Mowing equipment

Abstract

A grass cutting apparatus is presented herein comprising: an electric motor; a grass cutting deck defining: a deck front and a deck rear, a deck right side and a deck left side, a deck top and a deck bottom, an inner surface about a first axis, and a sagittal plane extending through the first axis between the deck right side and the deck left side, a coronal plane extending through the first axis between the deck front and the deck rear; a blade mount; a first elongate blade: fixedly engaged with the blade mount to define a first blade path boundary having a rear half behind the coronal plane, and operable to cut a mowable material to produce a mow; wherein a rear surface has one or more features adapted to change an airflow to increase an ejection rate of the mow as distance in an operational direction along the rear half of the first blade path boundary increases.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 410,328, filed September 27, 2022; and this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 429,536, filed December 1, 2022, which are hereby incorporated in their entirety. Furthermore, the following are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and for all purposes: U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 700,255, filed March 21, 2022, entitled “BAGGING APPARATUS FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY LAWN MAINTENANCE TOOL”; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 163,386, filed March 19, 2021; U.S. Patent No. 10,212,880, published February 26, 2019, entitled “HIGH EFFICIENCY CUTTING SYSTEM”; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 214,547, filed June 24, 2021, entitled “FOLDABLE HANDLES FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY TURF MAINTENANCE TOOL”. Technical Field

[0003] The disclosed subject matter relates to an electric walk-behind power equipment device with a mowing platform and a cutting system, which improves cutting efficiency and reduces power consumption of the power equipment device. Background Technology

[0004] Manufacturers of electrical equipment for outdoor maintenance applications offer a wide variety of machines for general maintenance and lawn mowing. These machines can come in various forms, depending on the application, ranging from general urban or suburban lawn maintenance, rural farm and field maintenance to professional applications. Even within professional applications, there can be significant differences. For example, a lawnmower designed for sporting events requiring moderately precise turf (such as football fields or baseball outfields) may not be suitable for events requiring very high-precision surfaces, such as golf course greens or tennis courts.

[0005] Modern maintenance machines also offer a variety of power source options. The various advantages associated with electric motors, gasoline engines, natural gas engines, diesel engines, etc., also influence the mechanical design and engineering of these different maintenance equipment. Meeting the various challenges associated with different maintenance and lawn mowing applications, as well as the benefits and limitations of different power sources, has led to a wide variety of maintenance machines catering to consumer preferences. Utility Model Content

[0006] The following is a simplified overview to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of this disclosure. This overview is not a comprehensive summary of this disclosure. It is not intended to identify key / important elements or to depict the scope of this disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of this disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that follows.

[0007] Various embodiments of this disclosure provide an efficient turf maintenance apparatus with low power consumption and good cutting performance, even in thick turf. A bagging apparatus for collecting turf trimmings is provided in various embodiments. A blade configuration is disclosed for cutting vegetation at a defined height and advancing the turf trimmings from within the mower head into the bagging apparatus. In some embodiments, the blade configuration can be implemented with minimal impact on power consumption, allowing the bagging apparatus to be used with an electric motor power supply with little or no impact on battery life. In other embodiments, a blade configuration suitable for improving turf discharge and optimal bagging can be provided. Later embodiments may incorporate lifting blades within the blade configuration, increasing airflow, lifting, or both of the turf trimmings within the mower head, or the blade configuration may be driven at a higher revolutions per minute (RPM), or a suitable combination of the foregoing may be provided for the disclosed turf maintenance apparatus.

[0008] In one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a lawn mowing apparatus is disclosed. The lawn mowing apparatus may include a plurality of front wheels and a plurality of rear wheels, a mowing platform, and a blade assembly fixed to the mowing platform and to a plurality of blades. Furthermore, the blade assembly may be configured to drive movement of the plurality of blades within the mowing platform in response to forces applied to the blade assembly and the plurality of blades, including more than two blades. Additionally, the lawn mowing apparatus may include an electric motor coupled to the blade assembly and configured to supply force to the blade assembly, and a rechargeable battery for supplying power to the electric motor. Additionally, the lawn mowing apparatus may include a discharge opening defined in a rearward side portion of the mowing platform, wherein the discharge opening has a front edge at the far right rear of the mowing platform and a rear edge near the far rear side of the mowing platform. Further, the lawn mowing apparatus may include a discharge trench body having a discharge trench inlet and a discharge trench outlet, wherein the discharge trench inlet of the discharge trench body is fluidly connected to the discharge opening defined in the mowing platform, such that air and trimming material inside the mowing platform enter the discharge trench body from the discharge opening and the discharge trench inlet, and exit the discharge trench body through the discharge trench outlet.

[0009] In another disclosed embodiment, a mowing table for a walk-behind power device is provided. The mowing table may include a front, rear, and side portion, and may include multiple frame mounts at the rear portion for securing the mowing table to a frame and the discharge body of the walk-behind power device. In one or more aspects, the mowing table may include a central portion defining an opening through a surface of the mowing table and having a seat for supporting a blade assembly and an electric motor, as well as one or more mounts for securing the blade assembly and the electric motor to the mowing table. It may also include a discharge opening defining a second opening through a surface of the mowing table near its periphery and between the rear and side portions, wherein the discharge opening is fluidly coupled to a discharge body input end of the discharge body of the walk-behind power device. Furthermore, the mowing table may include a turf guide structure extending from the side portion toward the front and defining a forward-facing surface having a first edge that extends substantially over the entire extent of the side portion. Furthermore, the mowing platform may include a second turf guide structure extending forward from a second side located on the side opposite to the side of the mowing platform and defining a second forward-facing surface having a second edge that extends substantially across the entire extent of the second side, wherein the distance across the front of the mowing platform from the first edge to the second edge is substantially equal to the entire width of the mowing platform.

[0010] Various embodiments of this disclosure provide an efficient turf maintenance apparatus with low power consumption and good cutting performance. Aspects of the disclosed embodiments provide a mower bed interior that helps improve the dispersion of turf trimmings from within the mower bed and reduces or prevents clumping of turf trimmings exiting the mower bed. In some aspects, the interior height of the mower bed can be increased on its discharge side to enhance the flow of trimmings into the discharge groove of the mower bed. When inserted into the discharge groove, the inner surface of the cover plug can distribute turf trimmings along the rear portion of the mower bed to span the rear portion of the mower bed. Additionally, in other aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a rear surface of the mower bed can be provided that promotes increased uniformity in the distribution of turf trimmings from the mower bed.

[0011] One or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments provide a lawn mowing apparatus. The lawn mowing apparatus may include a plurality of front wheels and a plurality of rear wheels, and a mowing platform including a rear inner surface having an asymmetrical length portion or an asymmetrical height portion relative to the centerline of the mowing platform. Furthermore, the lawn mowing apparatus may include a cutting system including a plurality of blades rotatable within the mowing platform in response to force. Further, the lawn mowing apparatus may include an electric motor and a rechargeable battery, the electric motor being coupled to the cutting system and configured to provide force to rotate the plurality of blades, the rechargeable battery being used to provide power to the electric motor. In addition to the above, the lawn mowing apparatus may include a discharge opening defined in a rearward side portion of the mowing platform, wherein the discharge opening has a front edge at the far right rear of the mowing platform and a rear edge near the far rear side of the mowing platform, the far right and far rear sides being defined relative to an operator position at the rear of the lawn mowing apparatus. In one or more additional aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the mowing equipment may include a discharge trench body having a discharge trench inlet fluidly connected to a discharge opening defined in a mowing table, and a cover plug configured to conformally fit within the discharge trench inlet and having an inner surface of a cover plug configured to prevent turf trimmings from entering the discharge trench body through the discharge opening.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of this disclosure, a cover plug for a discharge groove in a walk-behind power device is provided. The cover plug may include an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface having a surface edge conformally fitted to the periphery of a discharge opening in the mower head of the walk-behind power device, and the outer surface including an operator's handle, wherein the discharge groove defines an access opening located within the discharge body adjacent to the discharge opening in the mower head. In other aspects, the cover plug may include a discharge extension surface extending from an edge of the outer surface and conformally fitted to the surface of the discharge groove, having a length dimension approximately equal to the depth of the discharge groove through the discharge body. Furthermore, the cover plug may include a sleeve surface located at an end of the bottom surface opposite the outer surface, the sleeve surface sitting on a rear surface of the discharge body and preventing the inner surface of the cover plug from extending through the discharge opening in the mower head.

[0013] To achieve the foregoing and related objectives, certain illustrative aspects of this disclosure have been described herein in conjunction with the following description and accompanying drawings. However, these aspects merely indicate some of the various ways in which the principles of this disclosure may be employed, and this subject matter disclosure is intended to encompass all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and features of this disclosure will become apparent when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, based on the following detailed description. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 Exemplary electrically operated hand-held outdoor maintenance equipment is provided according to one or more aspects of this disclosure.

[0015] Figure 1A An exemplary electrically operated hand-held maintenance device with a discharge groove and bagging equipment according to a further embodiment is shown.

[0016] Figure 2 A top view of an exemplary, efficient hand-held lawnmower is shown according to other aspects of this disclosure.

[0017] Figure 3 A top view of an exemplary lawn mowing table for an exemplary efficient hand-held lawn mowing device is depicted in a further aspect.

[0018] Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 The top perspective view of an exemplary lawn mower table illustrates other aspects of this disclosure.

[0019] Figure 5 Depicting other aspects of this disclosure Figure 3 A bottom view of an exemplary lawn mowing table.

[0020] Figure 6 A bottom perspective view depicts an exemplary lawn mower table that includes an exemplary cutting system for cutting vegetation.

[0021] Figure 7A and 7B A side view of an example lawn mower and cutting system according to one or more other aspects of this disclosure is shown.

[0022] Figure 7C and 7D Close-up views of the front and rear of an example lawn mower according to further aspects of this disclosure are depicted.

[0023] Figure 8 A bottom perspective view of an exemplary lawn mower table of a hand-held maintenance device according to another aspect of this disclosure is shown.

[0024] Figure 9 A top perspective view of the sample mowing platform and discharge plug, based on further disclosed aspects, is depicted.

[0025] Figure 10 Images of discharge plugs in various embodiments of this disclosure are provided.

[0026] Figure 11 An image depicting a rear view of the body of an exemplary outdoor maintenance equipment discharge trench in a further aspect.

[0027] Figure 12 Another image showing a rear view of the body of an exemplary outdoor maintenance equipment drainage trench.

[0028] Figure 13 An image depicts a discharge trench connected to the body of an example outdoor maintenance equipment in a further embodiment.

[0029] Figure 14 A bottom view of the drainage ditch and lawn mowing platform of an example outdoor maintenance equipment in one aspect of the disclosed embodiment is shown.

[0030] Figure 15 An example geometric relationship for an example drainage trench is depicted according to one or more aspects of this disclosure.

[0031] Figure 15A One or more aspects disclosed herein are shown. Figure 15 Example dimensions of the discharge trench.

[0032] Figure 16 The underside of the lawn mowing platform of an electric hand-held maintenance device according to a further embodiment is shown.

[0033] Figure 17 A close-up view of a rear bumper attachment, which contributes to the even distribution of turf trimmings from the mower, is depicted in another aspect of this disclosure.

[0034] Figure 18 A rear surface of a mower table, shaped according to a rear bumper attachment, is shown in another embodiment, which facilitates the even distribution of turf trimmings.

[0035] Figure 19 A side perspective view of the rear surface of a lawn mower according to a further embodiment is depicted.

[0036] Figure 20 The minimum blade displacement of the rear surface of the mowing table in another embodiment is depicted.

[0037] Figure 21 A side perspective view depicting the minimum blade displacement on the rear surface of the mowing table.

[0038] Figure 22 The maximum blade displacement of the rear surface of the mowing table according to a further embodiment is shown.

[0039] Figure 23 A side perspective view depicting the maximum blade displacement in other disclosed embodiments is shown.

[0040] Figure 24 The inner surface of the cover plug of the discharge trench according to one or more additional embodiments of the present disclosure is shown.

[0041] Figure 25A side perspective view of the inner surface of the cover plug is depicted in a further disclosed aspect.

[0042] Figure 26 A front interior view of a mower and cover plug according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted.

[0043] Figure 27 A front interior view of the turf trimming distribution path at the discharge and trimming sides of the mowing table is shown in other embodiments.

[0044] Figure 28 An exemplary cover plug for a discharge groove for the disclosed maintenance equipment is depicted in one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments.

[0045] Figure 29 The assembly of the discharge body and discharge opening into the mower according to other aspects disclosed herein is shown. Figure 9 An example cover plug.

[0046] Figure 30 The corresponding mowing platform heights for the discharge side and the trimming or mulching side of the mowing platform are shown in other aspects of this disclosure.

[0047] Figure 31 A top view of the lawn mower and the variation in the interior height of the lawn mower are depicted in another embodiment.

[0048] Figure 32 This is a view of one embodiment of the drainage trench.

