Ricky Wynn

US Patent:

53556666, Oct 18, 1994

Filed:

Aug 25, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/111476

Inventors:

Orville R. McDonner - Brandon MS
James C. Welch - Clinton MS
Troy Berry - Crystal Springs MS
John C. Sharp - Clinton MS
Ricky J. Wynn - Madison MS

Assignee:

Yazoo Manufacturing Company - Jackson MI

International Classification:

A01D 7500

US Classification:

56255

Abstract:

A mulching rotary lawn mower that cuts and returns grass clippings to a lawn wherein the proportion of grass clippings that are finely cut by the rotating cutter blade can be selectively increased or decreased by provision of a collection chamber at the rear of the housing containing the rotating cutter blade, the collection chamber having a mulcher plate with a plurality of openings which can be pivoted from a substantially vertical position wherein the plate is tangential to the circle described by the cutting tips of the blade or moved rearwardly about a 45. degree. angle, thus effectively enlarging the collection chamber while closing the openings therein, so that a greater proportion of the grass clippings cut by the blade are received in the collection chamber, but which clippings, on the average, have been cut a lesser number of times and therefore are coarser than when the plate is in the vertical position. The position of the mulching plate is controlled by a handle readily available to the operator. In the coarser mode, the clippings are less likely to clog the air flow which recirculates clippings and this mode is intended particularly for lawns which are wet or the grass has grown unusually high.