| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 5657542 |
Filament trimmer head |
August 19, 1997 |
| A filament trimmer has an improved trimmer head. The trimmer head includes a spool having crush ribs on its core to prevent contraction of the filament line from warping or otherwise damaging the spool. A slot shaped exit aperture is provided in the head which can be opened up when the h |
| 5657224 |
Turf maintenance vehicle diagnostics and parameter condition logger |
August 12, 1997 |
| The present invention provides for a turf maintenance vehicle controller which includes data logger means to store the status of predetermined parameters. The invention further includes the ability to provide such data in real time to an inexpensive diagnostic apparatus and to store the |
| 5644844 |
Filament trimmer |
July 8, 1997 |
| A filament trimmer comprises a lower housing, an upper handle and a single handle tube connecting the two together to form a completed trimmer. The handle tube has approximately the same length as the length of the lower housing, and the upper handle has approximately the same width as t |
| 5638668 |
Lawn mower having nested deck and liner |
June 17, 1997 |
| A lawn mower has a cutting chamber formed in a metallic liner having front and rear aprons. A plastic deck, molded in one-piece, is screwed to the liner to enclose and hide the liner. The deck/liner combination is inexpensive but strong and durable, the metallic liner being able to r |
| 5638667 |
Mulching mower |
June 17, 1997 |
| A mulching lawn mower has a closed cutting chamber in a mulching mode such that the grass clippings are confined within the cutting chamber except for when they fall out through the open bottom face of the chamber. The cutting chamber has a first portion of toroidal or doughnut form gene |
| 5628171 |
Mulching mower convertible to discharge/collection mode |
May 13, 1997 |
| A multi-bladed mulching mower comprises a cutting deck having a peripheral skirt and side discharge outlet. A plurality of cutting chambers extend across the width of the deck and are defined by vertically extending shroud walls that depend downwardly from a top wall of the deck. A r |
| 5623817 |
Operating unit joint for turf maintenance equipment |
April 29, 1997 |
| A steering operating unit joint (22) for connecting an operating unit (20) to a lift arm (18) of a turf maintenance machine (10). Operating unit (20) can be a reel-type turf cutting unit. Cutting unit joint (22) preferably includes a pivot knuckle (50) having a snout (66), suitably secur |
| 5615542 |
Mulching blade for lawn mower |
April 1, 1997 |
| A cutting blade for a rotary lawn mower to increase the mulching effectiveness of the mower comprises a generally rectangular blade having a central portion and radially outermost end portions. The blade is curved over its entire length to have a concavely curved upper surface across the |
| 5577286 |
Highway debris entrainment and storage device |
November 26, 1996 |
| A refuse collection device (1) including a collector roller (11) and an inclined conveyor (27) which deposits collected debris into a hopper (127) along arcuate paths (128, 129), thereby filling the hopper (127) initially in the region adjacent to its rear wall (130). Mounted on the coll |
| 5568376 |
Irrigation controller |
October 22, 1996 |
| An improved irrigation controller of solid state design utilizes a microcomputer which retains and executes a watering schedule input by a user through data input means. One of the parameters of system operation is the times of day in which irrigation will start when the current day is |
| 5560078 |
Portable Blower/Vac |
October 1, 1996 |
| An improved convertible electric blower/vac. The blower/vac includes an improved air inlet cover with an adjustable choke member. The air inlet cover also includes a pressure ring for increasing the efficiency of the blower/vac impeller when the unit is operated in the blower mode. The |
| 5553780 |
Spraying system with low liquid level warning |
September 10, 1996 |
| A spraying system for providing a pressurized liquid spray for cleaning purposes is mounted on a vehicle for use outdoors. The system includes a liquid storage tank, a spray device for directing a spray of liquid therefrom, and a liquid supply system for pumping liquid from the liquid |
| 5535987 |
Valve diaphragm |
July 16, 1996 |