[0049] Figure 33 It is the underside of the lawn mowing platform of an electric hand-held maintenance device according to one embodiment.

[0050] Figure 34 yes Figure 33 A close-up view of the underside of the lawnmower.

[0051] Figure 35 yes Figure 33 Another close-up view of the underside of the lawnmower.

[0052] Figure 36 yes Figure 33 The underside of the mowing table, where the blade assembly is in different orientations.

[0053] Figure 37 yes Figure 36 A close-up view of the underside of the lawnmower.

[0054] Figure 38 yes Figure 36 Another close-up view of the underside of the lawnmower.

[0055] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are schematic and not drawn to scale. For clarity and convenience in the drawings, the relative dimensions and proportions of the components have been enlarged or reduced. The same reference numerals may be used to refer to corresponding or similar features in different embodiments, unless it is clear from the context that the same reference numerals refer to different features. Therefore, the drawings and descriptions are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive in nature.

[0056] While embodiments of this disclosure relating to efficient working housings and discharge components for power equipment machines are described herein, it should be understood that the disclosed machines, components, attachments, etc., are not limited thereto and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. The scope of the disclosed power equipment machines, components, and attachments is defined by the appended claims, and all means, processes, and methods that literally or equivalently fall within the meaning of the claims are intended to be included therein. Detailed Implementation

[0057] The following terms are used throughout this specification, and their definitions are provided herein to aid in understanding various aspects of this disclosure.

[0058] As used in this application, the terms “outdoor power equipment,” “outdoor power equipment machine,” “power equipment,” “maintenance machine,” and “power equipment machine” are used interchangeably and are intended to refer to any of the following multi-functional variations: robotic, partially robotic riding, hand-held, two-wheeled carriage-equipped, autonomous, semi-autonomous (e.g., user-assisted automation), remotely controlled, or any of the following: motorized vehicles and wheelbarrows, lawn mowers, lawn and garden tractors, lawn trimmers, lawn edgers, lawn and leaf blowers or sweepers, hedge trimmers, pruning machines, tree shears, chainsaws, rakes, pole saws, tillers, tractors, sanders, log splitters, stake diggers, trenchers, stump grinders, snow blowers (or any other snow or ice cleaning or removal tools), lawn, wood, and leaf shredders and chippers, lawn and / or leaf vacuum cleaners, pressure washers, lawn equipment, garden equipment, driveway sprayers and pavers, and sports field marking equipment.

[0059] As used herein, relative terms or degree terms, such as approximately, substantially, or similar relative terms, such as about, roughly, etc., are intended to combine the range and variation of qualified terms that a person of ordinary skill in the art would reasonably encounter in making or compiling the embodiments disclosed herein, without further explicit description. For example, a relative term may refer to a range of manufacturing tolerances associated with suitable manufacturing equipment (e.g., injection molding equipment, extrusion equipment, metal stamping equipment, etc.) for realizing a mechanical structure according to the disclosed illustrations or descriptions. In some embodiments, depending on the context and the capabilities of a person of ordinary skill in the art, a relative term may refer to a variation of the disclosed value or characteristic, such as a variation of 0% to 5% or 0% to 10% of a precisely mathematically defined value or characteristic, or any suitable value or range therebetween that may define the range of the disclosed degree terms. As an example, the walk-behind lawnmower 100 may have internal dimensions of the mowing platform: for example, the disclosed sidewall angles of the mowing platform may vary from 0% to 5% or from 0% to 10%; as those skilled in the art will understand, the disclosed mechanical dimensions may have variations in suitable manufacturing tolerances, or variations of some to several percentage points with respect to the disclosed mechanical dimensions, which will also achieve the purpose or function of the disclosed mechanical dimensions. These or similar variations may be applied in other contexts in which degree terms are used herein, such as the relative positions of the disclosed elements, the speed of the disclosed motor in revolutions per minute (or other suitable measure), the measurement accuracy of physical effects (e.g., relative torque output, relative electrical power consumption, relative motor speed, etc.).

[0060] Figure 1 Images of an example walk-behind lawnmower 100 according to aspects of this disclosure are provided. The walk-behind lawnmower 100 may have a power source to drive the implements of the walk-behind lawnmower 100, and in some embodiments, the rear wheel 102, front wheel 104, or both rear wheel 102 and front wheel 104 of the walk-behind lawnmower 100 are driven. The power source may be an electric lawnmower according to various embodiments, but this subject matter disclosure is not limited thereto, and in at least some disclosed embodiments, the power source of the walk-behind lawnmower 100 may be an internal combustion engine, such as a gasoline engine, a natural gas engine, etc., or it may be a hydraulic engine, a pneumatic engine, etc. In electric embodiments, the power source of the walk-behind lawnmower 100 may have one or more electric motors for driving the blade assembly of the walk-behind lawnmower 100, and may optionally drive the front wheel 104, rear wheel 102, or both front wheel 104 and rear wheel 102 to facilitate the powered movement of the walk-behind lawnmower 100.

[0061] The lawnmower body 110 may house a power source (e.g., an engine, motor, etc.), a battery as in the electric lawnmower embodiment, and a blade assembly. One or more blades are housed on the underside of the walk-behind lawnmower 110 for cutting vegetation below the lawnmower body 110. Cuttings from the vegetation (also referred to herein as turf trimmings) can be discharged from the lawnmower body 110 through a discharge opening. Figure 1 The lawnmower body 110 is depicted on the right side in the illustration, but in other embodiments shown herein, see, for example, below. Figure 2-6 (etc., can be located at different positions on the lawnmower body 110). In some embodiments, bagging equipment (not shown, but see below) Figure 1A This can be connected to a drain opening to collect turf mower in a container. In other embodiments, the drain opening can be closed to prevent turf mower from being discharged through it (see, for example, below). Figure 9 and Figure 11 (etc.). In these later embodiments, referred to as the covered operation mode, the turf trimmings can be held under the lawnmower body 110 and cut into small pieces multiple times by the blades. These pieces can fall onto the ground below the lawnmower body 110 or be ejected from the covered ejection port (e.g., see below). Figure 8 () or dispersed along the rear part of the lawnmower body 110, or some combination thereof.

[0062] The walk-behind lawnmower 100 includes a set of operator handles 120, which are secured at a first end to the lawnmower body 110. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the operator handles 120 enable an operator to guide or push the lawnmower body 110 and the front wheel 102 and rear wheel 104, and may be foldable and extendable for compact storage when not in use and for effective control of the walk-behind lawnmower 100 when in use (e.g., see above-mentioned U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 214,547, which is incorporated herein by reference). In aspects of such embodiments, the operator handles 120 may be configured to lock in a fully folded position and separately lock in a fully extended position.

[0063] At the second end of the operator handle 120 is an operator grip 126. An operator presence control (OPC) loop cable may be provided and configured to control the activation (and deactivation) of the power source of the walk-behind lawnmower 100. As an example of controlling the activation and deactivation of the power source, the OPC loop cable may be coupled to an electric switch that enables or disables power to the power source of the walk-behind lawnmower 100. Other examples of power activation / deactivation via OPC devices known in the art, or other examples reasonably conveyed to a person of ordinary skill in the art by the context provided herein, are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure.

[0064] Figure 1A Images of an example walk-behind lawnmower 100A according to other aspects of this disclosure are depicted. The walk-behind lawnmower 100A is shown in bagging operation mode, having a bagging device 130A coupled to the lawnmower body 110A. The lawnmower body 110A includes a mowing table having a discharge opening oriented to the right rear side of the mowing table (viewed from the operator's perspective, above and behind the rear wheel 102A of the walk-behind lawnmower 100A). A discharge groove 132A of the bagging device 130A is fluidly coupled to the discharge opening of the mowing table and conveys the turf trimmings output from the discharge opening to a bag 132A, where the turf trimmings can be collected.

[0065] Motor and battery housing 115A provides a cover for the electric motor attached to the lawnmower body 110A and optionally a cover for the rechargeable battery that supplies power to the electric motor. A foldable and extendable operator handle 120A is shown in its fully extended position. An operator grip 126A is provided to allow the operator to control the lawnmower body 110A (including rear wheel 102A and front wheel 104A) to move and guide the walk-behind lawnmower 100A. Control lateral member 124A may include an OPC mechanism (not shown) to control the start / stop of the electric motor of the walk-behind lawnmower 100A. In response to the state or condition of the OPC mechanism, a signal generated by the OPC mechanism may be transmitted via connector 128A to a motor controller (not shown) or to the electric motor to activate / deactivate the electric motor. Other examples of activating / deactivating power via OPC devices known in the art, or other examples reasonably conveyed to a person skilled in the art by the context provided herein, are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure. The supporting transverse member 122A facilitates the folding / extendable operator handle 120A so that the upper portion folds into its lower portion and vice versa. The supporting transverse member 122A also provides enhanced structural support for the folding / extendable operator handle 120A in both the fully extended and fully folded positions.

[0066] Figure 2 An example outdoor maintenance kit is shown, implemented as a walk-behind high-efficiency (HE) electric lawnmower 200. In some embodiments, the HE electric lawnmower 200 may have relatively low power consumption, allowing only small to medium battery size but with good uptime. For example, it utilizes four cutting blades (not shown, but see below) on a 21-inch radius mowing table 210. Figure 6In the case of an electric motor operating in air at approximately 2300 to 2500 revolutions per minute (rpm) (e.g., not cutting grass, therefore there is no friction or mechanical resistance on the blade assembly 130 other than air), in at least some of the disclosed embodiments, the HE electric lawnmower 200 can consume less than 150 watts (W) of power. More importantly, the HE electric lawnmower 200 can significantly outperform comparable electric lawnmowers in resisting the resistance associated with cutting vegetation. For example, in a proprietary metric of turf difficulty, which rates turf cutting resistance as a percentile of difficulty, the power consumption of the HE electric lawnmower 200 at the 20th percentile of grass difficulty can be approximately 400W or less, while comparable electric lawnmowers consume well over 600W at the same 20th percentile of grass difficulty. At the 40th percentile of grass difficulty, the HE electric lawnmower 200 can consume approximately 400W to 600W, while comparable lawnmowers consume approximately 900W or more. Furthermore, at the 60th percentile of grass difficulty, the HE Electric Lawn Mower 200 consumes approximately 600W, while comparable electric lawn mowers consume well over 900W. This comparison with common grass difficulty metrics demonstrates the significant efficiency of the HE Electric Lawn Mower 200, enabling a smaller battery while still achieving longer runtime than comparable machines.

[0067] Figure 2 A top view of an HE electric lawnmower 200 is provided. The HE electric lawnmower 200 includes a mowing head 210 and an electric motor, rechargeable battery, and blade assembly located below a motor cover 215. A discharge trench body 238 is coupled to the rear of the mowing head 210 and has a discharge trench 230 fluidly coupled to a discharge opening in the mowing head 210. The discharge trench body 238 includes a discharge trench outlet 235 and bagging equipment (e.g., as described above). Figure 1A ) or side-rear steering (for example, see below) Figure 13-15 It can be connected to the discharge trench output 235. The discharge trench 230 guides the turf trimmings from the mower head 210 to the discharge trench output 235, which can be redirected by a side-rear deflector or collected by a bagging device. In some embodiments, a discharge trench plug can be inserted into the discharge trench output 235 to block the discharge opening in the mower head 210, thereby implementing a covered operation mode of the HE electric lawnmower 200.

[0068] The HE electric lawnmower 200 may also include a single-point platform lift 240 for raising and lowering the platform height of the HE electric lawnmower 200. Front and rear lift frame members 242 mechanically connect the height of the front wheel 104 to the height of the rear wheel 102. A lift offset member 244 may be connected to the front and rear lift frames 242 to provide mechanical force to resist the weight of the HE electric lawnmower 200 and reduce the force required to raise the height of the lawnmower 210. Additionally, left and right lifting frame members (not shown) located below (or inside) the discharge trench body 238 connect the left side of the HE electric lawnmower 200 to the height setting established at the single-point platform lift 240 on the right side of the electric HE lawnmower 200. Therefore, the single-point platform lift 240 allows the operator to typically raise the platform height of the electric lawnmower 200 from a single actuator.

[0069] The mower 210 includes one or more crease turf guides 252, 254 formed in the front portion of the mower 210. The crease turf guide 252 extends from the leftmost side of the mower 210 toward the front edge of the mower 210 and has a forward-facing crease surface. Similarly, the turf guide 254 extends from the rightmost side of the mower 210 toward the front edge of the mower 210 and has a second forward-facing crease surface. The forward crease surface of the crease turf guide 252 is configured to guide grass blades and other vegetation interacting with the forward crease surface inward from the periphery of the mower 210 for cutting by blades within the underside of the mower 210. This provides the benefit of achieving full periphery coverage of the mower 210 when cutting grass / vegetation. In addition, the creases in the front-facing crease surface can hold grass blades / vegetation from the periphery of the mower 210 inwards in thicker grass or vegetation, achieving full periphery coverage of the mower 210 when cutting higher density or thicker grass / vegetation.

