behind a driver seat, on the traveling chassis, and that the cover is supported by the ROPS.

According to the present configuration, the ROPS is used as a support member that is provided between the cover and the traveling chassis such that the cover is supported by the traveling chassis. For this reason, the support structure for supporting the cover with the traveling chassis is simplified, and no special support member is needed.

It is preferable that the riding grass mower of the present invention further comprises a pair of left and right vertical support portions provided in the ROPS and parallel to an up-down direction of the traveling chassis, and that the cover is supported by the pair of left and right vertical support portions.

According to the present configuration, two lateral sides of the cover are supported by the vertical support portions that have an excellent strength. For this reason, the cover can be firmly supported while employing a simple structure as the support structure for the cover by using the ROPS as the support member for supporting the cover with the traveling chassis.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the cover has a pivot axis in a direction parallel to a horizontal width direction of the traveling chassis, and is configured to enter a cover state of covering the space from behind the back wheels as a result of being swung upward with the pivot axis serving as a swing fulcrum, and enters a table state where an article can be placed on the cover as a result of being swung downward toward a chassis back side with respect to the cover state with the pivot axis serving as a swing fulcrum.

According to the present configuration, since the cover serves as a table by making the cover into the table state, when, for example, an operation to inspect the traveling chassis is performed, tools or the like can be placed on the cover in the table state, making it easy to perform the operation without preparing any special table member.

The present invention may further include the toolbox being provided between the pair of left and right back wheels forward of the cover.

According to the present configuration, tools or the like can be stored in the toolbox. Thus, when, for example, an operation to inspect the traveling chassis is performed, there is no need to carry the tools or the like.

Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The direction denoted by a sign (F) with an arrow in the drawings indicates a chassis front side, and the direction denoted by a sign (B) with an arrow in the drawings indicates a chassis back side. The direction denoted by a sign (L) with an arrow in the diagrams indicates a chassis left side, and the direction denoted by a sign (R) with an arrow in the diagrams indicates a chassis right side. The direction denoted by a sign (U) with an arrow in the diagrams indicates a chassis upper side, and the direction denoted by a sign (D) with an arrow in the diagrams indicates a chassis lower side. In the following, the first embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>, and the second embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows an overall side view of a riding grass mower serving as an example of a work machine. This riding grass mower has a self-propelled configuration including a pair of left and right steerable front wheels <NUM> on the front side of a chassis frame <NUM> of a traveling chassis <NUM>, and including a pair of left and right drivable back wheels <NUM> on the back side.

A rear discharge type of mower device <NUM> is attached in a suspended manner so as to be capable of being raised and lowered, at a location between the front wheels <NUM> and the back wheels <NUM> in the front-rear direction underneath the chassis frame <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a prime mover portion <NUM> is provided in the front portion above the chassis frame <NUM> of the traveling chassis <NUM>, and a boarding driving portion <NUM> is provided behind the prime mover portion <NUM>.

In the prime mover portion <NUM>, an engine <NUM> is mounted to the chassis frame <NUM> in a state of being enclosed under an engine bonnet <NUM>. Motive power extracted from the back side of the engine <NUM> is input to a transmission case <NUM> at a backward position via a main transmission shaft <NUM>, and the motive power that has been subjected to a speed change in the transmission case <NUM> is output to, for example, a driving system for the back wheels <NUM>.

In this configuration, motive power for work can be extracted from the front side of the engine <NUM>. Specifically, a motive power extraction mechanism <NUM> constituted by a belt transmission mechanism is provided on the front side of the engine <NUM>, and motive power from the engine <NUM> is transmitted to a drive portion 4A of the mower device <NUM> via a PTO shaft <NUM> provided in the motive power extraction mechanism <NUM>.

