Patent ID: 7905080

Claim:
A grass collector adapted to be attached to a rear of a riding mower for receiving cut grass from a mower unit through a duct, the grass collector comprising: a front container section having a rearwardly facing opening and adapted to be attached to the riding mower, the front container section carrying a first bottom plate having a substantially horizontal position; a rear container section supported pivotally about a pivot point located in a rear upper region of the front container section and pivotal between a first position wherein the rear container section substantially covers the opening of the front container section and a second position pivoted from the first position to allow cut grass to fall, the rear container section having a second bottom plate having a substantially horizontal position, wherein a grass collecting volume of the rear container section is greater than a grass collecting volume of the front container section, and an operating device for pivotally operating the rear container section between the first position and the second position, comprising: a control lever pivotally supported to an upper portion of the front container section, wherein the control lever is slideably mounted within the upper portion such that in a retracted position most of the control lever is below the pivot point and in an extended position most of the control lever is above the pivot point, thereby in the extended position maximizing the leverage available to move the rear container section from the first position to the second position; an operation arm pivotal in unison with the control lever and connected to the rear container section to be relatively pivotal, the operation arm having an engaging recess; and an engaging pin provided in the rear container section to engage with the engaging recess when the rear container section is pivotally operated by the control lever.