[0070] Figure 3 A top view 300 of the HE lawn mower 310 according to other aspects of this disclosure is shown. In various aspects, such as Figure 3 The HE lawnmower 210 shown can be used with Figure 2 The lawnmower 210 is identical to the one described below, but incorporates additional features and characteristics. In at least some aspects, such as Figure 3 The lawn mower 210 shown may be at least partially different from the lawn mowers described elsewhere in this document.

[0071] As shown, the HE mower 210 is illustrated with a front portion 304 and a rear portion 306, as indicated by the corresponding arrows. The HE mower 210 includes a central portion 312 defining an opening through which the blade assembly can be positioned. The blade assembly is coupled to a motor driver of an electric motor, and the electric motor and blade assembly can be positioned on a motor and blade driver housing 314. A set of motor mounts 316 is provided to secure the electric motor and blade assembly to the motor and blade driver housing 314 and the HE mower 210.

[0072] A frame mount 320 is disposed at the rear 306 of the HE mower 210 to secure the HE mower 210 to the frame of a walk-behind lawnmower (e.g., 100, 100A, 200, etc.). The HE mower 210 defines a discharge opening 330 having a front edge 332 closest to the front 304 and a rear edge 334 closest to the rear 306. In various aspects, the front edge 332 may be located behind a centerline 316 passing through the center of the HE mower 210 (e.g., see below). Figure 5 This distinguishes the front portion 304 from the rear portion 306. In another aspect, the rear edge 334 may be near or in front of the last point on the periphery of the HE mower 210. The last point of the HE mower 210 may coincide with a line perpendicular to the centerline 316, which separates the right and left sides of the HE mower 210 (not shown, but see below). Figure 5 ).

[0073] The crease guide 252 is shown as separate from other components of the mower equipment to which the HE mower table 210 is fixed. As a result, the geometry of the crease guide 252 is... Figure 3 More clearly, the crease turf guide 252 is integrally formed with the HE mower 210 as an inherent element of the HE mower 210. Furthermore, the crease turf guide 252 has a forward-facing surface (in the direction of the arrow at the front 304) that is not smooth but has creases, curls, or other irregular, non-flat surfaces, which cause grass or other vegetation to tilt inward from the (left) periphery of the HE mower 210 and prevent it from moving outward from the periphery of the HE mower 210. By at least partially trapping grass blades in the crease portion of the crease turf guide 252, the irregular, non-flat surface can constrain thicker or greater quantities of grass blades (or other vegetation) within the periphery than a smooth forward-facing surface. The crease turf guide 252 can ensure more uniform cutting of vegetation by guiding suitable vegetation within the periphery of the HE mower 210 to the path of the cutting blades of the blade assembly.

[0074] Figure 4A top perspective view 400 of an exemplary HE mower 210, representing an alternative or additional aspect of an embodiment currently disclosed, is shown. The HE mower 210 may incorporate other elements described herein, or may differ in part from similar aspects disclosed herein, as will be suitable to those skilled in the art. The top perspective view 400 shows the front edge 332 of a discharge opening 330 having a front edge tangent 432. The front edge tangent coincides with (or is closest to) the point where the front edge 332 intersects with and is tangent (or approximately tangent) to the outer periphery of the HE mower 210. The front edge tangent defines a forward throw direction 434 for turf trimmings cut by the disclosed electric lawnmower and discharged through the discharge opening 330 of the HE mower 210. In one embodiment, the orientation of the front edge 332 may be selected such that the forward throw direction 432 intersects the rear wall of a bag of the bagging equipment, and optionally intersects to the left of the center of the rear wall of the bag (e.g., see above). Figure 1A (The bag 132A, bagging device 130A, and walk-behind lawnmower 100A). This provides several benefits to the bagging device. First, the turf trimmings guided to the rear of the bag accumulate from the rear to the front. This type of accumulation can mitigate or avoid obstructions (e.g., clumps of grass) at the front of the bag that reduce the efficient use of the bag's interior when collecting turf trimmings. Since the discharge opening 330 is located on the right side of the HE mowing platform 210, optionally filling the bag first from the left rear direction—and from there forward and to the right—can leave an opening at the right front of the bag, which is connected to the discharge opening 330, for final filling. This increases the likelihood that the bag will be completely (or nearly completely) filled when turf trimmings accumulate at or near the discharge opening 330. This increases the efficient use of the bag's internal space.

[0075] In different aspects of this disclosure, the discharge opening 330 may be positioned differently on the top surface of the HE mower 210. As an example, the discharge opening 330 may be located in its rear left position (when viewed from an operator's position behind and above the HE mower 210). Similarly, the discharge groove of the bagging device may be configured to engage with the discharge opening 330 in the rear left position, and the leading edge 332 may be oriented to produce a forward throwing direction 434 pointing towards the rear position of the bag (optionally the right side of the center). This can be used for filling bags from the rear right to the front left. Other suitable spatial orientations known in the art or reasonably conveyed by the context provided herein to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure.

[0076] Figure 5 A bottom view 500 of the HE mowing table 210 according to further aspects of this disclosure is depicted. Bottom view 500 shows the inner periphery of the HE mowing table 210, which covers and limits the blade path of the cutting blade of the cutting assembly properly positioned relative to the motor and blade drive seat 314 and the motor mount 316, as described above. Figure 3 As described herein, the inner periphery includes an elliptical portion 505 that extends through the front half of the inner periphery, preceding the centerline 316 (separating the front portion 304 from the rear portion 306) and midway behind the centerline 316. In one aspect, the elliptical portion 505 may define a portion of the circle defining the circumference of the inner periphery; however, in other aspects, the elliptical portion 505 is a non-circular ellipse defining the shape of the inner periphery.

[0077] As shown, the inner periphery of the HE mower 210 also includes a linear portion 520 or a substantially linear portion. In some aspects, the linear portion 520 may begin behind the front edge 332 of the discharge opening 330. In such aspects, the inner periphery changes from the elliptical shape of the elliptical portion 505 at or past the front edge 332 to the linear shape of the linear portion 520 within the rear portion 306 of the HE mower 210. The linear portion 520 can serve as a baffle to guide turf trimmings away from the discharge opening 330 by minimizing the space between the discharge opening and the inner periphery of the HE mower 210. For example, for at least a segment of the linear portion 520, the linear portion 520 may coincide (or substantially coincide) with the edge of the discharge opening 330. The inner periphery of the HE mower 210 (in Figure 5 In the illustration, the outer perimeter inherently defines a linear portion 520 that serves as a baffle, rather than an outer baffle that is fixed to or formed within the inner perimeter of the HE mower 210. (In contrast, for example, an outer perimeter defined by an elliptical portion 505 that extends rearward from the front portion 304 through the rear portion 306 and across the exterior of the HE mower 210).

[0078] As shown, the discharge opening 330 and the linear portion 520 are located on the discharge side 510 of the HE mower 210, defined by the left and right center lines 516. In one or more disclosed aspects, the inner periphery of the HE mower 210 may be symmetrical about the left and right center lines 516 and define a second linear portion 522. The second inner periphery of the HE mower 210 may extend from the last edge of the linear portion 520 to the last edge of the linear portion 522. The second inner periphery may define a second radial distance R2 544 between the last point of the second inner periphery and the center point of the HE mower 210 (e.g., at the intersection of the center lines 316 and the left and right center lines 516). Additionally, the inner periphery may define a first radial distance R1 542 from the center point of the HE mower 210 (as shown by the dashed line) to the outermost edge of the inner periphery. In various aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the first radial distance R1 542 may be smaller than the second radial distance R2 544. In at least some aspects, the inner perimeter may also define a third radius distance (not depicted) between the center point of the inner perimeter and the foremost point. In at least one aspect, the third radius distance may be the same as or substantially the same as the second radius distance R2 544, but the subject matter disclosure is not limited thereto, and in other aspects the center-to-foreground distance may be different from the center-to-rear distance.

[0079] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the leading edge 332 of the discharge opening 330 may be formed at a first angle 532 with respect to the centerline 316. In the illustrated aspect, the first angle 532 may be an angle greater than zero. In some aspects, the first angle 532 may be in the range of about zero degrees and about forty degrees (the orientation of the leading edge 332 relative to the foremost edge of the HE lawnmower 210 intersecting the left and right centerlines 516 is between about ninety degrees and about one hundred and thirty degrees). In at least one aspect, the first angle 532 may be about twenty degrees (the orientation of the leading edge 332 and the foremost edge of the HE lawnmower 210 is about one hundred and ten degrees).

[0080] The rear edge 334 of the discharge opening 330 can be formed at a second angle 534 with respect to the left and right center lines 516. In one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the second angle 534 can range from about zero degrees to about ten degrees. As an example, the second angle 534 can be from about 2 degrees to about 7 degrees, or any suitable value or range therebetween (e.g., about 5 degrees, etc.). The bottom view 500 of the HE lawn mower 210 also shows the underside of the crease surface portion 515 of the crease turf guides 252, 254. The underside of the crease surface portion 515 can match the above regarding... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The described crease-forward surface guides the grass blades inward from the periphery of the HE mower 210 and holds or captures the grass blades at the irregular creases of the crease-forward surface.

[0081] Figure 6 A bottom view of the lower side 600 of the disclosed walk-behind lawnmower, including the HE mowing table 210, is depicted according to other aspects of this disclosure. The blade assembly 630 is depicted as being secured to the mowing table 210 at the motor mount 316 by fasteners 636, as described above. Figure 3 As shown. The blade assembly 630 includes a lifting blade structure 632 and a flat blade structure 634. Each blade structure includes two blades on opposite sides of the central portion 312 of the HE mower 210. Thus, the lifting blade structure 632 defines two lifting blades on the corresponding sides of the central portion 312, and the flat blade structure 634 defines two flat blades on the corresponding sides of the central portion 312. The lifting blades of the lifting blade structure 632 generate a lifting force for the trimmings within the HE mower 210, which lifts the trimmings within the lower side 600 of the HE mower 210 upwards away from the ground or surface on which the walk-behind mower rests. The lifting mechanism also effectively pushes the trimmings reaching the discharge opening 330 upwards out of the HE mower 210. The angle 610 between each blade can be spaced approximately ninety degrees apart. Additionally, the HE mower 210 may have a baffle 620 (also referred to as a skirt 620) on the discharge side 510 of the HE mower 210. The skirt 620 may define a surface located below the path of the lifting blade structure 632 and the flat blade structure 634, extending inward from the inner periphery of the HE mower 210. The skirt 620 may be used to guide the turf trimmer within the lower side 600 of the HE mower 210 out of its discharge opening 330 (e.g., see below) as the turf trimmer moves to the discharge side 510 of the HE mower 210 via an air vortex caused by the rotation of the blade assembly 630. Figure 8 The skirt 620 may be fixed to the bottom surface of the HE lawn mower 210 on the discharge side 510, or may be integrally formed with the HE lawn mower 210 in at least one aspect of the disclosed embodiments.

[0082] Figure 7A and 7B The HE mower 210 and blade assembly 630 are shown respectively from the front orientation. Figure 7A (as shown) and the right direction ( Figure 7B The side view shown. First refer to... Figure 7A The HE lawnmower 210 is depicted as having a left side 706 and a right side 704, as shown. Figure 7A and 7BIn the illustrated embodiment, the blade assembly 630 is secured to the blade mount 714 by a nut 716. The length of the blade 712 of the blade assembly 630 defines a blade-wall distance 722 between the furthest length of the blade 712 and the inner periphery of the HE mower 210. The blade-wall distance 722 can be set to a relatively small length that minimizes the distance between the blade 712 and the inner periphery of the HE mower 210, thereby creating a trimming flow path 724 that guides the trimming outward to the inner periphery of the HE mower 210, returning towards the interior of the HE mower 210 and above the blade 712. The trimming on the left and right sides inside the HE mower 210 is typically held above and inside the blade 712.

[0083] Now for reference Figure 7B The front side 744 and rear side 746 of the HE mower 210 are shown. As shown, the HE mower 210 may have a rear blade-wall distance 752 and a front blade-wall distance 754 that are substantially greater than the left and right blade-wall distances 722. This results in the rear trimmer flow path 762 and the front trimmer flow path 764 guiding the trimmer out of the HE mower 210 (e.g., in cover mode operation). At the rear blade-wall distance 752, the rear trimmer flow path 762 guides the turf trimmer out of the discharge opening 330 at the rear of the HE mower 210 (e.g., for bagging or side discharge mode operation, where the discharge opening 330 is unobstructed and bagging equipment is respectively connected to the HE mower or discharge trench). At the front side 744 of the HE mower 210, the trimmer may be guided downwards to the ground in front of the blade 712.

