Turf vehicle having accessory attachment system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10791669-B2
Application number	US-201815994045-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 31, 2018
Priority date	Jul 7, 2017
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

Accessory attachments systems for use with turf vehicles are described and illustrated. Such systems permit outdoor maintenance tools to be secured and transported by the vehicle, e.g., in locations conveniently accessible by an operator of the vehicle without leaving the operator platform (e.g., seat), and removed from the vehicle when desired. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more connectors each having: a mounting portion adapted to be removably secured to a panel attached to the vehicle; and a tool holding portion adapted to receive and hold an outdoor maintenance tool. The mounting portion of each connector may attach to any one of a plurality of receivers formed on panels secured to various locations on the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A turf vehicle comprising:
a chassis comprising front and rear sides and left and right sides;
a tool mounting panel located on each of the right side, left side, and rear side of the chassis, wherein each tool mounting panel defines a plurality of receivers; and
first and second tool connectors that each comprise:
a mounting portion adapted to be removably secured to the panels at two or more alternative locations via one or more of the plurality of receivers; and
a tool holding portion adapted to receive and hold an outdoor maintenance tool,

wherein the tool holding portion of the first tool connector is adapted to receive and support a first outdoor maintenance tool, and the tool holding portion of the second tool connector is adapted to receive and hold a second outdoor maintenance tool different than the first outdoor maintenance tool.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first and second outdoor maintenance tools are simultaneously supported on the panels by the respective first and second tool connectors.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion of each of the first and second tool connectors is configured to be secured to any one of multiple locations on one of the mounting panels.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receivers is defined by two or more apertures.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the apertures formed in at least one of the mounting panels include two rows of apertures, wherein at least one row includes two or more apertures.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second outdoor maintenance tools is selected from the group consisting of a receptacle, a string trimmer, a debris blower, a shovel, a debris grabbing device, and a rake.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the receptacle comprises a bucket.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a supplemental tool connector attached to the chassis at a location spaced-apart from the mounting panels.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the turf vehicle comprises a riding lawn mower.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first tool connector is connectable to the panel located on either of the two sides.

11. A riding turf vehicle comprising:
a chassis comprising front and rear sides and left and right sides;
wheels rotatably coupled to the chassis and adapted to support the chassis relative to a ground surface;
a prime mover attached to the chassis and adapted to provide driving power to one or more of the wheels and to a ground working tool supported by the chassis;
a tool mounting panel located on each of two sides of the chassis, wherein each tool mounting panel defines a plurality of receivers; and
removable first and second tool connectors that each comprise:
a mounting portion adapted to be secured relative to any one of the panels via coupling with one or more of the plurality of receivers, wherein the mounting portion is adapted to be secured to any one of multiple locations on the any one of the panels; and
a tool holding portion adapted to receive and carry an outdoor maintenance tool,

wherein the tool holding portion of the first tool connector is adapted to receive and carry a first outdoor maintenance tool, and the tool holding portion of the second tool connector is adapted to simultaneously receive and hold a second outdoor maintenance tool different than the first outdoor maintenance tool.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of receivers of each panel is defined by two or more apertures.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the tool mounting panels are located on the left and right sides of the chassis.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the tool holding portion of one or both of the first and second tool connectors is movable between a release configuration, wherein the outdoor maintenance tool is configured to be attached to or removed from the tool connector; and a hold configuration, wherein the outdoor maintenance tool is immobilized relative to the tool connector.

15. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the tool holding portion of the first tool connector is adjustable to receive two or more different outdoor maintenance tools.

16. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the ground working tool comprises a lawn mower deck.

17. A method for supporting an outdoor maintenance tool relative to a chassis of a turf vehicle, the method comprising:
attaching a first tool connector to a tool panel assembly located on the chassis, the first tool connector comprising: a mounting portion adapted to secure to any one of a plurality of predefined locations on the panel assembly; and a tool holding portion adapted to receive and hold a first tool;
attaching a second tool connector to the panel assembly, the second tool connector comprising: a mounting portion adapted to secure to one of the plurality of predefined locations on the panel assembly; and a tool holding portion adapted to receive and hold a second tool that is different than the first tool;
attaching the first tool to the tool holding portion of the first tool connector; and
attaching the second tool to the tool holding portion of the second tool connector while the first tool is held by the first tool connector.

18. A turf vehicle comprising:
a chassis comprising front and rear sides and left and right sides;
a rear wheel and a front wheel supporting the chassis upon a ground surface;
a tool mounting panel located on at least one of the left and right sides of the chassis and at a location forward of the rear wheel, wherein the tool mounting panel defines a plurality of receivers; and
a bucket connector comprising:
a mounting portion adapted to be removably secured to the panel; and
a bucket holding portion adapted to receive and hold a bucket at a longitudinal location between the front and rear wheel.

19. A turf vehicle comprising:
a chassis comprising front and rear sides and left and right sides;
a lawn deck mounted to the chassis;
a rear wheel and a front wheel supporting the chassis upon a ground surface;
an operator platform supported by the chassis;
a tool mounting panel located on at least one of the left and right sides of the chassis, wherein the tool mounting panel defines a plurality of receivers; and
a bucket connector comprising:
a mounting portion adapted to be removably secured to the panel; and
a bucket holding portion adapted to receive and hold a bucket at a location lateral to the operator platform such that the bucket is contained within an envelope defined by the lawn deck when viewed from above.

Assignees

• The Toro Co

Inventors

• Dretzka Philip C
• Stern Jeffrey W
• Porter Steven R
• Atterbury C Mark
• Mcconnell Kenneth L
• Wersal Curtis E

Classifications

• B60R11/06 Primary

  for tools or spare parts (for vehicle roof parts B60J7/20; for spare wheels B62D) · CPC title

• A01D75/008

  Tool-carrying means · CPC title

• A01D34/66

  with two or more cutters · CPC title

• A01D34/001 Primary

  Accessories not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A01D34/64

  mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle (A01D34/695 takes precedence) · CPC title