Drive wheel cover for wheeled machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11737389-B2
Application number	US-202017036677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2020
Priority date	Sep 29, 2020
Publication date	Aug 29, 2023
Grant date	Aug 29, 2023

Abstract

A lawn mower includes a blade housing and a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting a height of the blade housing with respect to the associated ground. The height adjusting mechanism includes rear wheel support members for supporting rear drive wheels. Each rear drive wheel includes a cover having an exterior cover part and an interior cover part. The interior cover part is directly connected to one of the support members without the use of separate associated mechanical fasteners.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lawn mower comprising:
a blade housing;
a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting a height of the blade housing with respect to the associated ground, the height adjusting mechanism includes rear wheel support members having axles secured thereto for supporting rear drive wheels; and
each rear drive wheel includes a cover having an exterior cover part and an interior cover part, the interior cover part of each cover directly connected to the support members without the use of separate associated mechanical fasteners,
wherein each interior cover part includes plural connectors which are integrally formed with the interior cover part to define a unitary component, the plural connectors of each cover provide for a snap-fit connection with one of the support members,
wherein each interior cover part has an inner wall portion that defines an opening for receiving the axle, and a first connector of the plural connectors is extended from the inner wall portion at the opening adjacent the axle and engages the respective support member,
wherein a second connector of the plural connectors extends from an inner facing wall of the interior cover part, the second connector engages one of an outer peripheral edge of the support member and an inner surface of the support member,
wherein a third connector of the plural connectors extends from the inner facing wall of the interior cover part, the third connector engages one of the outer peripheral edge of the support member and the inner surface of the support member.

2. The lawn mower of claim 1 , wherein the first connector engages the outer peripheral edge of the support member.

3. The lawn mower of claim 1 , wherein the second connector extends through an opening in the support member and engages the inner surface of the support member, and the third connector engages the outer peripheral edge of the support member.

4. The lawn mower of claim 1 , wherein the second connector engages the inner surface of the support member, and the third connector engages the inner surface of the support member.

5. The lawn mower of claim 1 , further including a transmission having an output shaft with a drive gear mounted on the end portion of the output shaft, the end portion extended through an opening in one of the interior cover parts to be received in a space defined by the respective cover, the one interior cover part includes a shroud covering the drive gear.

6. The lawn mower of claim 5 , wherein the transmission includes a spring member, and the one interior cover part includes a pocket sized to securely receive a free end portion of the spring member.

7. A walk-behind lawn mower comprising:
a blade housing;
a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting a height of the housing with respect to the associated ground, the height adjusting mechanism includes rear wheel support members for supporting rear drive wheels; and
the rear drive wheels include covers, each cover having an exterior cover part and an interior cover part, the interior cover part including at least one connector integrally formed with the interior cover part to define a unitary component, the at least one connector configured for a snap-fit connection with each respective support member, wherein the at least one connector is plural connectors including a first connector and a second connector, each integrally formed with the interior cover part, one of the first connector and the second connector extends through an opening defined in the support member and directly engages an inner surface of the support member that faces away from the interior cover part.

8. The lawn mower of claim 7 , wherein each interior cover part has an opening for receiving an axle secured to each support member, the first connector of the plural connectors is extended adjacent the axle and engages an outer peripheral edge of one of the support members.

9. The lawn mower of claim 8 , wherein the second connector of the plural connectors extends from an inner facing wall of the interior cover part.

10. The lawn mower of claim 9 , wherein a third connector of the plural connectors extends from the inner facing wall of the interior cover part, the third connector engages one of the outer peripheral edge of the support member and the inner surface of the support member.

11. A walk-behind lawn mower comprising:
a blade housing;
a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting a height of the housing with respect to the associated ground, the height adjusting mechanism includes rear wheel support members for supporting rear drive wheels; and
the rear drive wheels include covers, each cover having an exterior cover part and an interior cover part, the interior cover part including plural connectors each integrally formed with the interior cover part to define a unitary component, a first connector of the plural connectors engages an outer peripheral edge of one of the support members, a second connector of the plural connectors extends through an opening in the one support member and engages an inner surface of the one support member,
wherein the plural connectors of the covers provide for a direct snap-fit connection with the support members thereby securing the covers to the support members without the use of separate associated mechanical fasteners.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Vaughn Christopher W
• Lenfert Nathaniel A

Classifications

• A01D34/74 Primary

  Cutting-height adjustment · CPC title

• A01D34/81

  Casings; Housings (A01D34/71 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60B7/08

  having gripping elements consisting of formations integral with the cover · CPC title

• A01D34/69

  with motor driven wheels · CPC title

• A01D69/06

  Gearings · CPC title