[0084] Figure 7C An enlarged view of the HE lawnmower 210 is depicted at its front side 744C and rear side 746D. The front side 744C shows the leading edge of the HE lawnmower 210 extending downwards in front of the forward range of the blade 712. Figure 7C The angle 710C between the front wall and the horizontal plane is shown. Angles of 30°714C and 60°716C relative to the horizontal plane are shown by dashed lines extending from the top of the front edge of the HE lawnmower 210. In various aspects, the angle 710C between the front wall and the horizontal plane can be between about 30°714C and about 60°716C, or any suitable value or range therebetween. In a further aspect, the angle 710C can be between about 45°712C and about 40° to about 55° with respect to the horizontal plane, or any suitable value or range therebetween.

[0085] Figure 7DThe rear side 746D of the HE mower 210 shows its rear edge extending downwards beyond the rear portion of the blade 712. Angle 720D of the rear wall with respect to the horizontal plane is shown. Also shown again by dashed lines extending from the top of the rear edge of the HE mower 210 are angles of 30° 724D and 60° 726D with respect to the horizontal plane. In one or more aspects, the angle 720D of the rear wall with respect to the horizontal plane can be between approximately 30° 724D and approximately 60° 726D, or any suitable value or range therebetween. In another aspect, angle 720D can be between approximately 45° 722D and approximately 40° to approximately 55° with respect to the horizontal plane, or any suitable value or range therebetween.

[0086] In other aspects of this disclosure, the HE lawnmower 210 may have a height 750°C of about 2 inches to about 3 inches. In other aspects, the height 750°C may be any suitable value or range therebetween. Examples include 2.25 inches, 2.5 inches, 2.75 inches, etc.

[0087] Figure 8 A bottom view 800 of a HE lawnmower 810 according to some further embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The HE lawnmower 810 may have the same or similar elements as the HE lawnmower 210 described throughout this specification. In at least some respects, the HE lawnmower 810 may differ partially from the HE lawnmower 210.

[0088] The HE lawnmower 810 includes a closed drain opening 840. The drain opening can be substantially similar to the one described above. Figure 3 The discharge opening 330. In one or more embodiments, the discharge opening plug (e.g., see below) Figure 9-11The discharge opening 330 can be used to fill the discharge opening 840 to achieve a closed discharge opening 840. The trimming stream 830 describes the trimming stream caused by air vortices from the rotation of the blade assembly within the HE mower 210. The closed discharge opening 840 facilitates a covered operating mode in which the blade assembly repeatedly cuts the turf trim into small pieces. The cover pop-out port 820 facilitates the ejection of trimming from the interior of the HE mower 810. The cover pop-out port 820 can be positioned in the rear 306 of the inner periphery of the HE mower 810. For example, the cover pop-out port 820 can be formed in the rear by the bottom of the HE mower 810. In one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the cover pop-out port 820 may have an optional tapered periphery 825 with a non-uniform height. In such an alternative embodiment, as shown, the multiple pop-out port 820 may have a greater height at the initial edge where the trimming stream 830 first encounters the cover pop-out port 820, and a lower height near the distal edge of the cover pop-out port 820. This allows the trimmer ejected from the cover ejection port 820 to be distributed more evenly on the ground, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing distribution of the trimmer on the cover and reducing or avoiding clumps of trimmer. In at least some embodiments, the optional tapered perimeter 825 may have a different non-uniform height; for example, in various aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the initial edge may have a lower height and the distal edge may have a higher height.

[0089] Figure 9 Another aspect of the disclosed HE mower 810 is shown. The HE mower 810 is depicted as being disconnected from the discharge trench body 238, frame, wheels, and other components of the disclosed walk-behind lawnmower. The HE mower 810 is depicted as having a discharge opening 930, the discharge opening 930 having a discharge outlet plug 920 inserted therein. The discharge outlet plug 920 inserted into the discharge opening 930 can produce the output described above. Figure 8 The closed discharge opening 840 discussed here facilitates the covered operation mode described herein. Figure 10 An example discharge outlet plug 1000 is shown in top view. The discharge outlet plug 1000 may include a discharge outlet plug handle 1020 to allow an operator to position the discharge outlet plug 1000 within the discharge groove outlet end 235 of the discharge groove body 238, such as... Figure 11As shown, the discharge outlet 930 is covered. The discharge body sleeve 1030 may have an edge that remains flush with the outer surface of the discharge groove body 238 below the discharge port cover 1110. The discharge port cover 1110 may be closed above the discharge groove outlet 235 and the discharge outlet plug 1000, and may be lifted from the discharge groove outlet 235 to access the discharge outlet plug 1000. The discharge body sleeve 1030 may limit the distance that the discharge outlet plug 1000 may extend within the discharge groove outlet 235. The discharge outlet plug handle 1020 may also facilitate the operator to remove the discharge outlet plug 1000 from the discharge groove body 238 for the aforementioned bagging operation mode. Figure 12 Image 1200 of an exemplary walk-behind lawnmower is depicted, wherein the discharge outlet plug 1000 is removed from below the discharge port cover 1110. As shown, the removal of the discharge outlet plug 1000 exposes the discharge outlet 930 of the HE mowing table 810 through the discharge groove outlet end 235, and the discharge port cover 1110 is raised. The side-rear steering mechanism (e.g., below) is then engaged. Figure 13-15 Inserting the bagging equipment into the discharge groove output end 235 enables a side-rear discharge operation mode, while inserting the bagging equipment into the discharge groove output end 235 below the discharge port cover 1110 facilitates a bagging operation mode (e.g., as described above). Figure 1A (As shown).

[0090] Figure 13 A rear view 1300 of a walk-behind lawnmower is depicted, having a side-rear discharge steering unit 1310 positioned within a discharge trench opening 235 of a discharge trench body 238. The side-rear discharge steering unit 1310 may have an input geometry shaped to fit snugly within the discharge trench opening 235 so as to remain seated within the discharge trench opening 235 during operation of the walk-behind lawnmower. Figure 14 A bottom view 1400 of the HE lawnmower 810 is depicted, in which a side-rear discharge steering unit 1310 is connected to a discharge trench body 238 at the rear of the HE lawnmower 810. The discharge trench 230 of the discharge trench body 238 is connected to the HE lawnmower 810 at a discharge outlet 930. (As shown...) Figure 13 As shown, the input geometry of the side-rear exhaust steering unit 1310 is tightly (e.g., conformally) fitted within the exhaust groove opening 235. Therefore, trimmings ejected from the exhaust opening 930 within the HE mower 810 (assisted in some disclosed aspects by an optional skirt 620) are conveyed via the side-rear exhaust steering unit 1310 to its side-rear steering output 1412. As... Figure 15 As shown, the tangent line 1512 at the front edge of the discharge opening 930, which is tangent to the periphery of the HE mowing table 810 (see above). Figure 4 and Figure 5The far right edge (as shown) is defined for the trim ejected from the lawnmower 1500 to enter the side rear exit deflector 1310. The entry angle can be determined by the top edge input angle (…). -Top) and bottom edge input corners ( The average value of the front edge tangent angle 1512A and the entry angle is defined by the average value of the bottom edge. In one or more aspects, the difference between the front edge tangent angle 1512A and the entry angle may be between about 0 degrees and about 5 degrees, or any suitable value or range therebetween. The grass impact angle (e.g., at the rear wall of the steering gear 1310) may be defined by the front edge tangent angle 1512A and the edge contact point on the steering gear 1310. The grass impact angle may be between 0 degrees and 17 degrees. In one or more aspects, the exit tangent angle 1532 may be between about 45 degrees and about 60 degrees, or any suitable value or range therebetween.

[0091] Figure 15A An example dimension 1500A of a side-rear steering unit 1500 in another aspect of this disclosure is shown. From a top view, the length 1500A of the side-rear steering unit 1500 is shown as extending from the rear exhaust edge to the exhaust groove interface surface at the top surface of the side-rear steering unit 1500. In one embodiment, the length 1510A can be in the range of about twelve inches to about thirteen inches, or any suitable value or range therebetween (e.g., 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 12.8, etc.). In another embodiment, the width 1520A can be between about 11.5 inches and about 12.5 inches, or any suitable value or range therebetween (e.g., 11.8 inches, 11.9 inches, 12.0 inches, 12.2 inches, 12.3 inches, etc.). The height 1530A of the top surface of the steering unit 1500 from the exhaust groove interface surface to the rear exhaust edge is also shown. In another embodiment, the drop 1530A may be in the range of about 2 inches to about 3 inches, or a suitable value or range therebetween.

[0092] Now for reference Figure 16 The image depicts a lower side view of an exemplary walk-behind lawnmower according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. In some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the lower side view may be... Figure 1 The lower side view of the walk-behind lawnmower 100, but not limited to these aspects. In other aspects, Figure 16 The hand-held lawnmower shown can have the same features as Figure 1 The different features shown include some features of the walk-behind lawnmower 100, all features of the walk-behind lawnmower 100, additional features not shown in the walk-behind lawnmower 100, or suitable combinations thereof.

[0093] Figure 16The lower side view shows the interior of the HE mower 210, which has a blade assembly 220 fixed to a motor output 225. The motor output 225 can be rotated by a motor, thereby causing the blade assembly 220 to rotate. The cutting edges of the individual blades of the blade assembly 220 can cut the vegetation inside the mower 210 during operation of the walk-behind lawnmower, producing loose turf trimmings inside the mower 210.

[0094] The turf trimmer will typically move within the HE mowing table 210 in response to the rotation of the air caused by the rotation of the blade assembly 220. The air will move in the direction of rotation of the blade assembly 220 and tend to push the turf trimmer away from the center of rotation of the blade assembly 220, towards the outer edge of the HE mowing table 210. Figure 16 In the illustrated embodiment, viewed from the lower side view 200 of the HE mower 210, the blade assembly 220 rotates counterclockwise. This latter embodiment is not limiting, and it should be understood that a mirror-image embodiment in which the blade assembly 220 rotates clockwise when viewed from below is also conceivable.

[0095] The air rotation caused by the rotation of the blade assembly 220 can create an air vortex. The turf trimmings within the air vortex of the HE mower 210 can be guided by the shape of the inner edge surface of the HE mower 210. Furthermore, at a given location around the inner circumference of the HE mower 210, the distance between the blade tip and the inner edge surface of the HE mower 210 can control the amount of trimmings falling below the blade assembly 220 to the ground. When the distance between the inner edge surface and the (nearest) blade tip is small, very little turf trimmings will fall to the ground, and most of the trimmings will remain above the blade assembly 220. Figure 16 In the illustrated embodiment, this occurs at the left side 214 and right side 212 of the HE mower 210, as shown in the bottom side view (note that the left side 214 and right side 212 will be inverted when viewed from the top side of the HE mower 210, for example, from the operator's position behind the operator handle 120). As shown, at the right side 212 of the HE mower 210, the blade tip is very close to the inner edge surface, thus preventing turf trimmings from falling onto the ground at the right side 212 of the mower 210. Furthermore, the skirt 1615 on the left side 214 of the mower 210 is located below the blade tip as the blade tip rotates through the left side 214 of the mower 210. The skirt 1615 reduces or prevents turf trimmings from falling onto the ground on the left side of the mower 210, as shown in the bottom side view, and when the discharge plug 920 is not present (e.g., see below). Figure 20This facilitates the ejection of turf trimmings through the discharge groove 134A. Conversely, when the discharge outlet plug 920 is present, the turf trimmings are confined within the HE mower 210 and guided by the inner surface of the mower and the inner surface of the discharge outlet plug 920 (see, for example, [reference needed]). Figure 24-27 ).

[0096] The discharge plug 920 may have an edge surface that conformally fits within the discharge opening 930 in the mower table 210. Figure 16 The inner surface of the discharge plug 920, shown in the lower side view, can guide the turf trimmer within the mower 210 after it has passed the skirt 215. As described herein, the inner surface can be configured to guide the trimmer along the rear surface of the mower 210. Figure 16 In the illustrated embodiment, the rear surface may be defined by the rear baffle attachment 1640. In other embodiments, the rear surface of the mower 210 may define a baffle surface (e.g., see below). Figure 18 Integrated baffle surface 1840).

[0097] Now for reference Figure 17 The image shows a close-up lower side view of a lawnmower 210, which has a rear bumper attachment 1640 fixed to the rear inner surface of the lawnmower 210. The rear bumper attachment 1640 can be fixed to the lawnmower 210 by one or more fasteners, by epoxy resin or other suitable adhesives, or by a suitable combination thereof.

[0098] When fastened to the mower 210, the rear panel attachment 1640 defines an edge curvature 245, which forms part of the inner surface of the mower 210 at the rear. Furthermore, the edge curvature 245 may have a horizontal curvature (from left to right, such as...) Figure 16 As shown in the view, it defines the distance between the inner surface and the (fixed) blade tip of the blade assembly 220 at the rear of the mower 210. As described above, the distance between the inner surface and the blade tip can affect the distribution of trimmed grass to the ground below the mower 210. Furthermore, the edge curvature 245 can change the distance between the inner surface and the blade tip along its length (and thus along the rear of the mower 210) to change the amount of trimmed grass distributed to the ground along the length of the rear of the mower 210. At least in this way, the edge curvature 245 can affect the amount of trimmed grass distributed along the portion of the rear of the mower 210. In at least one embodiment, the edge curvature 245 can be configured to improve the uniformity of the trimmed grass distribution along the rear portion of the mower 210, prevent clumps of ejected turf trimmed grass, and improve the appearance of the turf trimmed grass produced by the disclosed walk-behind mower.

