Patent ID: 7051504

Claim:
A movable chute apparatus for a mowing machine, the chute apparatus comprising: a. a chute flap attached to a housing of a mowing machine, the chute flap being movable between a closed chute flap position and an open chute flap position wherein the chute flap provides a discharge chute for discharging material from the housing; and b. a retaining flap having a first flat portion extending along a first plane and a second flat portion extending along a second plane different from the first plane, the retaining flap being moveably attached to the housing of the mowing machine for movement of at least a portion of the retaining flap in an at least generally vertical direction away from the housing, the retaining flap being movable independent of the chute flap between a retaining position and a non-retaining position wherein the retaining flap can in its retaining position provide support to maintain the chute flap in either its closed or open chute flap position.