Excavating – Snow or ice removing or grooming by portable device – Vehicle mount including power lift
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-22
2001-09-11
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Excavating
Snow or ice removing or grooming by portable device
Vehicle mount including power lift
C037S234000, C037S231000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286236
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to movable attachments for lawn and garden zero turning radius prime movers. More specifically, these attachments may be loader buckets, blades, or other implements.
Lawn mowers having zero turning radius capabilities come in various sizes, from push mowers to riding mowers. Currently, blades, snow plows, and rotary brooms are sold to be used with zero turning radius lawn mowers.
One disadvantage with the attachments currently available is that the zero turning radius lawn mowers do not create down pressure on the attachment. With the absence of down pressure, a blade attachment is not effective in various grading situations. Another disadvantage with the equipment currently available is that none of the existing attachments allow for the transport and deep excavation of various substances on the ground such as snow, dirt, gravel, sand, manure and other items. A further disadvantage with the available attachments is that they are not electrically or hydraulically movable from the operator position with the touch of a finger.
In order to overcome these disadvantages, a movable attachment that exerts down pressure and that is adapted to be coupled with a zero turning radius prime mover is needed. Certain embodiments of the invention are able to excavate and transport various substances.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a lawn and garden zero turning radius prime mover that can be used to excavate, transport, or grade any of a variety of items including snow, dirt, gravel, sand, manure and other objects.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment that can be moved by the operator of the prime mover with the touch of a fingertip while the operator is in the operating by the position of the prime mover.
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects are achieved by an attachment adapted to be coupled with a zero turning radius prime mover. This attachment includes a tongue adapted to be received by the zero turning radius prime mover, a mounting tab coupled with the tongue, and an implement coupled with the tongue. A first electric cylinder coupled with the prime mover is also coupled with the mounting tab and is able to move the tongue and implement up and down. This first cylinder also provides a downward force on the tongue and implement when it is in a lowered position. Still further, a second electric cylinder is coupled with the tongue for moving the implement from side to side or from an upward to a downward tilt and vice versa. The implement may be any useful attachment such as a bucket, a blade, or a broom.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objects and advntages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4715610 (1987-12-01), Wisdom
patent: 4848483 (1989-07-01), Heiple
patent: 4963071 (1990-10-01), Larwin et al.
patent: 5082065 (1992-01-01), Fletcher
patent: 5195261 (1993-03-01), Vachon
patent: 5447204 (1995-09-01), Asal et al.
patent: 5477600 (1995-12-01), Houle et al.
patent: 5660217 (1997-08-01), Nissley
patent: 6059048 (2000-05-01), Subrt
patent: 6102131 (2000-08-01), Malinowski
Steiners's Slip Scoop and Power Angle Blade along with the tractors to which the implements are attached from their website “www.steinerturf.com”, disclosed at least as early as Aug. 1998.
Bowers Designs Inc.
Markovich Kristine M.
Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP
Will Thomas B.
LandOfFree
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