[0099] In addition to the above, the edge curvature 245 may have a vertical curvature extending from its upper edge to its bottom inner edge within the inner surface of the mower 210. In one or more embodiments, the upper edge of the rear bumper attachment 1640 may extend to the bottom edge of the discharge outlet plug 920, but the subject matter disclosure is not limited to this geometry. Near the left side of the mower 210, such as Figure 17 The orientation of the close-up side view (e.g., see below) Figure 18 (On the discharge side 1802), as the vertical curvature advances downward to the bottom of the edge curvature 245 and, as indicated by arrow 241A, the vertical curvature has a forward inclination towards the center of the mower 210. This forward inclination decreases as the edge curvature 245 extends from its left side to its right side (see, for example, below). Figure 18 (The trimming side 1804). For example, as the vertical curvature extends from arrow 241A to 242A and 243A, a decrease in the forward tilt at the bottom of the edge curvature 245 is shown until the forward tilt becomes minimal, as indicated by arrow 244A at the right side of the edge curvature 245. On the left, similar to skirt 215, the forward tilt can be used to hold the turf trimmer above the blade assembly 220, and on the right, the flatter vertical curvature indicated by arrow 244A can facilitate the distribution of trimmer below the blade assembly 220 to the ground.

[0100] As the blade assembly 220 rotates counterclockwise, a large amount of turf trimmings will first encounter the rear panel attachment 1640 as it passes the left side of the skirt 1615. Under normal circumstances, this large amount of trimmings will tend to fall onto the ground near the left side of the mower 210, resulting in trimming clumps and an unsightly distribution of turf trimmings in the cover mode, where the discharge plug 920 is located within the disclosed walk-behind lawnmower. In various embodiments, the edge curvature 245 can promote a more uniform distribution of trimmings along the rear of the mower 210 by reducing the amount of trimmings distributed to the ground on the left side of the mower 210 and increasing the amount of trimmings distributed on the right side of the mower 210. In at least some embodiments, the edge curvature 245, combined with the discharge plug 920, can further improve the uniformity of trimmings distributed to the ground along the rear surface of the mower 210 (e.g., see below). Figure 27 ).

[0101] Figure 18 An alternative example of a lawnmower 1810 according to other aspects of the disclosed embodiment is shown, which has an integrated rear baffle 1800. For ease of explanation, the lawnmower 1810 is oriented such that the discharge side 1802 is on the left-hand side of the lawnmower 1810 having a discharge outlet plug 920 (and a discharge opening 930 of the lawnmower 310), as shown. Figure 18As shown, trimming side 1804 is located on the right-hand side of mowing platform 1810.

[0102] The integrated backsplash 1800 includes an integrated backsplash surface 1840 formed in the mower 1810. The integrated backsplash surface 1840 may have an edge curvature 1845 at its rear portion defining an inner surface of the mower 1810. In some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the edge curvature 1845 may be defined as described above. Figure 16 and Figure 17 The edge curvature 245 is the same as the inner surface. However, in other respects, the edge curvature 1845 can be different from the edge curvature 245 to achieve the target (variable) rear surface -> blade tip depth along the rear inner surface to address the thickness difference of the rear mower surface without the rear baffle attachment 1640.

[0103] The edge curvature 1845 can have a horizontal curvature defining the distance from the blade tip of the blade assembly 220 to the rear inner surface. Furthermore, as described above... Figure 16 and 17 The distance can vary from a first end at the discharge side 1802 with edge curvature 345 to a second end at the trimming side 1804. In various aspects of this disclosure, the distance at the leftmost end of the edge curvature 1845 at the discharge side 1802 can define the minimum distance between the blade tip and the rear inner surface, while the distance at the rightmost end of the edge curvature 1845 at the trimming side 1804 can define the maximum distance between the blade tip and the rear inner surface.

[0104] Additionally, the edge curvature 1845 can have a vertical curvature extending from the discharge outlet plug 920 to the bottom edge of the mower 1810 at the upper edge. The vertical curvature can define a more pronounced curvature on the discharge side 1802, as shown by the relatively sharper curves of arrows 1841 and 1842, which model the vertical curvature near the middle of the edge curvature 1845. In contrast, the vertical curvature can also define a less pronounced curvature when the edge curvature 1845 extends further along the trimming side 1804 as shown by arrow 1843 to an almost flat curvature at the furthest point of the edge curvature 1845 on the trimming side 1804.

[0105] Figure 19 A side perspective view of the integrated rear baffle 1800 is provided. The edge curvature 1845 of the integrated baffle surface 1840 extends from the discharge side 1802 of the rear inner surface of the mower 1810 to the trimming side 1804. The minimum blade-to-baffle distance 2000 is determined by... Figure 20 As shown. From Figure 20It can be clearly seen that the distance D12015 is limited between the tip of the blade 2020 and the inner surface of the edge curvature 1845 of the integrated baffle surface 1840 on the discharge side 1802 of the mower 1810. Figure 20 A discharge opening 930 (with the discharge outlet plug 920 removed) is also depicted in the discharge side 1802 of the mower 1810. In various embodiments, the distance D1 2015 between the tip of the blade 2020 and the inner surface of the edge curvature 245 of the rear baffle attachment 1640 may be the same or substantially the same.

[0106] Figure 21 A side view (not to scale) shows the minimum distance of 2000 from the blade to the baffle. The distance D1 2015 between the edge curvature of the integrated baffle surface 1840 and 1845 is shown. Figure 21 It is more clearly visible in the side view. Conversely, Figure 22 and 23 A second distance D2 2215 is shown between the blade tip and edge curvature 1845 of the integrated baffle surface 1840 at the trimming side 1804 of the mower 1810. In various embodiments, distance D2 may be the maximum distance 2200 between the blade and the baffle, and furthermore, D2 2215 > D1 2015. In one aspect, the minimum distance D1 2015 may be in the range of about fifty percent to about ninety percent of the maximum distance D2 2215.

[0107] As previously mentioned, the distance between the blade 2020 and the integrated baffle surface 1840 can vary along the length of the integrated baffle surface 1840 between the discharge side 1802 and the trimming side 1804. Figure 23 A side view of the maximum blade-to-baffle distance 2200 at the trimming side 1804 is provided. Although not drawn to scale, the side view of the maximum blade-to-baffle distance 2200 depicts a variation of the side view of the minimum blade-to-baffle distance 2000. In some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, the maximum blade-to-baffle distance D2 2215 can be in a first range from about 1.0 inch to about 1.2 inches, or any suitable value or range therebetween. In another aspect, the minimum blade-to-baffle distance D1 2015 can be in a second range from about 0.7 inches to about 0.9 inches, or any suitable value or range therebetween.

[0108] exist Figure 16-23In the provided embodiment, the discharge plug 920 is positioned on the left side of the mower stand (viewed from below the mower stand) and corresponds to the counterclockwise rotation direction of the blade assembly 220 (also viewed from below the mower stand). In addition to the foregoing, the left-right orientation of the edge curvature 1845 (and edge curvature 245) is provided for a walk-behind mower with counterclockwise rotation of the blade assembly 220. In other embodiments with clockwise rotation of the blade assembly 220, the discharge side 1802 and trimming side 1804 can be interchanged, the discharge opening and discharge plug can be on the right side of the mower stand 1810 (matching the new position of the discharge side 1802), and the progression of the horizontal curvature of the edge curvature 1845 and the vertical curvature indicated by arrows 1841, 1842, 1843, and 1844 (and 241A, 242A, 243A, and 244A) can be... Figure 16 , 17 The left-to-right reversal is shown in 18 and 19.

[0109] Figure 24 and 25 Bottom front and bottom side views of the cover plug 2410 for the mowing table 1810 of the disclosed walk-behind lawnmower are shown in various embodiments. The cover plug 2410 can conformally fit into the discharge opening of the mowing table 1810 (e.g., see above). Figure 20 Furthermore, the cover plug 2410 may have an inner surface that defines multiple flow paths for air and trimmings moving within the mowing table 1810 in response to rotation of the blade assembly 220. As shown in the cover plug 2410, the multiple flow paths include a lower flow path 2420 and an upper flow path 2415. An input guide vane 2425 separates the upper flow path 2415 from the lower flow path 2420 and divides the trimmings crossing the inner edge of the mowing table 1810 into the upper flow path 2415 and the lower flow path 2420.

[0110] The lower flow path 2420 provides a flow output defining the lower path distribution 2430 of turf trimmings. The lower path distribution 2430 can be configured to distribute turf trimmings along the discharge side 1802 of the mower stand 1810, as indicated by the output arrows at the left and right edges of the lower path distribution 2430. Furthermore, the turf trimmings distributed along the lower path distribution 2430 can be guided onto the integrated baffle surface 1840 (or the rear baffle attachment 1640), which controls the distribution of turf trimmings to the ground, as described above. Therefore, the lower flow path 2420 and the integrated baffle surface 1840 can work synergistically to improve the uniformity of trimming distribution along the lower path distribution 2430 on the discharge side 1802 of the mower stand 1810.

[0111] In various embodiments, the amount of turf trimmed grass guided to the upper flow path 2415 and the lower flow path 2420 can be determined at least in part by the height of the input guide vane 2425. To increase the proportion of turf trimmed grass guided to the lower flow path 2420, the input guide vane 2425 can be positioned higher along the height of the cover plug 2410. To increase the proportion of turf trimmed grass guided to the upper flow path 2415, the input guide vane 2425 can be positioned lower along the height of the cover plug 2410.

[0112] In one or more embodiments, the height of the input guide vane 2425 may be defined relative to the cutting edge of one or more blades of the blade assembly 220. Figure 26 The image shows a front view of the interior of the lawnmower. Figure 26 The front view shows the distance D3 2615 between the height of the blade cutting edge 2625 and the height of the input guide vane 2425. In one or more aspects of this disclosure, the distance D3 2615 may range from about 0.8 inches to about 1.2 inches.

[0113] Figure 27 A complete front view of the mowing platform 1810 of a walk-behind lawnmower according to other aspects of the disclosed embodiments is provided. The front view shows the right side (e.g., trimming side 1804) of the mowing platform opposite its left side (e.g., discharge side 1802). As described above... Figure 24 As discussed herein, the lower path distribution 2430 includes turf trimmings output primarily from the lower flow path 2420 of the cover plug 2410 throughout the entire discharge side 1802. Conversely, the upper path distribution 2730 receives turf trimmings output from the upper flow path 2415 of the cover plug 2410. As shown, the upper path distribution 2730 is primarily along the trimming side 304 of the mower table 1810.

[0114] The height of the mowing table 1810 may be asymmetrical, having a second height H2 2710 on the trimming side 1804 and a first height H1 2715 on the discharge side 1802. In some disclosed aspects, the first height H1 2715 may define a maximum internal mowing table height (as indicated by the dashed double-ended arrow) measured from the bottom edge of the mowing table 1810 to the top of the mowing table 1810 at the first height H1 2715. This maximum internal mowing table height may range from about 3 inches to about 5.5 inches. In a further disclosed aspect, the second height H2 2710 may define a minimum internal mowing table height (as indicated by the dashed double-ended arrow) measured from the bottom edge of the mowing table 1810 to the top of the mowing table 1810 at the second height H2 2710. This minimum internal mowing table height may range from about 2.25 inches to about 2.75 inches. In an alternative or additional aspect of the disclosed embodiments, the maximum internal mower height may be in a third range of approximately 15% to approximately 95% of the minimum internal mower height.

[0115] The increased height of the mowing table 1810 on the discharge side 1802 can promote an upward flow of air inside the mowing table 1810 on the discharge side 1802 caused by the lifting blades of the blade assembly 220, which force the air inside the mowing table 1810 upward in response to the rotation of the blade assembly 220. This upward airflow forms an upward (air)flow vector, which can also cause the turf trimmings to rise inside the mowing table 1810. This upward airflow increases above the second height H2 2710, where the internal height of the mowing table 1810 also begins to rise from the second height H2 2710 on the trimming side 1804 in a forward direction around the mowing table 1810 (see below, for example). Figure 31 The height of the mowing platform 1810 increases towards the first height H12715 on the discharge side 1802. The maximum height of the mowing platform 1810 is indicated at the first height H12715.

[0116] When the cover plug 2410 is not located within the drain opening of the mower 1810, the upward airflow helps align the turf trimmings with the drain opening formed in the mower 1810 (see above for example). Figure 20 This improves the evacuation of turf trimmings from the mower 1810. When the mulch plug 2410 is located within the discharge opening of the mower 1810, the upward airflow causes the turf trimmings to contact the inner surface of the mulch plug 2410, so that they are separated by the input guide vanes 2425 along the lower flow path 2420 and the upper flow path 2415, as previously described.