The boarding driving portion <NUM> behind the prime mover portion <NUM> is provided with a steering portion 3A that includes a steering wheel <NUM>, a steering panel <NUM> that is continuous with the back side of the engine bonnet <NUM>, and the like. A driver seat <NUM> is disposed behind the steering portion 3A, at a position above a boarding step <NUM> located at foot level, and a ROPS <NUM> is provided upright behind the driver seat <NUM>. The ROPS <NUM> has an upside-down U shape in a front view, and includes left and right columnar leg portions 34a having lower end sides that are coupled and fixed to the back end portion of the chassis frame <NUM>. The upper end portion sides of the left and right columnar leg portions 34a are connected to each other by an upside-down U-shaped upper frame 34b, thus covering the region above the driver seat <NUM>. A fender mirror <NUM> is provided upright at a front end portion of the upper surface of the boarding step <NUM>.

The chassis frame <NUM> includes a pair of left and right main frames 10A that are elongated in the front-back direction over the substantially entire length of the traveling chassis <NUM>, and a ROPS base 10B is integrally fixed to back end portions of the main frames 10A. The ROPS base 10B includes a horizontal member 10C that is bolted to outer side surfaces of the main frames 10A and protrudes laterally outward. These main frames 10A and the ROPS base 10B constitute the chassis frame <NUM>.

The lower end sides of left and right columnar leg portions 34a are coupled and fixed to protruding ends of the horizontal member 10C of the ROPS base 10B. The upside-down U-shaped upper frame 34b is coupled to the upper end portion sides of the left and right columnar leg portions 34a.

A guard frame <NUM>, which serves as a protection member for the chassis front portion, is provided in a front portion of the chassis frame <NUM>. The guard frame <NUM> is provided with a balance weight attachment portion <NUM> to which a plurality of balance weights can be attached.

The mower device <NUM> includes a blade housing <NUM> that is supported in a suspended manner so as to be capable of being raised and lowered relative to the chassis frame <NUM> via a link mechanism <NUM> that includes a pair of one front link 13a and one back link 13b on each of the left and right sides. Mower lift cylinders <NUM> are coupled to upper end portions of the front links 13a of the link mechanism <NUM>. The vertical height position of the blade housing <NUM> relative to the chassis frame <NUM> can be changed by extension and retraction of the mower lift cylinders <NUM>.

The drive portion 4A, to which motive power transmitted from the PTO shaft <NUM> is input, is provided at an upper portion of the blade housing <NUM>. Although not shown in the diagrams, a gear interlocking mechanism for divergently transmitting the motive power transmitted from the PTO shaft <NUM> to the left and right rotating blades <NUM> is enclosed within the drive portion 4A.

A pair of left and right rotating blades <NUM> are arranged in the blade housing <NUM>. The rotating blades <NUM> rotate about respective vertical axes and mow grass and the like by being driven to rotate at an equal speed with portions of the rotation paths thereof overlapped with each other. In this configuration, the cut grass is discharged backward from a cut grass discharge opening <NUM>, which is formed at a back portion of the blade housing <NUM> by conveying air produced by rotational motion of the rotating blades <NUM>.

A duct member <NUM> is attached to surfaces of back end portions of the main frames 10A on the opposite side to the side on which the ROPS base 10B is attached, i.e., chassis-inward surfaces. Accordingly, the duct member <NUM> is located between the pair of left and right main frames 10A (between the pair of left and right back wheels <NUM>), and is located behind the cut grass discharge opening <NUM> of the mower device <NUM> and faces diagonally backward and upward so as to be capable of guiding cut grass discharged from the mower device <NUM> backward and upward when necessary. The cross-sectional shape of the duct member <NUM> is a channel shape that is open downward, and the duct member <NUM> is attached so as to span from a position behind the cut grass discharge opening <NUM> of the mower device <NUM> to the back end of the ROPS base 10B.

This riding grass mower is provided with a toolbox <NUM> behind the mower device <NUM>, at a position between the pair of left and right back wheels <NUM>. The toolbox <NUM> includes a main body 5A and a lid 5B, and is formed to have a rectangular box shape as a whole. As shown in <FIG>, the toolbox <NUM> is arranged at a position backward of and away from the cut grass discharge opening <NUM> of the mower device <NUM>. By thus arranging the toolbox <NUM> away from the cut grass discharge opening <NUM>, consideration is given to not prevent the discharging of cut grass from the cut grass discharge opening <NUM>.

