Lawn mower

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11576304-B2
Application number	US-202016871169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2020
Priority date	May 17, 2019
Publication date	Feb 14, 2023
Grant date	Feb 14, 2023

Abstract

A lawn mower is provided with a housing that has a discharge opening for discharging cut material. A covering device is arranged at the housing and is provided with a cover and a locking device. The cover can pivot about a pivot axis. The cover covers the discharge opening in a closed state of the cover and opens the discharge opening in an open position of the cover. In the closed state of the cover, the cover can be locked by the locking device in a locked position of the cover. The cover is moveable relative to the housing in a direction of the pivot axis. The cover is unlocked from the locked position of the cover by a movement of the cover in the direction of the pivot axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lawn mower comprising:
a housing comprising a discharge opening configured to discharge cut material;
a covering device arranged at the housing, wherein the covering device comprises a cover and a locking device;
wherein the cover is configured to pivot about a pivot axis;
wherein the cover is configured to cover the discharge opening in a closed state of the cover and to open the discharge opening in an open position of the cover;
wherein, in the closed state of the cover, the cover is configured to be locked by the locking device in a locked position of the cover;
wherein the cover is configured to move relative to the housing in a direction of the pivot axis and wherein the cover is configured to be unlocked from the locked position of the cover by a movement of the cover in the direction of the pivot axis;
wherein the locking device comprises a first part arranged at the cover, wherein the locking device comprises a second part secured at the housing, wherein, in the closed state of the cover, the first part and the second part of the locking device overlap each other in the direction of the pivot axis in the locked position of the cover such that the cover is secured against pivoting about the pivot axis in the locked position of the cover.

2. The lawn mower according to claim 1 , wherein the covering device comprises a restoring device, wherein the restoring device is configured to load the cover in the open position of the cover by a force acting in a direction toward the closed state of the cover.

3. The lawn mower according to claim 2 , wherein the cover is moveable continuously from the open position of the cover into the closed state of the cover by the force exerted by the restoring device.

4. The lawn mower according to claim 2 , wherein the covering device comprises a spring assembly.

5. The lawn mower according to claim 4 , wherein the spring assembly comprises a torsion spring and wherein the torsion spring is a part of the restoring device.

6. The lawn mower according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is configured to be moveable in the direction of the pivot axis relative to the second part of the locking device such that the first part of the locking device and the second part of the locking device do not overlap in the direction of the pivot axis.

7. The lawn mower according to claim 1 , wherein the first part of the locking device and the cover are embodied together as one piece.

8. The lawn mower according to claim 1 , wherein the covering device comprises a base member configured to secure the covering device at the housing, wherein the base member is non-slidably connected to the housing, and wherein the second part of the locking device is formed by a locking edge secured at the base member.

9. The lawn mower according to claim 8 , wherein, in the direction of the pivot axis, the locking edge comprises a support surface and wherein the spring assembly pretensions the cover against the support surface of the locking edge in the open position of the cover.

10. A lawn mower comprising:
a housing comprising a discharge opening configured to discharge cut material;
a covering device arranged at the housing, wherein the covering device comprises a cover and a locking device;
wherein the cover is configured to pivot about a pivot axis;
wherein the cover is configured to cover the discharge opening in a closed state of the cover and to open the discharge opening in an open position of the cover;
wherein, in the closed state of the cover, the cover is configured to be locked by the locking device in a locked position of the cover;
wherein the cover is configured to move relative to the housing in a direction of the pivot axis and wherein the cover is configured to be unlocked from the locked position of the cover by a movement of the cover in the direction of the pivot axis;
wherein the covering device comprises a restoring device, wherein the restoring device is configured to load the cover in the open position of the cover by a force acting in a direction toward the closed state of the cover;
wherein the covering device comprises a spring assembly;
wherein the spring assembly comprises an axial spring, wherein the axial spring is a part of the locking device, and wherein the axial spring acts between the housing and the cover in the direction of the pivot axis.

11. The lawn mower according to claim 10 , wherein the axial spring is a pressure spring.

12. A lawn mower comprising:
a housing comprising a discharge opening configured to discharge cut material;
a covering device arranged at the housing, wherein the covering device comprises a cover and a locking device;
wherein the cover is configured to pivot about a pivot axis;
wherein the cover is configured to cover the discharge opening in a closed state of the cover and to open the discharge opening in an open position of the cover;
wherein, in the closed state of the cover, the cover is configured to be locked by the locking device in a locked position of the cover;
wherein the cover is configured to move relative to the housing in a direction of the pivot axis and wherein the cover is configured to be unlocked from the locked position of the cover by a movement of the cover in the direction of the pivot axis;
wherein the covering device comprises a restoring device, wherein the restoring device is configured to load the cover in the open position of the cover by a force acting in a direction toward the closed state of the cover;
wherein the covering device comprises a spring assembly;
wherein the spring assembly is a combined axial and torsion spring, and wherein the combined axial and torsion spring is a part of the restoring device and a part of the locking device.

Assignees

• Stihl Ag & Co Kg Andreas

Inventors

• Duregger Georg
• Scheid Marco

Classifications

• A01D2101/00

  Lawn-mowers · CPC title

• E05B15/00

  Other details of locks; Parts for engagement by bolts of fastening devices · CPC title

• A01D34/71 Primary

  with means for discharging mown material (A01D57/26 - A01D57/30 take precedence; combined with means for gathering or loading mown material A01D43/06) · CPC title

• A01D34/82

  Other details · CPC title

• A01D43/063

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