[0117] In addition to the above, the internal height of the mowing platform 1810 can be seen from the rear of the mowing platform 1810 above the cover plug 2410 (see above). Figure 31 The first height H1 2715 decreases towards the second height H2 2710. This is achieved by... Figure 8 The descent from height H12715 shown in the diagram serves as evidence. The descent from height H12715 at the rear of the mower 1810 also generates a downward airflow and a downward (air) fluid vector at the rear of the mower 1810. This downward fluid vector guides the turf trimmings moving along the upper flow path 2415 from the first height H12715 at the rear of the mower 1810 down to the upper path distribution 2730 at the trimming side 1804 of the mower 1810. The distribution of turf trimmings from the upper flow path 2415 to the upper path distribution 2730 at the trimming side 1804 of the mower 1810 further promotes a uniform distribution of turf trimmings along the rear of the mower 1810: turf trimmings from the lower flow path 2420 are distributed on the lower path distribution 2430, and turf trimmings from the upper flow path 2415 are distributed on the upper path distribution 2730. This can be used to minimize clumps of turf trimmings and enhance the aesthetic appearance of the trimmings ejected from the mower 1810, where the mulch plug 2410 is in place.

[0118] Figure 28 An example discharge trench cover plug 2800 according to an alternative or additional aspect of the disclosed embodiment is shown. The discharge trench cover plug 2800 is shown from an outer surface exposed on the top or exterior of the mower head. In embodiments of walk-behind lawnmowers including a discharge opening covering the mower head and a discharge body on top, the outer surface of the discharge trench cover plug 2800 is visible from a top or rear opening of the discharge body (see, for example, below). Figure 29 ).

[0119] As shown, the discharge trench cover plug 2800 includes a cover plug surface edge 2810 that can be positioned at the discharge opening of the disclosed mower (e.g., mower 1810) (see above). Figure 20 The discharge cover plug handle 920 may be positioned on the top (outer) surface of the discharge trench cover plug 2800 to facilitate hand placement and removal of the discharge trench cover plug 2800 to a position around the discharge opening of the mower table. In at least some embodiments ( Figure 29The device may provide a discharge extension surface 2830 extending from the edge 2810 of the cover plug surface, which may rest on the inner surface of the discharge body coupled to the mower. A discharge body sleeve 2835 may extend at an angle from the discharge extension surface 2830 to be positioned on the outer edge of the discharge body and to hold the discharge trench cover plug 2800 in place relative to the discharge opening of the mower and optionally relative to the discharge body. In at least one disclosed aspect, the discharge body sleeve 2835 may extend vertically or substantially vertically from the discharge extension surface 2830 in at least one aspect, but the subject matter disclosure is not limited to this aspect.

[0120] Figure 29 An exemplary discharge trench body 2900 is shown in a rear perspective view (e.g., at the operator position of a walk-behind lawnmower). The discharge trench body 2900 may be attached or secured to at least a portion of the top surface and rear of the mowing table of the walk-behind lawnmower. Furthermore, the discharge trench body 2900 may be attached to and cover a discharge opening of the mowing table. A discharge trench 2925 defines an opening having an input coupled to a discharge opening in the mowing table and a discharge trench output end 2920 at the rear surface of the discharge body 2900. In one embodiment, the discharge trench 2925 may be coupled with… Figure 1A The discharge groove 134A is the same or similar, but in other embodiments, the discharge groove 2925 of the discharge groove body 2900 may be different from the discharge groove 134A.

[0121] The discharge cover plug 2800 can be inserted into the discharge groove 2925 from its output and is conformally positioned at the input of the discharge groove 2925 to the discharge opening of the mower. Furthermore, the surface edge 2810 of the cover plug can be conformally positioned at the input of the discharge groove 2925 to the discharge opening in the mower, thereby effectively preventing turf trimmings from flowing from the interior of the mower into the discharge groove 2925. In various embodiments, the discharge cover plug 2800 may have the above-described... Figure 24 The inner surface of the cover plug 2410 (opposite to the outer surface connected to the discharge cover plug handle 2820) defines the upper flow path 2415, the lower flow path 2420, and the inlet guide vane 2425.

[0122] In one or more aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a discharge port cover 2915 may be provided attached to the upper edge of the discharge groove body 2910. The discharge port cover 2915 may be folded down over the discharge groove body 2910 and the discharge groove 2925 when the discharge cover plug 2800 is inserted into the discharge groove 2925. With the discharge port cover 2915 raised, an operator may grasp the discharge cover plug handle 2820 to remove the discharge cover plug 2800 from the discharge groove 2925, or reinsert the discharge cover plug 2800 into the discharge groove 2925.

[0123] Figure 30 A front view of the mowing table of a walk-behind lawnmower is shown to highlight the asymmetrical height of the mowing table. The trimming side of the mowing table is associated with height H2 2710, and the discharge side is associated with height H1 2715. Note that in some aspects disclosed in this subject matter, the trimming side and height H2 2710 can be interchanged with the discharge side and height H1 2715 (e.g., when viewed from below the mowing table, the blade assembly of the walk-behind lawnmower is driven clockwise). The difference 3020 between the discharge height and trimming height of the mowing table is shown.

[0124] Figure 31 It shows Figure 30 A top view of the mowing platform. The trimming side 1804 of the mowing platform is associated with a height H2 2710, and the discharge side 1802 of the mowing platform is associated with a height H1 2715. Figure 31 The top view depicts an exemplary location around the top surface of the mowing platform, where height H2 2710 begins to increase to height H1 2715, and where height H1 2715 begins to decrease to height H2 2710. For this purpose, Figure 31 The top view defines a horizontal centerline 3106 extending from left to right through the figure and a zero-degree line 3102 bisecting the trimming side 1804 from the discharge side 1802. In various aspects of this disclosure, the mower height can be increased from a height H2 2710 within a height increase area 3104 on the trimming side 1804, and in front of the horizontal centerline 3106 (e.g., viewed from an operator's position behind the mower). For example, in some aspects, the height H2 2710 may begin to increase, coinciding with or substantially coinciding with the horizontal centerline 3106, approximately 90 degrees from the zero-degree line 3102. In other aspects, the height H2 2710 may begin to increase from the horizontal centerline 3106 (at approximately 90 degrees to the zero-degree line 3102) to any point within the height increase area 3104 from the zero-degree line 3102. In at least one respect, the height H2 2710 can increase by about thirty degrees from the zero-degree line 3102 within the height increase region 3104 at the inflection point 3110.

[0125] From inflection point 3110, the height of the mower can increase along the increasing height path 3120 until it reaches its maximum height at height H1 2715. Furthermore, from height H1 2715, the mower can begin to decrease in height (from the operator's perspective) along the decreasing height path 3130 following the horizontal centerline 1206. The decreasing height can continue until it reaches its minimum height at height H2 2710. As described herein, the increasing height path 3120 can facilitate upward (air) fluid flow within the mower to allow the turf trimmings to rise upwards to the discharge opening in the mower (or the inner surface of the mulch plug 2410). Similarly, the decreasing height path 3130 can facilitate downward (air) fluid flow within the mower to allow the turf trimmings to fall towards the edge curvature 1845 of the rear inner surface of the mower, thereby facilitating the distribution of the turf trimmings along the upper path distribution 2730, as described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that modifications to the explicit aspects of this disclosure can be made consistent with the scope of this disclosure.

[0126] Generally, the embodiments shown are not provided as strict limitations on how those skilled in the art can practice the disclosed aspects, but are intended to be provided as examples from which modifications, interchanges, additions, or subtractions may be made to suit the purposes and objectives described herein for the implementation of those skilled in the art. As an example, based on the inventiveness of those skilled in the art, the arrangement of components depicted in one embodiment may be interchanged with that depicted in another embodiment, optionally excluding some components or including other components shown in a third embodiment. For example, the rear bumper attachment 1640 may be attached to... Figure 24 The lawn mowing platform 1810, such as Figure 16 As shown, it can function in conjunction with the lower flow path 2420 and upper flow path 2415 of the cover plug 2410, as described herein. In a simpler example, in a suitable aspect of this disclosure, the discharge trench body 2900 can be coupled to Figure 1A The lawnmower body 110A can be combined with a discharge trench 134A and mechanically coupled to a bag 132A of a bagging device 130A. As another example, components of the disclosed device can be implemented as connected to other components rather than included within a parent device. Alternatively, the opposite orientation can be implemented within the scope of this disclosure: in some embodiments, a component depicted separately from another component can be aggregated into a single component. Additionally, it should be noted that one or more of the disclosed processes can be combined into a single process providing aggregate functionality. Furthermore, components of the disclosed machine / device / sensor / control unit can also interact with one or more other components not specifically described herein but known to those skilled in the art.

[0127] Regarding the various functions performed by the aforementioned components, machines, devices, processes, etc., unless otherwise stated, the terminology used to describe these components (including references to "device") is intended to correspond to any component (e.g., a functional equivalent) that performs the specified function of the described component, even if it is not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure, and performs the functions in the exemplary aspects of the embodiments shown herein. In this regard, it will also be appreciated that the embodiments include systems configured to implement functions, as well as hardware, including mechanical hardware, electronic hardware, and computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for performing actions or events of the various processes.

[0128] Furthermore, while a particular feature may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application. Moreover, with regard to the extent to which the terms “includes” and “including” and their variations are used in the specific embodiments or claims, these terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising.”

[0129] As used herein, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context, “X adopts A or B” is intended to mean any natural inclusive arrangement. That is, “X adopts A or B” is satisfied if X adopts A; X adopts B; or X adopts both A and B. Furthermore, the articles “a” and “an” used in this application and the appended claims should generally be interpreted as meaning “one or more” unless otherwise stated or clearly pointed to in the context.

[0130] In other embodiments, combinations or sub-combinations of the disclosed embodiments can be advantageously performed. Furthermore, the embodiments described in a particular drawing or group of drawings should not be limited to these illustrations. Rather, any suitable combination or subset of elements from one or more drawings can be applied to other embodiments in other drawings, where it is suitable for those skilled in the art to achieve the purposes disclosed herein, known in the art, or reasonably conveyed to those skilled in the art by the context provided in this specification. In use, block diagrams or flowcharts of the disclosed embodiments are grouped for ease of understanding. However, it should be understood that combinations of blocks, additions of new blocks, rearrangements of blocks, etc., are contemplated in alternative embodiments of this disclosure.

[0131] Based on the foregoing, this topic can take various forms, some of which are explicitly set forth below. These aspects are exemplary and not intended to be limiting. The ordinal numbers used below (first, second, third, etc.) are merely illustrative and to avoid confusion, and are not intended to express or imply any order or hierarchy.

[0132] In a first aspect, the subject matter is a lawn mowing apparatus comprising: a plurality of front wheels and a plurality of rear wheels; a mowing platform; a blade assembly fixed to the mowing platform and to a plurality of blades, the blade assembly being configured to drive the plurality of blades to move within the mowing platform in response to a force applied to the blade assembly, and the plurality of blades comprising more than two blades; an electric motor coupled to the blade assembly and configured to supply the force to the blade assembly; a rechargeable battery for supplying power to the electric motor; a discharge opening defined in a rearward side portion of the mowing platform, wherein the discharge opening has a front edge at the far right rear of the mowing platform and a rear edge near the far rear side of the mowing platform; and a discharge trench body having a discharge trench inlet and a discharge trench outlet, wherein the discharge trench inlet of the discharge trench body is fluidly connected to the discharge opening defined in the mowing platform, such that air and trimming material inside the mowing platform enter the discharge trench body from the discharge opening and the discharge trench inlet and exit the discharge trench body through the discharge trench outlet.

[0133] The second aspect is an alternative form of the first aspect, wherein the mowing platform defines a perimeter having a zero angle at the foremost side, a 90-degree angle at the rightmost side, and a 180-degree angle at the rearmost side when viewed from above and behind the mowing platform, and further wherein the front edge is defined to be greater than the 90-degree angle around the perimeter of the mowing platform.

[0134] The third aspect is an alternative form of the second aspect, wherein the rear edge is defined as an angle of less than 180 degrees around the perimeter of the mowing platform.

[0135] The fourth aspect is an optional form of the second aspect, and also includes a bagging device fixed to the discharge trench output end of the discharge trench body, wherein the front edge of the discharge opening intersects the outer periphery of the mowing table at a point, and the tangent of the outer periphery intersecting the point also intersects the rear wall of the bagging device.

[0136] The fifth aspect is an alternative form of the first aspect, wherein the first blade of the plurality of blades is positioned perpendicular to or substantially perpendicular to the second blade of the plurality of blades.

[0137] The sixth aspect is an alternative form of the fifth aspect, wherein the plurality of blades includes at least four blades, which are positioned at right angles or near right angles to each other.

[0138] The seventh aspect is an alternative form of the first aspect, wherein one of the blades in the plurality of blades is a lifting blade that provides an upward force on the turf trimmed by the plurality of blades.

