| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 5177888 |
Discharge chute assembly for snowthrower |
January 12, 1993 |
| 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 ball joint (40) which maintains a tight seal against backflow and leakage over the entire range of rotation and deflection of the as |
| 5158475 |
Solenoid |
October 27, 1992 |
| An improved solenoid comprises a housing having a compartment in which at least two electrical connectors are contained. Each connector comprises a spring clip which resiliently grips the bare wire end of a conductor that is inserted into the connectors. After the conductors are so joine |
| 5158232 |
Sprinkler nozzle module |
October 27, 1992 |
| A sprinkler (10, 10') including a riser assembly (14) and a removable nozzle module (34) operatively connected thereto. Nozzle module (34) includes a nozzle holder (36, 36') and a nozzle (38). Nozzle holder (36, 36') is accessible even when sprinkler (10) is buried and the riser asse |
| 5154241 |
Sand trap maintenance machine |
October 13, 1992 |
| A sand trap contouring attachment for a sand trap maintenance machine. A preferred attachment (12) includes a plow blade (30), a pair of blade supports (32) wherein the plow blade (30) is operatively attached to the supports (32) and wherein the supports (32) are pivotally attached to th |
| 5148985 |
Irrigation control apparatus responsive to soil moisture |
September 22, 1992 |
| An improved irrigation control apparatus for use in controlling an irrigation valve. The apparatus includes a soil moisture sensor for generating an output signal indicative of the soil moisture level. The output signal is sent to a control unit that inhibits valve operation if the s |
| 5133176 |
Multi-bladed mulching mower |
July 28, 1992 |
| A multi-bladed mulching mower comprises a cutting deck beneath which a plurality of cutting blades are carried. The cutting blades are shrouded so that each cutting blade is confined within a generally circular cutting chamber. Kicker members are located in each of the cutting chambers t |
| 5119744 |
Method and apparatus for treating turf |
June 9, 1992 |
| 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 |
| 5109722 |
Self-detenting transmission shift key |
May 5, 1992 |
| A variable speed, draw key transmission having a number of gears of different gear ratios rotatably journalled on a shaft. The shaft includes a keyway containing a slidable key that may be selectively moved between the gears to change the output speed of the transmission. The key include |
| 5104090 |
Irrigation valve |
April 14, 1992 |
| A fluid flow control valve has a resilient diaphragm that engages a valve seat. A line contact is formed between the diaphragm and the valve seat at or closely adjacent the outer diameter of the valve seat. This enhances the ability of the valve to seal under low fluid pressures. The dia |
| 5101745 |
Method and apparatus for soil cultivation by high pressure injection of fluids |
April 7, 1992 |
| An apparatus and method is disclcosed for cultivating soil and turf by utilization of pressurized liquid injected into the soil and turf. A roller assembly (33) is provided for applying mechanical pressure to the turf after cultivation. Further, a means for setting a first speed in a |
| 5101083 |
Rain switch |
March 31, 1992 |
| An improved rain switch includes a tubular L-shaped housing having an enclosed compartment in one arm in which an electrical switch is contained and an apertured compartment in the other arm in which a moisture absorptive assembly is contained. When mounted on a building with the ape |
| 5090183 |
Discharge chute blocking device for a rotary lawn mower |
February 25, 1992 |
| A convertible mulching mower (10) including a housing (12) and chute (30). Chute (30) can be selectively blocked with a chute plug (32) to selectively put mower (10) in a mulching mode. Mounted beneath housing (12) is a plurality of kickers (72) which serve to deflect the grass clipp |
| 5083387 |
Removable snowthrower chute |
January 28, 1992 |
| The invention is directed toward a removable chute assembly (33) for a snowthrower (10). Chute (33) is connected to housing (12) of snowthrower (10) by using a plurality of locking assemblies (52) and a detent assembly (50). Each locking assembly (52) includes a pivoting member (56) whic |
| 5060859 |
