Patent ID: 7337602

Claim:
A mulch plate apparatus for use with a lawn mower, the lawn mower having a discharge chute for expulsion of mower clippings, the mulch plate apparatus comprising: a deck oriented over the discharge chute of the lawn mower; a mulch plate rotatably connected to the deck so as to be struck by mower clippings expelled through the discharge chute; and a mulch plate adjustment assembly connected to the mulch plate and affixed to the deck to facilitate raising and lowering of the mulch plate; wherein the mulch plate adjustment assembly comprises: an elongated support stand; a handle retention assembly connected to the support stand, the handle retention assembly comprising a ratchet assembly having a frame with one or more interior handle-retention notches for selectably retaining the handle in one of a variety of different positions; a handle movable within the handle retention assembly; and a mulch plate connection assembly connecting the handle retention assembly to the mulch plate in order to facilitate raising and lowering the mulch plate by operation of the handle, the mulch plate movable from a lowest position to a highest position and increments therebetween; wherein the mulch plate connection assembly comprises: a cable coupling the ratchet assembly to the mulch plate, the cable held in place by one or more securing bolts; and a wire coaxially and movably situated within the cable such that moving of the handle in a first direction retracts the wire within the cable thus raising the mulch plate and moving the handle in an opposite direction extends the wire within the cable thus lowering the mulch plate; an elongated stanchion extending up from the deck; and a slide assembly rotatably affixed at one end to the stanchion by retaining means and at its opposing end to the cable, wherein the slide assembly allows the mulch plate to be manually lifted beyond the highest position to a non-operational position.