[0139] The eighth aspect is an alternative form of the seventh aspect, in which the second of the multiple blades is a flat blade that provides almost no upward force on the turf trimmed by the multiple blades.

[0140] The ninth aspect is an alternative form of the first aspect, wherein the plurality of blades have a first gap distance between the farthest ends of the plurality of blades and the interior of the rightmost side of the mowing table, and a second gap distance between the farthest ends of the plurality of blades and the interior of the rearmost side of the mowing table, wherein the first gap distance is less than the second gap distance.

[0141] The tenth aspect is an alternative form of the ninth aspect, wherein the plurality of blades have a first gap distance between the farthest ends of the plurality of blades and the interior of the far left side of the mowing table.

[0142] The eleventh aspect is an alternative form of the ninth aspect, wherein the plurality of blades have a second gap distance or approximately a second gap distance between the farthest ends of the plurality of blades and the interior of the foremost side of the mowing table.

[0143] The twelfth aspect is an alternative form of the first aspect, wherein the rearmost side of the mowing platform has an inner wall that forms an angle between the inner wall and the flat surface on which the mowing equipment rests, in the range of about thirty to about sixty degrees.

[0144] The thirteenth aspect is an alternative form of the twelfth aspect, wherein the foremost side of the mowing platform has a second inner wall, the second inner wall forming a second angle with the flat surface, the second angle being in the range of about thirty degrees to about sixty degrees.

[0145] The fourteenth aspect is an alternative form of the twelfth aspect, wherein the rightmost side of the mowing platform has a second inner wall, the second inner wall forming a second angle with the flat surface, the second angle being in a second range of about eighty-five to about ninety-five degrees.

[0146] The fifteenth aspect is an alternative to the eleventh aspect, and also includes a single-point frame lifter comprising a left-right frame connector and a front-rear frame connector that raises and lowers multiple front wheels and multiple rear wheels above a surface in response to mechanical adjustment of the single-point frame lifter.

[0147] The sixteenth aspect is an alternative form of the first aspect, and also includes a turf guide that extends from the far right of the mower toward the front edge of the mower and has a forward-facing crease turf guide surface that guides grass blades interacting with the forward-facing crease turf guide from the periphery of the mower inward to be cut by a plurality of blades.

[0148] The seventeenth aspect is an alternative to the first aspect, which further includes a skirt fixed to the bottom surface of the mower on one side of the discharge opening, the skirt reducing the amount of trimming material falling below the bottom surface of the mower on the side of the discharge opening that includes the baffle.

[0149] The eighteenth aspect is an alternative to the first aspect, and further includes a discharge outlet plug configured to be located within the discharge outlet of the discharge trench body, and to prevent air and trimming material inside the mower from leaving the mower through the discharge opening.

[0150] The nineteenth aspect is an alternative to the eighteenth aspect, and also includes a cover ejection port on the rear side of the mowing platform near the bottom surface of the mowing platform, the cover ejection port being configured to disperse trimmings from inside the mowing platform behind the mowing equipment.

[0151] The twentieth aspect is an alternative form of the nineteenth aspect, wherein the cover pop-up port has a tapered periphery with a height that decreases along the rotational direction of a plurality of blades within the interior of the mower.

[0152] The twenty-first aspect is an alternative form of the first aspect, further comprising a side discharge deflector detachably connected to the discharge trench output of the discharge trench body, and when connected to the discharge trench output, the side discharge deflector guides the trimmings discharged from the mower into the discharge trench body to the left or right side of the mowing equipment.

[0153] The twenty-second aspect is an alternative form of the first aspect, further comprising a frame fixed to multiple front wheels, multiple rear wheels and a mowing platform, and an operator handle fixed to the frame, wherein the mowing equipment is a hand-held device guided or pushed by the operator using the operator handle.

[0154] In a twentieth aspect, this subject matter relates to a lawn mower for a walk-behind power device, comprising: a front, a rear, and a side portion of the lawn mower; a plurality of frame mounts located at the rear portion of the lawn mower for securing the lawn mower to a frame and a discharge body of the walk-behind power device; a central portion defining an opening through a surface of the lawn mower and having a seat for supporting a blade assembly and an electric motor, and one or more mounts for securing the blade assembly and the electric motor to the lawn mower; and a discharge opening defining a second opening through a surface of the lawn mower near the periphery of the lawn mower and between the rear and the side portions, and its The discharge opening is fluidly connected to the discharge body input end of the discharge body of the hand-held power device; a turf guide structure extending from the side toward the front and defining a front-facing surface having a first edge extending substantially to the entire extent of the side; and a second turf guide structure extending from a second side located on a side of the mowing platform opposite to the side toward the front and defining a second front-facing surface having a second edge extending substantially to the entire extent of the second side, wherein the distance across the front of the mowing platform from the first edge to the second edge is substantially equal to the entire width of the mowing platform.

[0155] The twenty-fourth aspect is an alternative form of the twenty-third aspect, wherein the second opening defined by the discharge opening has a front edge near the side of the mowing table and a rear edge near the rear of the mowing table.

[0156] The twenty-fifth aspect is an alternative form of the twenty-fourth aspect, wherein the entire extent of the front portion defines a zero-degree position of the mower, the entire extent of the side portion defines a ninety-degree position of the mower, and the entire extent of the rear portion defines a one hundred and eighty-degree position of the mower, and further wherein the front edge is between the ninety-degree and one hundred and thirty-degree positions of the mower.

[0157] The twenty-sixth aspect is an alternative form of the twenty-fifth aspect, wherein the front edge is located at approximately 110 degrees to the mower.

[0158] The twenty-seventh aspect is an alternative form of the twenty-fifth aspect, wherein the rear edge is located between approximately 170 degrees and approximately 180 degrees.

[0159] The twenty-eighth aspect is an alternative form of the twenty-fourth aspect, wherein the mower includes an inner peripheral surface on the underside of the mower, and wherein the inner peripheral surface in front of the front edge of the second opening defines a substantially elliptical peripheral surface portion, and wherein the inner peripheral surface behind the front edge defines a substantially linear peripheral surface portion.

[0160] The twenty-ninth aspect is an optional form of the twenty-eighth aspect, wherein the substantially linear peripheral surface portion serves as an internal baffle integrally formed with the peripheral surface of the mowing platform.

[0161] The thirtieth aspect is an alternative form of the twenty-eighth aspect, wherein the substantially linear peripheral surface portion ends before the rear edge of the second opening, and the inner peripheral surface defines a second substantially elliptical peripheral surface portion extending from the end of the substantially linear peripheral surface portion to the rear of the mower.

[0162] The thirty-first aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-fifth aspect, wherein a line extending through the front and rear portions of the mower defines the discharge side of the mower to one side of the line and the non-discharge side of the mower to the other side of the line, wherein the inner peripheral surface includes a substantially linear peripheral surface portion defined on the discharge side of the mower and a second substantially linear peripheral surface portion defined on the non-discharge side of the mower, and wherein the second substantially elliptical peripheral surface portion extends from one end of the substantially linear peripheral surface portion to one end of the second substantially linear peripheral surface portion.

[0163] The thirty-second aspect is an alternative form of the twenty-third aspect, wherein the rear portion includes a rear sidewall, the side portion includes a sidewall, and the front portion includes a front sidewall.

[0164] The thirty-third aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-second aspect, wherein the rear sidewall of the rear portion forms an angle with the ground in the range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.

[0165] The thirty-fourth aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-third aspect, wherein the sidewalls of the side portion form a second angle with the ground in the range of about 170 degrees to about 180 degrees.

[0166] The thirty-fifth aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-third aspect, wherein the front sidewall of the front portion forms a second angle with the ground in the range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.

[0167] The thirty-sixth aspect is an alternative form of the twenty-third aspect, having a height ranging from 2 inches to 3 inches.

[0168] In a thirty-seventh aspect, the subject matter relates to a lawn mowing apparatus comprising: a plurality of front wheels and a plurality of rear wheels; a mowing platform including a rear inner surface having an asymmetrical length portion or an asymmetrical height portion relative to a centerline of the mowing platform; a cutting system including a plurality of blades capable of rotating within the mowing platform in response to a force; an electric motor coupled to the cutting system and configured to supply the force to rotate the plurality of blades; a rechargeable battery for providing power to the electric motor; and a discharge opening defined within... In the rear-side portion of the mowing platform, the discharge opening has a front edge behind the rightmost side of the mowing platform and a rear edge near the rearmost side of the mowing platform, the rightmost and rearmost sides being defined relative to the operator's position at the rear of the mowing equipment; a discharge trench body having a discharge trench inlet fluidly connected to the discharge opening defined in the mowing platform; and a cover plug configured to conformally fit within the discharge trench inlet and having an inner surface configured to prevent turf trimmings from entering the discharge trench body through the discharge opening.

[0169] The thirty-eighth aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-seventh aspect, wherein the mowing platform defines an internal top surface that is asymmetrical in height with respect to the centerline of the mowing platform.

[0170] The thirty-ninth aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-eighth aspect, wherein the centerline of the mowing platform separates the discharge side of the mowing platform from the trimming side of the mowing platform, and wherein the inner top surface has a first height on the trimming side relative to the bottom edge of the mowing platform, and a second height on the discharge side relative to the bottom edge of the mowing platform.

[0171] The fortieth aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-ninth aspect, wherein the first height defines the minimum height of the inner top surface and the second height defines the maximum height of the inner top surface.

[0172] The forty-first aspect is an alternative form of the fortieth aspect, wherein the height of the inner top surface increases from a first height that defines a minimum height at an inflection point, and wherein the inflection point is radially located around the top surface of the mower, the radius of which increases from a radius of about zero degrees to a radius of about ninety degrees, wherein the zero-degree radius intersects the foremost edge of the mower defined from the operator's position, and wherein the ninety-degree radius intersects the leftmost edge of the mower defined from the operator's position.

[0173] The forty-second aspect is an alternative form of the forty-first aspect, wherein the inflection point is located at a radius of approximately thirty degrees from zero degrees, the radius being determined based on the operator's position.

[0174] The forty-third aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-eighth aspect, wherein the inner top surface defines a first height above the bottom edge of the mowing platform in a first region of the inner top surface, and a second height above the bottom edge in a second region of the inner top surface, wherein the first height is in the range of about 15% to about 95% of the second height.

[0175] The forty-fourth aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-eighth aspect, wherein the inner top surface defines a first height above the bottom edge of the mower in a first region of the inner top surface and defines a second height above the bottom edge in a second region of the inner top surface, wherein the second height is in the range of about 2.25 inches to about 2.75 inches from the bottom edge, and wherein the first height is in the second range of about 3 inches to about 5.5 inches from the bottom edge.

[0176] The forty-fifth aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-seventh aspect, wherein the inner surface of the cover plug defines a first flow path for turf trimming and a second flow path for turf trimming, the second flow path being physically separated from the first flow path by the edge of the input guide vane.

[0177] The forty-sixth aspect is an alternative form of the forty-fifth aspect, wherein the first flow path receives turf trimmings on the inner surface of the cover plug at the first flow path and guides them to the discharge side of the rear inner surface.

[0178] The forty-seventh aspect is an alternative form of the forty-fifth aspect, wherein the second flow path receives turf trimmings on the inner surface of the cover plug at the second flow path and guides them to the trimmed side of the rear inner surface.

[0179] The forty-eighth aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-seventh aspect, wherein: an asymmetrical length portion of the rear inner surface of the mowing table extends from the discharge side of the rear inner surface to the trimming side of the rear inner surface; and the asymmetrical length portion defines a minimum distance between the blade tips of a plurality of blades on the rear inner surface and the discharge side, and defines a maximum distance between the blade tips of a plurality of blades on the rear inner surface and the trimming side.

[0180] The forty-ninth aspect is an alternative form of the forty-eighth aspect, wherein the minimum distance is in the range of approximately fifty percent to approximately ninety percent of the maximum distance.

[0181] The fiftieth aspect is an alternative form of the forty-eighth aspect, wherein the minimum distance is in the range of about 0.7 inches to about 0.9 inches.

[0182] The fifty-first aspect is an optional form of the forty-eighth aspect, wherein the maximum distance is in the range of about 1.0 inch to about 1.2 inches.

[0183] The fifty-second aspect is an alternative form of the forty-eighth aspect, wherein a minimum distance at the discharge side prevents the turf trimmer from being ejected from the mower table onto the ground below the multiple blades, and wherein a maximum distance at the trimming side facilitates the ejection of the turf trimmer from the mower table onto the ground.

[0184] The fifty-third aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-seventh aspect, wherein the rear inner surface includes both an asymmetrical length portion and an asymmetrical height portion.

[0185] The fifty-fourth aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-seventh aspect, wherein when the asymmetrical height portion extends from the top of the rear inner surface to the bottom edge near the discharge side of the mower, the asymmetrical height portion is inclined forward toward the center of the mower, and defines a flat surface from the top to the bottom edge of the rear inner surface near the trimming side of the mower.