Irrigation control apparatus responsive to soil moisture |
October 29, 1991 |
| An improved irrigation control apparatus for use in controlling an irrigation valve. The apparatus includes a soil moisture sensor for generating an output signal indicative of the soil moisture level. The output signal is sent to a control unit that inhibits valve operation if the s |
| 5055987 |
Adjustable light fixture |
October 8, 1991 |
| A light fixture (10) adjustable in focus and/or beam direction. Light fixture (10) is of the "vertical" or "downlighting" type, and preferably includes a bulb/lens assembly (16) mounted atop a relatively short post (14). Bulb/lens assembly (16) includes a lens (30) which rotatably carrie |
| 5052983 |
Belt guide anchor |
October 1, 1991 |
| A drive belt guide for a drive belt system. A preferred drive belt guide assembly (41) includes a member (48) with means for accepting a fastener (52) wherein the fastener accepting means (49) establishes a pivot point for member (48), and wherein the member includes an elongate finger ( |
| 5042238 |
Riding lawn mower |
August 27, 1991 |
| An improved riding lawn mower comprises a frame having steerable front wheels and rear traction wheels. Each rear wheel is independently driven by a separate transmission. A steering wheel is used to turn the front wheels to control the direction of movement of the rider. Linkage ass |
| 5042236 |
Cutting reel suspension with adjustable spring downloading |
August 27, 1991 |
| A lift arm assembly (30, 32) for a commercial riding mower includes pivotal lift arms (36, 38, 40, 120), each of which is biased downwardly by an adjustable spring arrangement for better control and contact between the underlying turf and the cutting reels supported on the outer ends of |
| 5031875 |
Diaphragm seal |
July 16, 1991 |
| A fluid flow control valve has a diaphragm for sealing against a valve seat. The diaphragm includes two generally vertical annular lips extending upwardly and downwardly from a peripheral bead of the diaphragm. The bead is located at an interface between two mating portions of the valve |
| 5031840 |
Adjustable radius sprinkler nozzle |
July 16, 1991 |
| An adjustable arc sprinkler nozzle comprises a lower nozzle piece which is relatively rigid and an upper nozzle piece which is made of a relatively flexible, compressible material. A plurality of radial channels are provided in the upper nozzle piece for forming radial streams out of wat |
| 5027850 |
Debris arrestor for valve bleed hole |
July 2, 1991 |
| A fluid flow control valve has a diaphragm for sealing against a valve seat. The diaphragm includes a bleed hole for passing fluid from one side of the diaphragm to the other. A debris arrestor comprising a one-piece flexible tag is inserted into the bleed hole by deforming the tag to pa |
| 5007855 |
Cable connector |
April 16, 1991 |
| A cable connector for a low voltage electrical system. A preferred connector (22) includes a pair of electrically conductive jumper elements (62a, 62b) with a pair of spaced sharp protrusions (66) that are electrically connected. The preferred connector (22) includes a cap (52) consi |
| 5001611 |
Versatile light fixture |
March 19, 1991 |
| A deck light (20) including a post (22), cap (24) and lamp/lens assembly (26). Lamp/lens assembly (26) independently attaches to post (22) and cap (24) so that lamp/lens assembly (26) can be removed and separately attached to a deck member; or, alternatively, either post (22) or cap |
| 4970852 |
Grass catcher for reel mower |
November 20, 1990 |
| A grass catcher (40) for a reel mower (10). Catcher (40) includes a vent (94) which is offset relative to the longitudinal axis (55) of the catcher (40). Catcher (40) also preferably includes a panel (78a) which prevents air and grass from escaping catcher (40) on the side of catcher (40 |
| 4969320 |
A grass level checker for a grass catcher |
November 13, 1990 |
| A grass bagger (13) for a lawn tractor (14). The catcher (13) includes a hood (20) which directs grass clippings into a pair of bag assemblies (40). A grass checker (50), connected to hood (20), is used to check the level of accumulated grass beneath hood (20) to determine when it would |
| 4961534 |
Sprinkler nozzle module |
October 9, 1990 |