The main body 5A includes an upper surface <NUM>, a lower surface <NUM>, a left side surface <NUM>, a right side surface <NUM>, a front surface <NUM>, and a back surface <NUM>. Of these, the upper surface <NUM> and the left and right side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> are provided in a state of being inscribed in inner surfaces of the channel-shaped duct member <NUM>. The upper surface <NUM> is formed to have an inclined surface that extends along an upper wall of the duct member <NUM> and is raised backward. The lower surface <NUM> is formed to have an almost horizontal surface or a slightly backward inclined surface, moving backward away from the upper surface <NUM>. Accordingly, the entire shape of the main body 5A and the toolbox <NUM> is necessarily a tapered shape with the vertical width being narrower on the front side and becoming wider on the back side in a side view.

The front surface <NUM> is formed to have a surface parallel to the up-down direction, but the front surface <NUM> may alternatively be in a forward inclined orientation in which the upper side thereof is located more forward such that cut grass discharged from the cut grass discharge opening <NUM> in the front of the front surface <NUM> is guided downward. The back surface <NUM> is a closable opening <NUM> that is open backward of the chassis. The closable opening <NUM> has a lower edge located at a height position close to a lower edge of the front surface <NUM>, and an upper edge located at a height position higher than an upper edge of the front surface <NUM>, and is formed to have an elongated rectangular shape. A peripheral flange 56a is provided at the periphery of the closable opening <NUM>.

The back surface <NUM> is equipped with the lid 5B with which the closable opening <NUM> can be opened and closed. The lid 5B is formed to have substantially the same shape as the peripheral flange 56a of the closable opening <NUM>, and is pivotably supported by hinge members <NUM> provided on the peripheral flange 56a. Thus, the lid 5B can be swung to be opened and closed to the left and right sides in the horizontal direction around an axis in the up-down direction of the hinge members <NUM>. Operations to open and close the lid 5B make it possible to switch between a closed state of the toolbox <NUM> with the closable opening <NUM> closed and an open state of the toolbox <NUM> with the closable opening <NUM> open.

The peripheral flange 56a is integrally formed on an upper portion and on left and right sides of the toolbox <NUM> on the side outward of the periphery of the closable opening <NUM>. The duct member <NUM> also has an end portion flange 17a that is integrally formed on an upper portion and on left and right sides of a back end portion of the duct member <NUM>. The toolbox <NUM> can be supported so as to be capable of being attached to and removed from the chassis frame <NUM> via the duct member <NUM> by bolting the peripheral flange 56a of the toolbox <NUM> to the end portion flange 17a of the duct member <NUM> while overlapping the peripheral flange 56a with the end portion flange 17a from the back side.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) The first embodiment has described an example in which the entire shape of the toolbox <NUM> is a tapered rectangular box shape in a side view, but the invention is not necessarily be limited to this structure, and any shape can be employed as the entire shape of the toolbox <NUM>. For other configurations, the same configurations as those of the above-described first embodiment may be employed.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) The first embodiment has described, as an example, a structure in which the closable opening <NUM> is provided in the back surface <NUM> of the main body 5A of the toolbox <NUM>, and the lid 5B with which the closable opening <NUM> can be opened and closed in the left-right direction is provided as a means for opening and closing the closable opening <NUM>. However, the invention is not necessarily limited to this structure. For example, it is possible to employ a structure in which the lower edge side of the closable opening <NUM> of the toolbox <NUM> is pivotably supported such that the lower edge side of the closable opening <NUM> can be swung up and down to open and close the closable opening <NUM>, or a structure in which a shutter (not shown) that opposes the closable opening <NUM> along the back surface <NUM> can be slid in the up-down direction or the left-right direction to be opened and closed. Alternatively, a structure may be employed in which a drawer-shaped box (not shown) is inserted into the closable opening <NUM> such that the closable opening <NUM> can be opened and closed by pulling the box in and out. For other configurations, the same configurations as those of the above-described first embodiment may be employed.