| A fluid flow control valve has a diaphragm for sealing against a valve seat. The diaphragm has an enlarged resilient annular rim portion which is clamped between mating portions of the valve to seal and support the diaphragm within the valve. The annular rim portion comprises an annular |
| 5535479 |
Portable blower/vacuum handle arrangement |
July 16, 1996 |
| A portable hand-held convertible blower and vacuum unit having a primary handle on the housing and a secondary handle located on the vacuum tube attachment. The secondary handle comprises a generally compliant gripping surface and enables the operator to connect or disconnect the vacuum |
| 5533326 |
Reel mower |
July 9, 1996 |
| One aspect of the present invention includes a traction vehicle (12); one or more reel-type cutting unit(s) (20), each supported by one or more rollers (34, 35); and a cutting unit suspension system (22) associated with each cutting unit, preferably including a ball joint (90) located |
| 5533325 |
All wheel hydraulic drive system |
July 9, 1996 |
| An improved hydraulic drive system is provided for a vehicle having a plurality of ground engaging wheels which are each individually driven by a hydraulic motor to provide all wheel drive. The ground engaging wheels include a first pair of such wheels at or adjacent a first end of the |
| 5526982 |
Adjustable sprinkler nozzle |
June 18, 1996 |
| An improved sprinkler nozzle comprises a nozzle body having a nozzle received in a recessed seat provided in a peripheral wall of the nozzle body. The nozzle is formed with a plurality of nozzle ports formed by the radially outer ends of a plurality of vertically flexible nozzle tubes. |
| 5497604 |
Supervisor switch for turf mower |
March 12, 1996 |
| The present invention provides for an automated supervisor switch device for maintaining an acceptable ground speed during cutting operations for a turf mower. The present invention does not interfere with the ground speed of the vehicle during cutting or non-cutting operations. In a pre |
| 5485963 |
Granular fertilizer spreader |
January 23, 1996 |
| A granular fertilizer spreader which may be attached to a lawn mower (1). The spreader includes a hopper (44) which is secured to the mower handle (3), the spreader including drive wheels (9,10) which frictionally engage the rear mower wheels (7,8). An impeller (99) is rotated by the dri |
| 5451000 |
Yardage marker system for sprinklers |
September 19, 1995 |
| A yardage marker system for sprinklers includes a set of individual marker numbers that each have a single digit thereon selected from the range 0-9. A display area is provided on the top of the sprinkler, e.g. on the top of the pop-up riser portion of the sprinkler, for receiving and ho |
| 5432088 |
Method and apparatus for aerobic composting |
July 11, 1995 |
| A compost bin (20) including a plurality of substantially horizontal aeration/mixing slots (42). Slots (42), preferably "L-shaped," permit mixing and aeration of the composting material. A mixing tool, e.g., garden fork, can be inserted substantially vertically into the mixing/aerati |
| 5429530 |
Cable connector including thermal fuse |
July 4, 1995 |
| A cable connector (82) including a thermal fuse (25) for use with a low voltage electrical system (1). The preferred connector (82) includes a pair of electrically and thermally conductive jumper elements (19,23) with a plurality of sharpened edges (30,33,64,67) for piercing the insulati |
| 5421078 |
Method of making a power box for a low voltage lighting system |
June 6, 1995 |
| A power box (12) for a low voltage lighting system (10). Power box (12), which connects to a 120 VAC source via 120 VAC cable (15) and a plurality of low voltage light fixtures (14) via a 12 VAC cable (16), includes a "tortuous path" strain relief (40) including a first strain relief |
| 5414618 |
Irrigation controller with analog data input devices |
May 9, 1995 |
| An improved irrigation controller of solid state design utilizes a microcomputer which retains and executes a watering schedule. A plurality of analog data input devices are provided with one input device being assigned to input one value of at least one watering schedule parameter h |
| 5398431 |
Single stage snowthrower impeller |
March 21, 1995 |
| A snowthrower (20) including an improved impeller (50) which has an "open center" configuration and which is substantially made from a single piece of plastic. Impeller (50) includes a pair of curved blades (60) which are supported, braced and stiffened by a plurality of "spiders" (62, 6 |
| 5394678 |
Electronic control for turf maintenance vehicle |