| A sprinkler (10, 10') including a riser assembly (14) and a removable nozzle module (34) operatively connected thereto. Nozzle module (34) includes a nozzle holder (36, 36') and a nozzle (38). Nozzle holder (36, 36') is accessible even when sprinkler (10) is buried and the riser asse |
| 4958483 |
Rope guide |
September 25, 1990 |
| A rope guide for the recoil starter rope of a power lawn mower, said rope guide being adapted for attachment to an extruded mower handle member having a substantially C-shaped configuration without drilling, cutting or otherwise deforming the handle member. The guide comprises a tubular |
| 4951449 |
Convertible lawn mower |
August 28, 1990 |
| A convertible mulching mower (10) including a housing (12) and chute (30). Chute (30) can be selectively blocked with a chute plug (32) to selectively put mower (10) in a mulching mode. Mounted beneath housing (12) is a plurality of kickers (72) which serve to deflect the grass clipp |
| 4951204 |
Irrigation controller having means for watering after failure in primary and back-up power suppl |
August 21, 1990 |
| An irrigation controller having means for insuring watering, even after a failure in its primary and back-up power supplies. During a failure in the primary supply, the back-up supply is examined to determine whether it, as well, suffered a failure. If it did not, watering takes place in |
| 4943917 |
Irrigation controller having multiple cancel modes invoked by depressing single key |
July 24, 1990 |
| An irrigation controller having multiple cancel modes invoked by depression of a single key. When no watering is taking place, a single depression of the key will cancel all watering scheduled to take place on the day the key is depressed. Two successive depressions of the key when no wa |
| 4930298 |
Cutting unit cover |
June 5, 1990 |
| A plastic cover for a rotary deck. A preferred cover (54a) is connected to a wing deck (28a) by magnetic latches and mechanical securing means. The magnetic latches preferably include magnets (69) connected to the deck and magnetic plates (66) fixed to the underside of the deck cover (54 |
| 4930047 |
Apparatus for interconnecting components of a power outlet strip |
May 29, 1990 |
| A power outlet device (10) including a plastic case (12); ground, neutral and hot conductive strips (30, 28, 26); and a printed circuit board assembly (54) connected to strips (30, 28, 26). The printed circuit board assembly (54), which could include a surge suppressing circuit, is c |
| 4911401 |
Valve having improved bleed assembly |
March 27, 1990 |
| An improved valve includes an inlet, an outlet and a valve seat. A flexible diaphragm assembly seals against the valve seat. A bleed assembly extends into a pressure chamber located above the diaphragm for bleeding fluid pressure out of the chamber, thereby opening the valve. The bleed a |
| 4909365 |
Freewheeling clutch and implement employing same |
March 20, 1990 |
| A bidirectional freewheeling clutch assembly (50) and a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower (10) including same are disclosed. Lawn mower (10) preferably includes a prime mover (18) which can be selectively coupled to a gear box (34). The output shaft (44) of gear box (34) extends to a |
| 4908968 |
Snowthrower with resilient impeller |
March 20, 1990 |
| A snowthrower (10) having an improved impeller (20). Impeller (20) preferably includes a central rotating shaft (34) which fixedly supports at either end thereof an end member (46) and rotatably supports proximate its center a center bracket (48) wherein elements (46) and (48) support |
| 4878340 |
Turf grooming reel |
November 7, 1989 |
| A grooming reel is carried on a greenmower between the front roller and the cutting reel. An improved adjustment unit is provided for changing the height of the grooming reel relative to the ground. The adjustment unit comprises an elongated rod connected to a support member on which the |
| 4870548 |
Convertible light fixture |
September 26, 1989 |
| A convertible light fixture (10) capable of selectively functioning as a spotlight or floodlight. A preferred light fixture (10) includes a ground stake (12) supporting a bulb/lens assembly (14). An electrical cable (16), protected by the preferred S-shaped ground stake (12), makes conta |
| 4864805 |
System for supporting a working unit |
September 12, 1989 |