The first embodiment of the present invention is as described above. The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a riding grass mower includes a traveling chassis supported by a pair of left and right front wheels <NUM> and a pair of left and right back wheels <NUM>. The pair of left and right front wheels <NUM> is supported so as to be steerable, and the pair of left and right back wheels <NUM> is supported so as to be drivable. A prime mover portion <NUM> having an engine <NUM> is formed in a front portion of the traveling chassis. A driving portion <NUM> is formed in a back portion of the traveling chassis. The driving portion <NUM> includes a driver seat <NUM> and a steering wheel <NUM> for steering the front wheels <NUM>. A ROPS <NUM> is provided behind the driver seat <NUM>. A mower device <NUM> for mowing grass or lawn grass is provided between the front wheels <NUM> and the back wheels <NUM>. The mower device <NUM> is supported by a chassis frame <NUM> via link mechanisms <NUM>, and is raised and lowered between a lowered work state and a raised non-work state relative to the traveling chassis as a result of the link mechanisms <NUM> being swung up and down by extension and retraction of lift cylinders <NUM>.

The mower device <NUM> is configured as a rear discharge type and discharges cut grass or lawn backward of the chassis. Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the mower device <NUM> includes a blade housing <NUM>. The blade housing <NUM> includes a top plate 113a and side plates 113b. The side plates 113b extend downward from a peripheral portion of the top plate 113a. A pair of left and right ground gauge wheels <NUM> is supported on the front outer side of the blade housing <NUM>. Three rotating blades <NUM> are provided within the blade housing <NUM>, and the three rotating blades <NUM> are arranged in the horizontal width direction of the traveling chassis. The three rotating blades <NUM> are rotatably supported on the top plate 113a via rotating support shafts <NUM> parallel to the up-down direction of the blade housing <NUM>. A discharge opening <NUM> from which cut grass can be discharged backward of the chassis is provided behind the blade housing <NUM>.

A blade drive case <NUM> is provided on the upper surface side of the blade housing <NUM>. The blade drive case <NUM> houses a belt transmission mechanism (not shown) that transmits motive power input from the engine <NUM> via a rotating shaft <NUM> (see <FIG>) or the like to the rotating support shafts <NUM> of the three rotating blades <NUM>.

In the mower device <NUM>, motive power input to the blade drive case <NUM> is transmitted to upper portions of the rotating support shafts <NUM> of the three rotating blades <NUM>, the rotating support shafts <NUM> are driven, the three rotating blades <NUM> are driven to rotate around respective rotation centers that are axes of the rotating support shafts <NUM> in the up-down direction of the rotating blade housing, and grass or lawn grass is mowed by the three rotating blades <NUM>. Cut grass is discharged backward of the chassis from the discharge opening <NUM> by discharging air generated by the rotation of the rotating blades <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a cover <NUM> that covers a space between the left and right back wheels <NUM> from behind the back wheels <NUM> is provided behind the traveling chassis. Dispersing of cut grass discharged from the mower device <NUM> in a backward-upward direction from the space between the back wheels is prevented by the cover <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> is provided spanning between a chassis laterally outer end portion of the left back wheel <NUM> and a chassis laterally outer end portion of the right back wheel <NUM> in a back view of the traveling chassis. In a back view of the traveling chassis, the cover <NUM> overlaps the left and right back wheels <NUM>, and is used as a back wheel fender for preventing sand or the like bounced up by the back wheels <NUM> from entering the driving portion <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> is supported by the ROPS <NUM>. The ROPS <NUM> is used as a support member that is provided between the cover <NUM> and the traveling chassis so as to support the cover <NUM> with the traveling chassis.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the ROPS <NUM> includes a pair of left and right vertical support portions 108a parallel to the up-down direction of the traveling chassis, and a horizontal portion 108b spanning between upper portions of the left and right vertical support portions 108a. The horizontal portion 108b is pivotably supported by the left and right vertical support portions 108a via coupling pins 108c. The horizontal portion 108b is supported so as to be capable of being swung up and down with the coupling pins 108c as swing fulcrums between a raised use state in which the horizontal portion 108b extends in a forward-upward direction from the left and right vertical support portions 108a (see <FIG>) and a lowered storage state in which the horizontal portion 108b is lowered to the front side of the left and right vertical support portions 108a.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the upper portions of the left and right vertical support portions 108a are coupled to each other by an upper coupling member <NUM>. Intermediate portions of the left and right vertical support portions 108a are coupled to each other by an intermediate coupling member <NUM>. The intermediate portions of the left and right vertical support portions 108a are coupled to upper parts of back portions 123a of the pair of left and right chassis frames <NUM> by the intermediate coupling member <NUM>. A first support member <NUM> for supporting the cover <NUM> is provided at an intermediate portion in the chassis horizontal width direction of the intermediate coupling member <NUM>. Lower portions of the left and right vertical support portions 108a are coupled to the chassis frames <NUM> by lower coupling members <NUM> provided to span between the vertical support portions 108a and lower parts of the back portions 123a of the chassis frames <NUM>. The lower coupling members <NUM> and the back portions 123a of the chassis frames <NUM> are coupled by means of welding. Reinforcing members <NUM> for reinforcing the coupling of the lower coupling members <NUM> to the chassis frames <NUM> are coupled to the lower coupling members <NUM> and the back portions 123a of the chassis frames <NUM>. The lower coupling members <NUM> and the vertical support portions 108a are coupled to each other by coupling bolts. A second support member <NUM> supporting the cover <NUM> spans between and is coupled to the left and right reinforcing members <NUM>.

