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EP-4245113-B1 - LAWNMOWERS AND ASSOCIATED FEATURES

EP4245113B1EP 4245113 B1EP4245113 B1EP 4245113B1EP-4245113-B1

Inventors

  • MCCAMMON, Max
  • TORRISI, Greg
  • LAMBERT, MATT

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230314

Claims (14)

  1. A lawnmower (100) comprising: a frame (104); a mower deck (114) housing one or more cutting implements, the mower deck (114) being coupled to the frame (104); a bagging system (204) coupled to the frame (104), the bagging system (204) comprising: a bagging frame (200) removably coupled to the frame (104), wherein the bagging frame (200) comprises a first section (210) statically coupled relative to the frame (104) and a second section (212) configured to move relative to the first section (210) of the bagging frame (200), and wherein the first and second sections (210, 212) of the bagging frame (200) are moveably coupled together through a pivot point (215) and releasably coupled together through a release mechanism (230); a handle (220) coupled to the second section (212) of the bagging frame (200); and a bag (238) supported by the bagging frame (200), characterised in that the release mechanism (230) comprises a magnetic interface, the magnetic interface comprising: a striker plate (232) coupled to one of the first or second sections (210, 212); and a magnet (234) coupled to the other of the first or second sections (210, 212), wherein the pivotal movement of the second section (212) relative to the first section (210) causes the magnetic interface to lock and unlock.
  2. The lawnmower (100) of claim 1, wherein the handle (220) extends from the second section (212) of the bagging frame (200) in a forward direction of the lawnmower (100).
  3. The lawnmower (100) of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the bagging frame (200) defines a forwardmost end (222), and wherein the handle (220) extends past the forwardmost end (222) of the bagging frame (200).
  4. The lawnmower (100) of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bag (238) comprises an open end (240), and wherein the open end (240) of the bag (238) is selectively covered by a door (202).
  5. The lawnmower (100) of claim 4, wherein the door (202) is coupled to the second section (212) of the bagging frame (200) such that the door (202) moves from a closed position to an open position when an operator moves the handle (220) to an emptying position.
  6. The lawnmower (100) of any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the open end (240) of the bag (238) is disposed at a bottom side of the bagging system (204) when the bagging system (204) is coupled to the frame (104), and when the lawnmower (100) traverses an underlying flat ground surface, the door (202) is disposed at a relative angle of at least 10° with respect to the underlying flat ground surface when the door (202) is in the closed position.
  7. The lawnmower (100) of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the door (202) is configured to swing along an arc between the closed position and an open position.
  8. The lawnmower (100) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the release mechanism (230) is configured to restrain movement of the second section (212) of the bagging frame (200) relative to the first section (210) of the bagging frame (200).
  9. The lawnmower (100) of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the second section (212) of the bagging frame (200) is pivotally coupled to the first section (210) of the bagging frame (200) at a first vertical elevation above an open end (240) of the bag (238), and wherein the handle (220) is coupled to the second section (212) of the bagging frame (200) at a second vertical elevation above the first vertical elevation.
  10. The lawnmower (100) of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the bag (238) comprises: an engagement element (242) coupled to the first section (210) of the bagging frame (200); and a strap (244) disposed along an outside of the bag (238), the strap (244) being operatively coupled to the engagement element (242), wherein the strap (244) is couplable to the second section (212) of the bagging frame (200) and allows an operator to tighten the second section (212) of the bagging frame (200) relative to the first section (210) of the bagging frame (200).
  11. The lawnmower (100) of claim 10, wherein the engagement element (242) comprises a hook coupled to an inside (248) of the bag (238), wherein the strap (244) is coupled to the bag (238) at an outside location (250) of the bag (238) at a location proximate to the hook, and wherein the strap (244) is configured to extend around a portion of the second section (212) of the bagging frame (200).
  12. The lawnmower (100) of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the bagging system (204) is removable from the lawnmower (100) without removing any portion of the bag (238) from the bagging frame (200).
  13. The lawnmower (100) of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the second section (212) of the bagging frame (200) extends around the first section (210) of the bagging frame (200).
  14. The lawnmower (100) of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the bag (238) comprises a fabric, and wherein the bagging frame (200) comprises at least one of a metal, an alloy, a composite, or a plastic.

Description

FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to lawnmowers and more particularly to bagging systems for lawnmowers. BACKGROUND Lawnmowers are generally utilized to cut grass and pick up debris from a workspace. During cutting operations, or during separate collecting operations, clippings and/or debris is collected by the lawnmower. More particularly, clippings and/or debris are collected by a bagging system of the lawnmower. Bagging systems are typically coupled to the lawnmower and receive clippings and/or debris from a chute operatively coupled with a work interface, e.g., cutting blades, of the lawnmower. It is often difficult for operators to access the bagging system, e.g., when riding on a riding lawnmower, to facilitate operational aspects thereof. For example, operators typically have to dismount the lawnmower in order to empty the bagging system. The operator must then remount the lawnmower to resume mowing. Accordingly, improved lawnmowers and lawnmower bagging systems are desired in the art. In particular, bagging systems which provide easier operational functionality would be advantageous. US patent application publication no. 4,156,337 describes a pivotably mounted grass catcher for a riding mower comprising a stationary subassembly adapted to be secured to the rear of the ride-on vehicle and a bag support frame mounted for pivotal movement on the stationary subassembly. A handle mounted on the bag support frame permits the operator to pivotally swing the bag support frame and the grass collector bag carried thereby to a dumping position about the pivotal support for the frame. BRIEF DESCRIPTION Aspects and advantages of the invention in accordance with the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology. In accordance with one embodiment, a lawnmower is provided. The lawnmower includes a frame; a mower deck housing one or more cutting implements, the mower deck being coupled to the frame; a bagging system coupled to the frame, the bagging system comprising: a bagging frame removably coupled to the frame, wherein the bagging frame comprises a first section statically coupled relative to the frame and a second section configured to move relative to the first section of the bagging frame, and wherein the first and second sections of the bagging frame are removably coupled together through a pivot point and releasably coupled together through a release mechanism; a handle coupled to the second section of the bagging frame; and a bag supported by the bagging frame, wherein the release mechanism comprises a magnetic interface, the magnetic interface comprising: a striker plate coupled to the one of the first or second sections; and a magnet coupled to the other of the first or second sections, wherein the pivotal movement of the second section relative to the first section causes the magnetic interface to lock and unlock. These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the technology. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode of making and using the present systems and methods, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lawnmower in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bagging frame of a bagging system for a lawnmower in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG. 3 is an enlarged view as seen in Circle A in FIG. 2 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a release mechanism associated with a bagging system of a lawnmower in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG. 5 is a side view of a bagging system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG. 6 is a side view of the bagging system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG. 7 is a partial view of a portion of a bagging system as seen from a lower lateral side of the bagging system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG. 8 is a partial view of an internal portion of the bagging system including an engagement element in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;FIG. 9 is a rear view of the lawnmower in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; andFIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of the lawnmower in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference now