AU693158B2 - Grass catcher beak - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act'1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT 0 00 Ot 0 O 0r Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s) Address for Service: LESLIE JOHN GITTOES LESLIE JOHN GITTOES Barker, Blenkinship Associates Patent Attorneys PO Box 34, CHATSWOOD NSW 2067 Invention Title: GRASS CATCHER BEAK Details of Associated Provisional Application Nos: PM5236 filed 22 April 1994 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2- GRASS CATCHER BEAK The present invention relates to a grass catcher beak and has particular application to a method of repairing plastic grass catchers after the beak portion thereof has been damaged or worn away.

For many years lawn mower grass catchers have been manufactured substantially from plastic materials and the "beak" portion comprising the lower forward extremity of the catcher which is inserted into the rear of the mower body over the rear axle arrangement is similarly integral with the unit and fabricated from plastic.

oo oo It is this beak portion of the grass catcher which tends to wear out first as the beak portion is that portion of the catcher which is first hit by grass cuttings, stones, leaves and other debris exiting from the rear of the mower. The plastic becomes worn away or cracks due to the constant subjection to bombardment by grass, leaves and stones eventually rendering the catcher unservicable. Once the beak portion of the catcher is worn away the airflow is no longer directed up over the rear axle of the mower and efficiently into the catcher. Additionally in the absence of a beak the catcher is no longer laterally or vertically adequately located or secured to the mower body. Such -3worn or damaged catchers are usually discarded or attempts are made to patch or repair the plastic.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a product and system for replacement of worn lawn mower catcher beaks in order to avoid total replacement of the catcher.

According to the present invention there is provided a replacement beak for a lawn mower grass catcher comprising a ramp portion angled so as to direct the oo airflow created by the mowers blades upward and 0 rearward over the axle area of the mower and towards the catcher; a transition portion adapted to locate the catcher inside the mower body and above the mowers rear axle line the transition portion extending from said ramp portion rearward to a position behind the flange defining the grass catcher mouth; an overlap surface S 20 adapted to extend from the rear of the transition portion down into the base of the catcher and to substantially conform to the shape of at least part of the lower forward extremity of the catcher so as to facilitate the fixing of the beak to said forward lower extremity of the catcher; flange portions extending substantially vertically and laterally with respect to the beak being adapted to lie against at least part of the vertical flange portions defining the catcher mouth 4 and adapted to be fixed thereto; infill portions on either side of the mower beak extending from the ramp and/or transition portions to said flange portions.

The present invention additionally discloses a method of repairing a lawn mower catcher having a worn or damaged beak portion comprising the steps of: selecting a lawn mower catcher having a worn beak portion; S cutting away the remainder of the worn beak portion back at least to the catcher mouth; selecting an appropriately sized replacement beak 0 in accordance with the present invention; and fixing the replacement beak to the catcher at the upstanding flange portions and the overlap V surface.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be decribed with reference to the accompanying drawing figure I being a perspective view of a replacement beak in accordance with the present invention.

C~ 5 Figure I discloses a replacment for a grass catcher beak having a ramp surface 1 extending into a transition surface 2. The rearmost surface 3 of transition surface 2 lies just behind the mouth (not shown) of the grass catcher and at this point the transition surface 2 of the replacement beak turns down towards the base of the catcher to form an overlap surface 4.

This overlap surface needs to extend sufficiently far into the grass catcher so as to extend beyond any o 00 damaged portion and to overlap with undamaged portions 0000 0 00 so that it may be fixed by rivetting or otherwise to 15 the undamaged portion of the catcher. In this instance a~o it will be observed that the overlap surface firstly extends substantially downwardly to the grass catcher 000 floor and then executes a fold 5 so as to extend along the grass catcher floor (not shown) in a substantially 20 horizontal fashion. The length of this horizontal 0 portion 6 of the overlap surface 4 is dictated by the extent of damage which it is envisaged that the average grass catcher of the type concerned may sustain. The overlap surface must cover any damaged portions and overlap undamaged portions to some extent so that fixing it to the grass catcher is possible.

-6 Ramp portion 1 and transition portion 2 substantially conform to the beak surface of the grass catcher (not shown) before damage as do infill portions 7. In practice transition portion 2 lies above the axle of the mower whereas ramp portion 1 extends forward of the rear axle position of the mower and down to a position where it may catch the airstream containing grass clippings and direct them over transition portion 2 and into the main body of the catcher (not shown).