The ROPS <NUM> is supported by the chassis frames <NUM> as a result of the left and right vertical support portions 108a being coupled to the back portions 123a of the chassis frames <NUM> via the intermediate coupling member <NUM> and the lower coupling members <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> includes a cover body 120a, a near wall 120b that rises from a near edge portion of the cover body 120a, and side walls 120c that rise from left and right lateral edge portions of the cover body 120a. A first coupling member <NUM> is coupled to near end portions of the cover body 120a via a pair of left and right coupling links <NUM>. A pair of left and right second coupling members <NUM> are provided at far end portions of the cover body 120a.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first coupling member <NUM> is coupled to the first support member <NUM>, and the left and right second coupling members <NUM> are coupled to the second support member <NUM> via a coupling shaft <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the coupling shaft <NUM> is constituted by one bar material attached to the pair of left and right second coupling members <NUM>.

The cover <NUM> is supported by the left and right vertical support portions 108a of the ROPS <NUM> via the coupling links <NUM>, the first coupling member <NUM>, the first support member <NUM>, the intermediate coupling member <NUM>, the second coupling members <NUM>, the coupling shaft <NUM>, the second support member <NUM>, the reinforcing members <NUM>, and the lower coupling members <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the second coupling members <NUM> and the second support member <NUM> are coupled to each other in a state where the second coupling members <NUM> can rotate relative to the second support member <NUM> around a rotation fulcrum that is a pivot axis X of the coupling shaft <NUM> that extends in the traveling chassis horizontal width direction. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, each of the left and right coupling links <NUM> includes a cover-side link 128a having one end portion that is coupled in a swingable manner to a support portion <NUM> formed on the cover body 120a, and a ROPS-side link 128b having one end portion that is coupled in a swingable manner to an end portion 129a of the first coupling member <NUM>. The other end portion of the cover-side link 128a and the other end portion of the ROPS-side link 128b are coupled to each other via a coupling pin <NUM> so as to be capable of relatively swinging relative to each other. The left and right coupling links <NUM> are configured as bending links that bend as the cover <NUM> is swung upward and stretch as the cover <NUM> is swung downward. The cover <NUM> has the pivot axis X provided at a far end portion, and is supported by the ROPS <NUM> in a state where the cover <NUM> can be swung up and down with the pivot axis X serving as a swing fulcrum.