| A hydraulic system (30) suitable for raising, lowering, floating and locking a cutting deck (16). Hydraulic circuit (30) preferably includes a back pressure system (40) for automatically, or manually, applying a preferred back pressure to hydraulic cylinders (24) to "float" decks (16). |
| 4854112 |
Turf maintenance apparatus |
August 8, 1989 |
| A rotary mower (10) including a front deck assembly (18) and a pair of wing decks (20). Each wing deck (20) is supported by a lift arm assembly including a main lift arm (26) and a lift arm extension (32). A pivot joint (30) exists between lift arms (26) and (32) so that when deck (20) |
| 4852051 |
Flexible irrigation controller |
July 25, 1989 |
| The present invention discloses a simplified solid state controller for flexible use in controlling many individual watering stations that make up an automatic irrigation system. The operator input panel provides switches the operator can use to initiate a number of parameterization logi |
| 4840312 |
Sprinkler nozzle module |
June 20, 1989 |
| A sprinkler (10) including a riser assembly (14) and a removable nozzle module (34) operatively connected thereto. Nozzle module (34) includes a nozzle holder (36) and a nozzle (38). Nozzle holder (36) is accessible even when sprinkler (10) is buried and the riser assembly (14) is co |
| 4829675 |
Electrical appliance and handle for same |
May 16, 1989 |
| An electrical appliance (10) including a motor assembly (12) and a switch assembly (14). A handle assembly (16) spans between the motor and switch assemblies (12 and 14, respectively). Lower handle (16a) includes a free end (22a) and upper handle (16b) includes a free end (22b). The free |
| 4815765 |
Adjustable steering assembly |
March 28, 1989 |
| An improved steering assembly 2 for a vehicle comprises a pivotal steering column 10 which supports a tiltable steering wheel 32. A locking rod 52 is secured to column 10 and a locking flange 60 to support assembly 32 for wheel 32. Rod 52 and flange 60 have slots received on a cross shaf |
| 4814961 |
Light fixture |
March 21, 1989 |
| A light fixture (10) including a bulb/lens assembly (12), a hollow post (14) and a ground stake (16). An assembly ring (18) having inner and outer "fingers" (104 and 106, respectively) securely connects the bulb/lens assembly (12) to the post (14). Bulb/lens assembly (12) includes a lens |
| 4807727 |
Method and apparatus for securing a torque applying device |
February 28, 1989 |
| Method and apparatus for securing an electric brake/clutch (14) against rotation relative to a stationary member (10). A preferred system includes an anti-rotation lever (26) attached to and extending from a brake/clutch housing (16). Anti-rotation lever (26) includes a flange (32) at it |
| 4799142 |
Irrigation controller |
January 17, 1989 |
| There is shown and described a relatively low cost irrigation controlling apparatus for controlling a plurality of watering or irrigating stations. These stations can be individually set to operate for prescribed time durations. Automatic or manual control is also possible. |
| 4785679 |
Starter motor pinion assembly |
November 22, 1988 |
| A pinion assembly (30) for an electrical starter motor (20) includes a metallic pinion nut (4) threadedly received on an output shaft (22) of motor (20). A first bushing (36) includes a radially extending annular flange (40) which is fixed to and covers nut (4) and a cylindrical axially |
| 4778175 |
Electronic control of resistance force for exercise machine |
October 18, 1988 |
| An improved electronic control system for an exercise machine of the type having electrically actuated brakes as the resistance force for the exercise. The accuracy of the system in terms of actual resistance force delivered by the machine compared with the user-selected value is improve |
| 4776587 |
Leg exercise machine |
October 11, 1988 |
| A leg exercise machine (10) for bilateral and unilateral leg exercising. Machine (10) preferably includes an electromagnetic brake unit (44) coupled to a side-mounted exercise arm (68) through a planetary drive assembly (51). A longitudinally-adjustable leg pad support (70) is slidab |
| 4774648 |
Low voltage light fixture |
September 27, 1988 |
| A low voltage light fixture (10) including a bulb/lens assembly (12) mounted atop an integral post/stake assembly (14). Post/stake assembly (14) includes a hollow tubular portion (20) and a ground stake portion (22). A preferred post/stake assembly (14) is formed from a single piece |