March 7, 1995 |
| The present invention provides for an automated clip control device for maintaining a predetermined clip at varying ground speeds, heights of cut, and other changed conditions. The reel speed of the mower 10 is controlled based upon a feed-back control loop, using as input the ground spe |
| 5381331 |
Irrigation controller |
January 10, 1995 |
| An improved irrigation controller of solid state design utilizes a microcomputer which retains and executes a watering schedule input by a user through data input means. A rain delay push button may be pressed a number of times to suspend operation of the watering schedule for a number |
| 5377919 |
Hammermill |
January 3, 1995 |
| A hammermill is presented which includes a plurality of hammers each presenting an arcuate striking profile. The hammermill includes a rotor having rods for swingable carrying the hammers thereon and a motor for rotating the rotor. The hammers are longitudinally spaced along the rotor |
| 5364114 |
Vehicle steering and suspension system |
November 15, 1994 |
| A steering and suspension mechanism for use with a vehicle (1) and including a steering gear (14) interconnected to a steering wheel (8) through a series of universal joints (10, 11, 12, 13, 87). An output of the steering gear (14) is connected to a Pitman arm (21) which extends from |
| 5363635 |
Mulching mower with improved mulching blade |
November 15, 1994 |
| A mulching mower has at least one generally enclosed cutting chamber in which a rotatable cutting blade is carried for rotation in a generally horizontal cutting plane. A sidewall defines the circumferential boundary of the cutting chamber and the grass clippings exit the cutting chamber |
| 5363290 |
Irrigation controller |
November 8, 1994 |
| An improved irrigation controller of solid state design utilizes a microcomputer which retains and executes a watering schedule input by a user through data input means. One of the parameters of system operation is the times of day in which irrigation will start when the current day is |
| 5360167 |
Adjustable radius sprinkler nozzle |
November 1, 1994 |
| An adjustable arc sprinkler nozzle comprises a nozzle body which has a plurality of radial channels for forming radial streams out of water flowing into the nozzle from a sprinkler body to which the nozzle is joined. A crown shaped deflector member includes a plurality of vertically |
| 5355664 |
Caster wheel suspension and shaft tensioning system for turf maintenance equipment |
October 18, 1994 |
| A rotary mower (22) having an improved castering wheel assembly (39, 92) so as to reduce rotation of the castering wheel (4) about its support shaft (6). In one embodiment, a torsion resistance mechanism (2) is interposed between the shaft (3) and mower frame (67), the torsion resistance |
| 5355662 |
Single bail self-propel and zone brake control |
October 18, 1994 |
| A lawn mower self-propel and zone brake control system includes a deck, a ground engaging wheel rotatably coupled to and supporting the deck, a handlebar assembly coupled to the deck, and a transmission coupled to the ground engaging wheel. A pivoting control bail is pivotally mounted on |
| 5322418 |
High pressure liquid pump apparatus and pumping method |
June 21, 1994 |
| A liquid pumping apparatus and pump method is provided in which a reciprocal drive piston is carried in a pump body and is reciprocated back and forth by a mechanical power source such as a crankshaft. The pump body has a pump chamber which receives the liquid to be pumped. A pump piston |
| 5315771 |
Discharge chute assembly for snowthrower |
May 31, 1994 |
| A discharge chute assembly (30) includes a chute (32) and a pivotal deflector (34), the overlapping end portions of which define a partial spherical or bail joint (40) which maintains a tight seal against backflow and leakage over the entire range of rotation and deflection of the as |
| 5291842 |
High pressure liquid containment joint for hydraulic aerator |
March 8, 1994 |
| A high pressure liquid containment joint in an apparatus for injecting high pressure liquid into turf. A preferred high pressure liquid containment joint includes an O-ring (72). The high pressure liquid containment joint also includes a cylindrical plug (70). The plug (70) includes a fi |
| 5289879 |
Sandtrap maintenance machine rake assembly |
March 1, 1994 |