When the cover <NUM> is swung upward with the pivot axis X serving as a swing fulcrum, and the coupling links <NUM> enter a bent state as indicated by solid lines in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> enters a cover state where the cover <NUM> covers the space between the left and right back wheels <NUM> from behind the back wheels <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. When the cover <NUM> is in the cover state, cut grass discharged backward of the chassis from the mower device <NUM> is prevented from dispersing in a backward-upward direction from the space between the left and right back wheels <NUM> by the cover <NUM>, and gravel bounced up by the back wheels <NUM> is prevented from entering the driving portion <NUM> by the cover <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a pin holder <NUM> is provided on the first coupling member <NUM>, and a lock pin <NUM> is rotatably supported by the pin holder <NUM>. A positioning portion <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) is provided on the near wall 120b of the cover <NUM>. If the lock pin <NUM> is switched into a working state when the cover <NUM> is in the cover state, a lock arm 135a extended from the lock pin <NUM> engages with the positioning portion <NUM>, and the cover <NUM> is held in the cover state by the lock arm 135a and the lock pin <NUM>. The lock pin <NUM> is supported by the intermediate coupling member <NUM> via the pin holder <NUM>, the first coupling member <NUM>, and the first support member <NUM>.

If the cover <NUM> is swung downward toward the back side of the traveling chassis with respect to the cover state with the pivot axis X serving as a swing fulcrum, and the coupling links <NUM> enter a stretched state to pull and support the cover <NUM> as indicated by dash-double dot lines in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> enters a table state as indicated by <FIG>. When the cover <NUM> is in the table state, articles such as tools used for inspecting the chassis can be placed on the cover <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, a toolbox <NUM> is provided in the front of the cover <NUM>, at a location between the pair of left and right back wheels <NUM>. Tools or the like used for inspecting the chassis can be stored in the toolbox <NUM>.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the toolbox <NUM> includes a box body 137a and a lid 137b for opening and closing a tool opening <NUM> in the box body 137a. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the box body 137a is fitted into a space between the back portions 123a of the left and right chassis frames <NUM> in a state where the tool opening <NUM> is open backward of the chassis, and is fixed to a support portion <NUM> provided between the left and right chassis frame <NUM> and to the first support member <NUM> provided on the ROPS <NUM>, by coupling screws. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the lid 137b is configured to be supported so as to be capable of being swung to be opened and closed and also being removable, by a lid support portion <NUM> provided at a lower portion of the box body 137a than the tool opening <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, when the lid 137b is opened, the lid 137b is received from below by a lid receiver <NUM> and held in an open orientation. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a lock mechanism <NUM> for fixing the lid 137b in the open state is provided, spanning between the lid 137b and a higher portion of the box body 137a than the tool opening <NUM>.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) <FIG> is a back view that shows a cover <NUM> according to a variation. As shown in <FIG>, the cover <NUM> according to the variation is supported only in the cover state by the ROPS <NUM>, and cannot be switched to the table state.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) The above embodiment has described an example in which the cover (<NUM>, <NUM>) is supported by the ROPS <NUM>, but a configuration may alternatively be employed in which a dedicated support member for supporting the cover is provided in the traveling chassis, and the cover is supported by the dedicated support member.

(<NUM>-<NUM>) The above embodiment has described an example in which three rotating blades <NUM> are provided, but the number of rotating blades may be two or less, or four or more.

Claim 1:
A riding grass mower comprising:
a chassis frame (<NUM>;<NUM>) supported by a pair of left and right front wheels (<NUM>;<NUM>) and a pair of left and right back wheels (<NUM>;<NUM>);
a rear discharge type of mower device (<NUM>;<NUM>) arrangeable underneath the chassis frame (<NUM>;<NUM>), in a space between the front wheels (<NUM>;<NUM>) and the back wheels (<NUM>;<NUM>) in a front-back direction;
the riding grass mower being characterized by a duct member (<NUM>) located between the pair of left and right back wheels (<NUM>;<NUM>), behind the mower device (<NUM>;<NUM>), and capable of guiding cut grass from the mower device (<NUM>;<NUM>) backward and upward; and
a toolbox (<NUM>;<NUM>) provided between the pair of left and right back wheels (<NUM>;<NUM>), behind the mower device (<NUM>;<NUM>), and inscribed in inner surfaces of a back portion of the duct member (<NUM>).