Lawn mower bagger connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10292328-B2
Application number	US-201615349701-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2016
Priority date	Nov 11, 2015
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A lawn mower includes a mower frame, a prime mover supported by the mower frame, a mower deck mounted to the mower frame, a cutting blade mounted below the mower deck to cut vegetation under the mower deck, and a bagger assembly releasably coupled to the mower frame. The bagger assembly includes a receptacle for collecting cut vegetation. The receptacle has a lid. The bagger assembly also includes a latch supported by the receptacle and operable to engage the mower frame. The latch is moveable between a first position, in which the latch is secured to the mower frame, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the mower frame. The bagger assembly further includes a cord positioned on the lid and coupled to the latch. The cord is operable to move the latch from the first position to the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lawn mower comprising:
a mower frame;
a prime mover supported by the mower frame;
a mower deck mounted to the mower frame;
a cutting blade mounted below the mower deck to cut vegetation under the mower deck; and
a bagger assembly releasably coupled to the mower frame, the bagger assembly including
a bagger frame,
a receptacle coupled to the bagger frame for collecting cut vegetation, the receptacle having a lid,
a latch supported by the bagger frame and operable to engage the mower frame, the latch being moveable between a first position, in which the latch is secured to the mower frame, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the mower frame, and
a cord positioned on the lid and coupled to the latch, the cord operable to move the latch from the first position to the second position.

2. The lawn mower of claim 1 , wherein the mower frame includes a first connection point and a second connection point spaced apart from the first connection point, wherein the bagger frame has a lower linkage member releasably coupled to the first connection point and an upper linkage member releasably coupled to the second connection point, and wherein the latch is supported by the upper linkage member and selectively engages the second connection point of the mower frame.

3. The lawn mower of claim 2 , wherein the lower linkage member extends forwardly and downwardly from the receptacle, and wherein the upper linkage member extends forwardly and upwardly from the receptacle.

4. The lawn mower of claim 3 , wherein the bagger assembly further includes a hook supported by the lower linkage member, and wherein the hook selectively engages the first connection point of the mower frame.

5. The lawn mower of claim 4 , wherein the hook is movable about the first connection point when the latch is moved to the second position to pivot the bagger assembly relative to the mower frame.

6. The lawn mower of claim 1 , wherein the latch is a first latch, wherein the bagger assembly further includes a second latch supported by the bagger frame and operable to engage the mower frame, wherein the second latch is movable between a first position, in which the second latch is secured to the mower frame, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the mower frame, and wherein the cord is also coupled to the second latch to move the second latch from the first position to the second position.

7. The lawn mower of claim 6 , wherein the first and second latches are simultaneously moved from the first positions to the second positions by manipulation of the cord.

8. The lawn mower of claim 1 , wherein the latch is biased to the first position by a spring.

9. The lawn mower of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle includes guide members extending from a top surface of the lid, and wherein the cord is threaded through the guide members.

10. The lawn mower of claim 1 , wherein the lid is movable between a closed position and an open position.

11. The lawn mower of claim 10 , wherein the cord is supported by the lid for movement with the lid.

12. The lawn mower of claim 1 , wherein the cord is accessible to a user from behind the lawn mower, and wherein the cord is moveable away from the mower frame to move the latch from the first position to the second position.

13. A bagger assembly for use with a lawn mower, the lawn mower including a mower frame having a first connection point and a second connection point spaced apart from the first connection point, the bagger assembly comprising:
a receptacle for collecting cut vegetation;
a bagger frame coupled to the receptacle, the bagger frame including a lower linkage member and an upper linkage member;
a hook coupled to an end of the lower linkage member, the hook configured to engage the first connection point of the lawn mower;
a latch coupled to an end of the upper linkage member, the latch being moveable between a first position, in which the latch is configured to be secured to the second connection point of the lawn mower, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the second connection point of the lawn mower; and
a cord coupled to the latch, the cord operable to move the latch from the first position to the second position.

14. The bagger assembly of claim 13 , wherein the latch is biased to the first position by a spring.

15. The bagger assembly of claim 13 , wherein the receptacle includes a lid, and wherein at least a portion of the cord is positioned on top of the lid.

16. The bagger assembly of claim 13 , wherein the lower linkage member extends downwardly from a side of the receptacle, and wherein the upper linkage member extends upwardly from the side of the receptacle.

17. The bagger assembly of claim 13 , wherein the lower linkage member is a first lower linkage member, the upper linkage member is a first upper linkage member, the hook is a first hook, and the latch is a first latch, wherein the mower frame includes a second lower linkage member and a second upper linkage member, and further comprising:
a second hook coupled to an end of the second lower linkage member, the second hook configured to engage the lawn mower; and
a second latch coupled to an end of the second upper linkage member, the second latch being moveable between a first position, in which the second latch is configured to be secured to the lawn mower, and a second position, in which the latch is released from the lawn mower,
wherein the cord is coupled to the second latch and is operable to move the second latch from the first position to the second position.

18. The bagger assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first and second latches are simultaneously moved from the first positions to the second positions by manipulation of the cord.

19. The bagger assembly of claim 13 , wherein the receptacle includes a lid that is movable between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the cord is supported by the lid for movement with the lid.

20. The bagger assembly of claim 13 , wherein the cord is accessible to a user from behind the lawn mower, and wherein the cord is moveable away from the mower frame to move the latch from the first position to the second position.

Assignees

• Ariens Co

Inventors

• Cracraft Ricky A
• Gindt Daniel J
• Meyer Trenton J
• Berglund Brent P

Classifications

• A01D43/063 Primary

  in or into a container carried by the mower; Containers therefor (A01D43/077 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01D43/0631

  Control devices specially adapted therefor · CPC title