Patent ID: 7191584

Claim:
A walk reel mower, which comprises: (a) a reel mower frame on which a power source is carried; (b) an upwardly extending handle assembly connected at its lower end to the reel mower frame, the handle assembly including a portion which the operator can grip to guide the reel mower frame while the operator walks behind the reel mower frame; (c) a traction drive for propelling the reel mower frame across the ground, the traction drive being powered by the power source; (d) a reel cutting unit carried on the front of the reel mower frame, the reel cutting unit having a reel cutting unit frame which carries: (i) a helically bladed cutting reel which is rotatable about a substantially horizontal, transverse axis; (ii) a bedknife which cooperates with the cutting reel such the rotatable cutting reel sweeps standing grass against the bedknife to cut the grass; and (iii) front and rear ground engaging wheel or roller supports for allowing the reel cutting unit to be self supporting and to move over the ground; and (e) a suspension system for pivotally connecting the reel cutting unit frame to the reel mower frame such that the reel cutting unit can pitch about a substantially horizontal, transverse pitch axis and can roll about a substantially horizontal, longitudinal roll axis, wherein the suspension system comprises: (i) a rigid, U-shaped, downwardly facing, cutting unit carrier frame that includes a transverse cross member having downwardly extending, vertical support arms at either end thereof, wherein the support arms are pivotably connected to the reel cutting unit frame along the transverse pitch axis such that the reel cutting unit pitches forwardly and rearwardly about the pitch axis defined by the support arms of the cutting unit carrier frame; and (ii) at least one pair of inclined rigid links pivotably connecting the transverse cross member of the cutting unit carrier frame to a portion of the reel mower frame such that the reel cutting unit rolls from side to side about the roll axis by rolling of the cutting unit carrier frame from side to side relative to the reel mower frame though a pivoting motion of the rigid links.