Gary L Gillins

US Patent:

62235109, May 1, 2001

Filed:

Jun 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/327923

Inventors:

Gary L. Gillins - Blackfoot ID
Jason D. Gillins - Blackfoot ID
John Pruett - Blackfoot ID

International Classification:

A01D 3424
A01D 3442
A01D 3463

US Classification:

56 151

Abstract:

A power drive riding type lawn mower having a manual and automatic lateral/angular movement of the mower deck to provide an object tracing capability. The tracer mower deck arrangement enables moving the deck horizontally and laterally in a direction perpendicular to the frame of the mower and at an angle with respect to the mower frame. A manual lever moves the mower deck transversely and laterally with respect to the mower frame, while an automatic deck positioning lever has numerous transverse positions and once set in a position, the mower deck can be moved laterally and angularly automatically by contact with an object and then returned to that set position. Also, a deck movement override mechanism provides an added safety feature which enables the mower deck to be secured and the automatic trace feature disabled. The mower deck is attached through a pivoted T-bar mechanism controlled by cables to the manual and automatic control levers, and enables the mower deck to move both laterally and at an angle with respect to the mower frame to trace around objects in the mowing path or to trace around square corners.