Externally adjustable bagging attachment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9801341-B2
Application number	US-201114114575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2011
Priority date	May 13, 2011
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A riding lawn care vehicle may include a rear discharge and a bagging attachment. The rear discharge may be disposed at a rear of the riding lawn care vehicle. The bagging attachment may be configured to attach to the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle to receive debris discharged via the rear discharge. The bagging attachment may include an adjustable member that is accessible by an operator external to the bagging attachment to enable adjustment of a pivot point of the bagging attachment relative to the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A riding lawn care vehicle comprising:
a rear discharge disposed at a rear of the riding lawn care vehicle; and
a bagging attachment configured to attach to the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle to receive debris discharged via the rear discharge, the bagging attachment including an adjustable member that is accessible by an operator external to the bagging attachment to enable fixing a pivot point of the bagging attachment in one of a plurality of positions by adjusting a position of the adjustable member in a fore or aft direction relative to the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle to adjust a fit between the bagging attachment and the riding lawn care vehicle.

2. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the bagging attachment comprises a carriage assembly to which a bag frame of the bagging attachment slidably connects, and wherein movement of the carriage assembly relative to the bag frame adjusts the pivot point of the bagging attachment.

3. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the riding lawn care vehicle includes a bagging attachment support structure configured to support the carriage assembly in a fixed location relative to the riding lawn care vehicle, such that movement of the carriage assembly relative to the bag frame causes movement of the bag frame relative to the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle.

4. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the bag frame comprises a top frame member including a first leg and a second leg that extend parallel to each other to engage respective end portions of a front frame member proximate to an open end of the bagging attachment that attaches to the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle.

5. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the carriage assembly comprises a first sleeve bracket and a second sleeve bracket that extend over the first and second legs respectively to slidably connect the carriage assembly to the bag frame via the adjustable member.

6. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the carriage assembly slidably engages each of the first leg and the second leg via a corresponding at least one protrusion extended through a corresponding slot to limit motion of the carriage assembly based on a size of the corresponding slot.

7. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the carriage assembly slidably engages each of the first leg and the second leg via at least two protrusions extended through respective slots, and wherein a first one of the at least two protrusions associated with each respective leg extends into an interior portion of the bag frame and a second one of the at least two protrusions associated with each respective leg extends outward from the bag frame to be accessible external to the bagging attachment.

8. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the second one of the at least two protrusions is configured to be tightened or loosened to a tightened state or loosened state, respectively.

9. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the adjustable member is configured to be tightened or loosened to a tightened state or loosened state, respectively, and wherein the adjustable member comprises a protruding member disposed to extend into a slot associated with the carriage assembly to enable the carriage assembly to slide relative to the bag frame when the adjustable member is in the loosened state, and to fix a position of the carriage assembly relative to the bag frame when the adjustable member is in the tightened state.

10. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable member comprises a hex head bolt, a wing bolt, a wing nut, a cam lock, a spring loaded lever, or a spring pin.

11. An externally adjustable bagging attachment for a riding lawn care vehicle, the bagging attachment comprising:
an adjustable member that is accessible by an operator external to the bagging attachment to enable fixing a pivot point of the bagging attachment in one of a plurality of positions by adjusting a position of the adjustable member in a fore or aft direction relative to a rear of a riding lawn care vehicle to which the bagging attachment is configured to be attachable to adjust a fit between the bagging attachment and the riding lawn care vehicle, the riding lawn care vehicle including a rear discharge disposed at the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle.

12. The bagging attachment of claim 11 , further comprising a carriage assembly to which a bag frame of the bagging attachment slidably connects, and wherein movement of the carriage assembly relative to the bag frame adjusts the pivot point of the bagging attachment.

13. The bagging attachment of claim 12 , wherein the carriage assembly is supportable in a fixed location relative to the riding lawn care vehicle by a bagging attachment support structure, such that movement of the carriage assembly relative to the bag frame causes movement of the bag frame relative to the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle.

14. The bagging attachment of claim 12 , wherein the bag frame comprises a top frame member including a first leg and a second leg that extend parallel to each other to engage respective end portions of a front frame member proximate to an open end of the bagging attachment that attaches to the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle.

15. The bagging attachment of claim 14 , wherein the carriage assembly comprises a first sleeve bracket and a second sleeve bracket that extend over the first and second legs respectively to slidably connect the carriage assembly to the bag frame via the adjustable member.

16. The bagging attachment of claim 14 , wherein the carriage assembly slidably engages each of the first leg and the second leg via a corresponding at least one protrusion extended through a corresponding slot to limit motion of the carriage assembly based on a size of the corresponding slot.

17. A lawn care vehicle comprising:
a discharge configured for discharging debris received by the lawn care vehicle; and
a bagging attachment configured to mate with a portion of the lawn care vehicle to receive debris from the discharge, the bagging attachment comprising:
a bag portion configured to hold the debris received from the discharge; and

an adjustable member that, when the bagging attachment is attached to the lawn care vehicle, is accessible by an operator external to the bagging attachment to enable fixing a pivot point of the bagging attachment in one of a plurality of positions by adjusting a position of the adjustable member in a fore or aft direction relative to the portion of the lawn care vehicle to adjust a fit between the bagging attachment and the lawn care vehicle;
wherein the portion of the lawn care vehicle comprises a plate surrounding the discharge, and wherein the bagging attachment further comprises:
a carriage assembly to which a bag frame of the bag portion slidably connects, wherein the adjustable member enables the operator to slide the bag frame relative to the carriage assembly in order to move the bag portion toward or away from the plate.

18. The lawn care vehicle of claim 17 , further comprising:
a bagging attachment support structure configured to support the carriage assembly in a fixed location relative to the plate, such that movement of the carriage assembly relative to the bag frame causes movement of the bag frame relative to the plate.

19. The lawn care vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the adjustable member is configured to be tightened or loosened to a tightened state or loo

Assignees

• Canonge Eric
• Husqvarna Ab

Inventors

• Canonge Eric

Classifications

• A01D43/0631

  Control devices specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• A01D43/0636 Primary

  Flexible containers · CPC title

• A01D43/077 Primary

  with auxiliary means, e.g. fans, for transporting the mown crop · CPC title

• A01D43/063

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

• A01D43/0635

  with emptying means · CPC title