Patent ID: 7146787

Claim:
A self propelled walk behind mower comprising: a tractor unit having a forward end and a rearward end that define a lengthwise direction; an engine mounted on said tractor unit; hydrostatic drives mounted to said tractor unit that are driven by said engine; drive wheels coupled to said hydrostatic drives at said forward end of said tractor unit; a third wheel pivotally attached to said rearward end of said tractor unit that allows said tractor unit to stand upright with respect to a plane defined by said drive wheels and said third wheel when no implements are attached to said tractor unit and is fully supported by said drive wheels and said third wheel; handles attached to said tractor unit that extend rearwardly in said lengthwise direction, and that have controls that allow a user to control said tractor unit; deck attachment arms that extend in a forward direction from said forward end of said tractor unit; a pivot attached to said forward end of said tractor unit and to said deck attachment arms that allow said deck attachment arms to pivot about an axis that is transverse to said lengthwise direction; a mowing deck having a forward end and a rearward end, and at least two front wheels mounted on said forward end of said mowing deck; deck attachment receivers disposed at said rearward end of said mowing deck that detachably engage said deck attachment arms so that said mowing deck pivots with respect to said tractor unit about said transverse axis, said deck attachment having a compliant connector that allows said mowing deck to flexibly move with respect to said tractor unit; and a suspension that detachably connects said mowing deck to said tractor unit and supports said rearward end of said mowing deck.