| An improved rake assembly for a sandtrap maintenance machine comprises a rake frame having a transverse row or rows of scarifying teeth. A trowel plate is fixed to the rake frame and trails behind the scarifying teeth and includes a substantially planar lower edge comprising a horizontal |
| 5285349 |
Power box for a low voltage lighting system |
February 8, 1994 |
| A power box (12) for a low voltage lighting system (10). Power box (12), which connects to a 120 VAC source via 120 VAC cable (15) and a plurality of low voltage light fixtures (14) via a 12 VAC cable (16), includes a "tortuous path" strain relief (40) including a first strain relief |
| 5272620 |
Irrigation controller with rain delay feature |
December 21, 1993 |
| An improved irrigation controller of solid state design utilizes a microcomputer which retains and executes a watering schedule input by a user through data input means. A rain delay push button may be pressed a number of times to suspend operation of the watering schedule for a number |
| 5262936 |
Irrigation controller having expansion and pump modules |
November 16, 1993 |
| An irrigation controller contains a base unit having drivers and output switches for controlling a number of irrigation stations which is less than the maximum number of stations for which the controller is designed. Station expansion modules are provided having the drivers and output |
| 5261214 |
Lawn mower bail pivot stop and cable anchor |
November 16, 1993 |
| A walk behind lawn mower operating system. The system comprises a handlebar onto which control bails with ends are pivotally attached, with the control bails being operatively connected to propulsion and blade brake systems, respectively. The control bails are arranged on the handlebar |
| 5259175 |
Lawn mower height of cut adjustment system |
November 9, 1993 |
| In a walk behind lawn mower, a height of cut adjustment system that includes a frame (12), a cutting blade (20) rotatably supported by the frame (12), a ground engaging wheel (14) coupled to and supporting the frame (12), height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height setting o |
| 5234169 |
Removable sprinkler nozzle |
August 10, 1993 |
| An improved sprinkler comprises a nozzle body having a nozzle received in a recessed seat provided in a peripheral wall of the nozzle body. The nozzle body has a rotatable upper cover. A cam surface is formed on the cover and extends down into engagement with the nozzle. The cam surface |
| 5228360 |
Cruise/speed control system for hydrostatic drive |
July 20, 1993 |
| A cruise control system (10) for use with a hydrostatic drive system having a traction pedal (12) includes a pivotal link (42) and stops (44 and 46) comprising a lost motion connection between the traction pedal and the traction control linkage (30). Selective retention of the pump contr |
| 5226602 |
Adjustable radius sprinkler nozzle |
July 13, 1993 |
| An adjustable arc sprinkler nozzle comprises a nozzle body which has a plurality of radial channels for forming radial streams out of water flowing into the nozzle from a sprinkler body to which the nozzle is joined. A crown shaped deflector member includes a plurality of vertically |
| 5225961 |
Low voltage connector for a power box |
July 6, 1993 |
| A Power box (12) for a low voltage lighting system (10). Power box (12), which connects to a 120 VAC source via 120 VAC cable (15) and a plurality of low voltage light fixtures (14) via a 12 VAC cable (16), includes a "tortuous path" strain relief (40) including a first strain relief |
| 5212938 |
Mulching mower with obround cutting chamber |
May 25, 1993 |
| A mulching mower has at least one generally enclosed cutting chamber in which a rotatable cutting blade is carried for rotation in a generally horizontal cutting plane. The side wall which defines the circumferential boundary of the cutting chamber is not perfectly circular with respect |
| 5207168 |
Method and apparatus for treating turf |
May 4, 1993 |
| A method and apparatus for treating turf to reduce the general soil density in which turfgrasses grow and thus promote turf growth and turf drainage which includes injecting through the turf into the soil a pattern of jets of generally incompressible liquid at a jet pressure and jet spac |
| 5205112 |
Multi-bladed mulching/bagging mower |
April 27, 1993 |
| A multi-bladed mulching mower is convertible between a mulching mode in which the grass clippings are deposited as mulch or a discharge/collection mode in which the grass clippings are discharged from the housing or are bagged. The mower includes two separate cutting chambers which are |