Infill portion 7 serves as a mount and brace for o o upstanding flange portions 8 as well as bracing the 0 oo 0°0 transition and ramp portions into their predetermined 15 desired planes. Upstanding flange portions 8 would usually lie inside corresponding flange portions on the 0 grass catcher mouth in a planer surface to planer o. surface abutting relationship. These flange portions would normally be rivetted to the abutting :I 20 corresponding flange portions of the grass catcher mouth although in certain designs of grass catcher the flange around the grass catcher mouth is so narrow that extensions (not shown) of the upstanding flange portions may have to be provided so that the replacement beak flange portions fold through degrees with the extension portions lying adjacent the catchers side to which the extensions may then be ii~;li4L 7 rivetted so as to fix the upstanding flange portions to the grass catcher.

The replacment beaks of the present invention are ideally suited for manufacture in sheet-metal such as zinc coated steel plate although they may just as I realily be fabricated from plastics by injection moulding or any other known method. It is of course desirable that if plastics are utilised for fabricating the beak in accordance with the present invention that the plastic be at least as durable and preferably more durable than the original material from which the *000 catcher was fabricated in order to prevent wear. It is *090 15 envisaged that fabrication from sheet-steel would be o. more conducive to the longevity of the repair effected.

It should be appreciated that alternate embodiments apart from that above described may be devised without 20 departing from the scope and intendment of the -resent invention.

DATED this 10th day of April 1995 LESLIE JOHN GITTOES by his Patent Attorneys Barker Blenkinship Associates

Claims (6)

1. A replacement beak as herein defined for a lawn mower grass catcher comprising a ramp portion angled so as to direct the airflow created by the mowers blades upward and rearward over the rear axle area of a mower and towards the catcher; a transition portion adapted to overlie a mower rear axle line or lower rear chassis brace; the transition portion extending from said ramp portion o .0 rearward to a position beh:.nd the forward extremity of the grass catcher mouth; an overlap surface adapted to extend from the rear o of the transition portion down into the catcher and to substantially 0 0 0 0 0 conform to the shape of at least part of the lower forward extremity 0 00 of the catcher so as to facilitate the fixing of the beak to said oe O oo forward lower extremity of the catcher; flange portions extending substantially vertically and laterally with respect to the beak being adapted to lie against at least part of the substantially vertical portions defining the catcher mouth and adapted to be fixed thereto; infill portions on either side of the mower beak extending from the ramp and/or transition portions to said flange portions.

2. A replacement beak in accordance with claim I hereof wherein the infill portions are perpendicular to the plane of the ramp portion and extend from the leading surface of the ramp portion to a portion adjacent the upper extremity of the vertical flanges. 5_ 1 i" C~.I 9

3. A replacement beak in accordance with any one of Lhe preceding claims wherein the material of construction is sheet metal.

4. A replacement beak in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the lateral flanges extend at their outer extremities into flange extensions rearwardly directed and substantially normal to the plane of the lateral flange portions in order to assist in fixing 0 0% 0 the lateral flange portions to the body of a grass catcher. o A replacement beak in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the entire beak structure is fabricated from one o 0 0 piece of sheet metal appropriately cut, folded and fixed. 0a 0

6. A replacement beak for a lawn mower in accordance with any one of claims 1 or 2 hereof wherein the beak is fabricated from thermoplastic material.

7. A method of repairing a lawn mower catcher having a worn or damaged beak portion as herein defined comprising the steps of. selecting a lawn mower catcher having a worn beak portion; cutting away the remainder of the worn beak portion back at least to the catcher mouth; selecting an appropriately sized replacement beak in accordance with claim 1 hereof; and fixing the replacement beak to the catcher at the upstanding flange portions and the overlap surfaces. DATED this 10th day of April 1995 LESLIE JOHN GITTOES by his Patent Attorneys BARKER BLENKINSHIP ASSOCIATES 0 00 r ABSTRACT A system for repairing lawn mower grass catchers which have been worn out by stones or otherwise at their leading edge where they attach to lawn mowers comprising a replacement beak for riveting or otherwise affixing to the mouth of a grass catcher including a ramp portion angled so as to direct the airflow created by the mower's blades upward and rearward over the axle area of the mower and towards the catcher; a transition portion adapted to locate the catcher inside the mower body and above the mower's rear axle line; the ooio° transition portion extending from said ramp portion rearward to a position °O behind the flange defining the grass catcher mouth; an overlap surface adapted a o to extend from the rear of the transition portion down into the base of the 0 0 catcher and to substantially conform to the shape of at least part of the lower forward extremity of the catcher so as to facilitate the fixing of the beak to said forward lower extremity of the catcher; flange portions extending substantially i vertically and laterally with respect to the beak and being adaptedc to lie against at least part of the vertical flange portions defining the catcher mouth to facilitate fixing thereto; infill portion on either side of the mower beak extending from the ramp and/or transition portions to said flange portions. C