[0186] The fifty-fifth aspect is an alternative form of the fifty-fourth aspect, wherein the forward-sloping curvature reduces the ejection of turf trimmer from below the mower onto the ground at the discharge side of the mower, and wherein the flat surface promotes the ejection of turf trimmer from below the mower onto the trimming side of the mower.

[0187] The fifty-sixth aspect is an alternative form of the thirty-seventh aspect, wherein the rear inner surface of the mower defines an edge curvature that reduces the ejection of turf trimmer from the mower on the discharge side of the mower and promotes the ejection of turf trimmer from the mower on the trimming side of the mower.

[0188] The fifty-seventh aspect is an alternative form of the fifty-sixth aspect, wherein the inner surface of the cover includes a first trimmer flow path and a second trimmer flow path, the first trimmer flow path guiding a first subset of turf trimmer to the discharge side of the mower, and the second trimmer flow path guiding a second subset of turf trimmer to the trimming side of the mower.

[0189] The fifty-eighth aspect is an alternative form of the fifty-seventh aspect, wherein the inner surface of the cover plug defines an input guide vane that separates the first trimmer flow path from the second trimmer flow path.

[0190] The fifty-ninth aspect is an optional form of the fifty-eighth aspect, wherein the vertical distance between the input guide vane and the cutting edge of the upper blade among the plurality of blades is in the range of about 0.8 inches to about 1.2 inches.

[0191] In a sixtieth aspect, the subject matter provides a cover plug for a discharge groove in a hand-held power equipment device, comprising: an inner surface having a surface edge conformally fitted to the periphery of a discharge opening in a mower table of the hand-held power equipment device; an outer surface including an operator's handle, wherein the discharge groove defines an entry opening located adjacent to the discharge opening in the mower table within the discharge body; a discharge extension surface extending from an edge of the outer surface and conformally fitted to the surface of the discharge groove and having a length dimension approximately equal to the depth of the discharge groove through the discharge body; and a sleeve surface located at an end of a bottom surface opposite to the outer surface, the sleeve surface sitting on a rear surface of the discharge body and preventing the inner surface of the cover plug from extending through the discharge opening in the mower table.

[0192] The sixty-first aspect is an alternative form of the sixtieth aspect, wherein the inner surface defines a plurality of flow paths that guide the turf trimmings along separate physical locations within the mower.

[0193] The sixty-second aspect is an alternative form of the sixty-first aspect, wherein the inner surface further defines an input guide vane edge that separates a first flow path from a second flow path among a plurality of flow paths, and physically separates a first turf trimmer guided by the input guide vane edge to the first flow path from a second turf trimmer guided by the input guide vane edge to the second flow path.

[0194] The sixty-third aspect is an alternative form of the sixty-second aspect, wherein the first turf trimmer is guided to a lower path distribution that discharges the first turf trimmer along the discharge side of the rear wall of the mower.

[0195] The sixty-fourth aspect is an alternative form of the sixty-second aspect, wherein the second turf trimmer is guided to an upper path distribution that discharges the second turf trimmer along the trimming side of the rear wall of the mower.

[0196] The sixty-fifth aspect is an alternative form of the sixty-second aspect, wherein when conformally positioned with respect to the periphery of the discharge opening in the mowing table, the top edge of the cover plug slopes downward in height from the forward edge of the cover plug facing the front of the mowing table toward the rearward edge of the cover plug facing the rear of the mowing table, wherein the downward height of the top edge matches the downward slope of the top surface of the mowing table.

[0197] The sixty-sixth aspect is an alternative form of the sixty-fifth aspect, wherein the downward height of the top edge of the cover plug at the rear edge of the cover plug and the downward slope of the top surface of the mower distribute the second turf trim towards the ground below the mower and towards the upper path along the trimming side of the rear wall of the mower.

[0198] The sixty-seventh aspect is an alternative form of the sixtieth aspect, wherein the operator handle facilitates the insertion of the cover plug into the discharge groove of the discharge body connected to the mower and the removal of the cover plug from the discharge groove.

[0199] In aspect sixty-eight, the subject matter relates to a lawn mowing apparatus comprising: an electric motor having a working output shaft adapted to transmit work to rotate a component operably engaged therewith about a first axis; a rechargeable battery adapted to supply power to the electric motor; a mowing table defining a front portion and a rear portion offset from the front portion by table depth, a right side and a left side offset from the right side by table width, a top and a bottom portion offset from the top by table height, an inner surface about the first axis, a sagittal plane extending through the first axis between the right and left sides, and a coronal plane extending through the first axis between the front and rear portions; and a blade mount. The blade mount is operably engaged with the work output shaft and is adapted to rotate in an operating direction about a first axis within an inner surface; a first elongated blade, fixedly engaged with the blade mount, extends along a first blade axis away from the first axis and is adapted to rotate simultaneously with the blade mount about the first axis to define a first blade path boundary having a rear half behind the coronal plane and operable to cut trimmable material to produce trimmed material; wherein the rear surface has one or more features adapted to change the airflow to increase the trimmed material discharge rate as the distance along the rear half of the first blade path boundary in the operating direction increases.

[0200] The sixty-ninth aspect is an alternative to the sixty-eighth aspect, further comprising a second elongated blade fixedly engaged with the blade mount; extending away from the first axis along a second blade axis offset by an offset angle from the first blade axis; adapted to rotate simultaneously with the blade mount about the second axis to define the second blade path boundary; and operable to cut trimmable material to produce trimmed material.

[0201] The seventieth aspect is an alternative form of the sixty-ninth aspect, wherein: a) the rear surface is offset from the first axis by a gap distance, which increases with the distance along the rear half of the first blade path boundary in the operating direction; or b) the height of the inner surface relative to the bottom of the table increases continuously with the distance along the operating direction along the first blade path boundary between the minimum height inflection point and the maximum height inflection point.

[0202] The seventy-first aspect is an alternative to the sixty-ninth aspect, wherein the offset angle is between 85 degrees and 95 degrees; or wherein the first elongated blade is a lifting blade adapted to provide an upward force on the trimmed material produced during operation; or wherein the inner surface has a rear inner wall that forms a rear intersection with the sagittal plane, and wherein the rear intersection forms an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees with the plane normal to the first axis; or wherein the inner surface has a front inner wall that forms a front intersection with the sagittal plane, and wherein the front intersection forms an angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees with the plane normal to the first axis.

[0203] The seventy-second aspect is an alternative to the sixty-ninth aspect, and further includes a discharge opening defined in the rear side portion of the mowing platform, wherein the discharge opening has a front edge at the far right rear of the mowing platform and a rear edge near the far rear side of the mowing platform, the far right and far rear sides being defined relative to the operator's position at the rear of the mowing equipment.

[0204] The seventy-third aspect is an alternative to the seventy-second aspect and further includes a discharge trench body having a discharge trench inlet that is fluidly connected to a discharge opening defined in the mowing table.

[0205] The seventy-fourth aspect is an alternative to the seventy-third aspect, and further includes a cover plug configured to conformally fit within the discharge trench inlet and having an inner surface configured to prevent trimming material from entering the discharge trench body through the discharge opening.

[0206] The seventy-fifth aspect is an alternative to the seventy-second aspect, and further includes a discharge trench body having a discharge trench inlet and a discharge trench outlet, wherein the discharge trench inlet of the discharge trench body is fluidly connected to a discharge opening defined in a mower bed, such that air and trimming material inside the mower bed enter the discharge trench body from the discharge opening and the discharge trench inlet, and leave the discharge trench body through the discharge trench outlet.

[0207] The seventy-sixth aspect is an alternative form of the seventieth aspect, wherein the inner surface has a height relative to the bottom of the stage, which increases continuously with the distance along the first blade path boundary in the operating direction between the minimum height inflection point and the maximum height inflection point.

[0208] The seventy-seventh aspect is an alternative form of the seventy-sixth aspect, wherein the minimum height inflection point is located on a plane passing through the first axis and forming a first acute angle with the coronal plane when measured in the operating direction; and wherein the first angle is approximately 30 degrees.

[0209] The seventy-eighth aspect is an alternative form of the seventy-sixth aspect, wherein the height at the maximum height inflection point is between 15% and 95% greater than the height at the minimum height inflection point; or wherein the height at the maximum height inflection point is between 3 inches and 5.5 inches, and the height at the minimum height inflection point is between 2.25 inches and 2.75 inches.

[0210] The seventy-ninth aspect is an alternative form of the seventy-fourth aspect, wherein the inner surface of the cover plug defines a first flow path for trimming and a second flow path for trimming, the second flow path being physically separated from the first flow path by the edge of the input guide vane; and wherein the first flow path guides the trimming to the discharge side of the rear surface, and the second flow path guides the trimming to the trimming side of the rear surface.

[0211] In an eightieth aspect, the subject matter relates to a cover plug for a discharge groove in a hand-held power equipment device, comprising: an inner surface having a surface edge conformally fitted to the periphery of a discharge opening in a mower table of the hand-held power equipment device; an outer surface including an operator's handle, wherein the discharge groove defines an entry opening located adjacent to the discharge opening in the mower table within the discharge body; a discharge extension surface extending from an edge of the outer surface and conformally fitted to the surface of the discharge groove and having a length dimension approximately equal to the depth of the discharge groove through the discharge body; and a sleeve surface located at an end of a bottom surface opposite to the outer surface, the sleeve surface sitting on a rear surface of the discharge body and preventing the inner surface of the cover plug from extending through the discharge opening in the mower table.

[0212] The eighty-first aspect is an alternative form of the eightieth aspect, wherein the inner surface defines a plurality of flow paths that guide the turf trimmings along separate physical locations within the mowing platform.

[0213] The 82nd aspect is an alternative form of the 81st aspect, wherein the inner surface further defines an input guide vane edge that separates a first flow path from a second flow path among a plurality of flow paths, and physically separates a first turf trimmer guided by the input guide vane edge to the first flow path from a second turf trimmer guided by the input guide vane edge to the second flow path.

[0214] The eighty-third aspect is an alternative form of the eighty-second aspect, wherein the first turf trimmer is guided to a lower path distribution that discharges the first turf trimmer along the discharge side of the rear wall of the mower; or wherein the second turf trimmer is guided to an upper path distribution that discharges the second turf trimmer along the trimming side of the rear wall of the mower; or wherein, when conformally positioned with respect to the periphery of the discharge opening in the mower, the top edge of the cover plug slopes downward in height from the forward edge of the cover plug facing the front of the mower towards the rear edge of the cover plug facing the rear of the mower, wherein the downward height of the top edge matches the downward slope of the top surface of the mower.

[0215] In aspect eighty-four, this subject matter relates to a lawn mower for a walk-behind power device, comprising: a front, a rear, and a side portion of the lawn mower; a plurality of frame mounts located at the rear portion of the lawn mower for securing the lawn mower to a frame and a discharge body of the walk-behind power device; a central portion defining an opening through a surface of the lawn mower and having a seat for supporting a blade assembly and an electric motor, and one or more mounts for securing the blade assembly and the electric motor to the lawn mower; and a discharge opening defining a second opening through a surface of the lawn mower near the periphery of the lawn mower and between the rear and side portions. The discharge opening is fluidly connected to the discharge body input of the discharge body of the hand-held power device; a turf guide structure extends from the side toward the front and defines a front-facing surface having a first edge that extends substantially to the entire extent of the side; and a second turf guide structure extends from a second side on the side of the mower opposite to the side toward the front and defines a second front-facing surface having a second edge that extends substantially to the entire extent of the second side, wherein the distance from the first edge to the second edge across the front of the mower is substantially equal to the entire width of the mower.

[0216] The 85th aspect is an alternative form of the 84th aspect, wherein the second opening defined by the discharge opening has a front edge near the side of the mowing table and a rear edge near the rear of the mowing table.

[0217] The 86th aspect is an alternative form of the 85th aspect, wherein the entire extent of the front portion defines a zero-degree position of the mower, the entire extent of the side portion defines a ninety-degree position of the mower, and the entire extent of the rear portion defines a one hundred and eighty-degree position of the mower, and wherein the front edge is between the ninety-degree and one hundred and thirty-degree positions of the mower.

[0218] The 87th aspect is an alternative form of the 85th aspect, wherein the mower includes an inner peripheral surface on the underside of the mower, and wherein the inner peripheral surface in front of the front edge of the second opening defines a substantially elliptical peripheral surface portion, and wherein the inner peripheral surface behind the front edge defines a substantially linear peripheral surface portion.

[0219] The 88th aspect is an alternative form of the 68th or 69th aspect, wherein: a) the rear surface is offset from the first axis by a gap distance, which increases with the distance along the rear half of the first blade path boundary in the operating direction; or b) the height of the inner surface relative to the bottom of the table increases continuously with the distance along the operating direction along the first blade path boundary between the minimum height inflection point and the maximum height inflection point.

[0220] The 89th aspect is an alternative form of any of the 68th, 69th, 70th, or 71st aspects, wherein the offset angle is between 85 and 95 degrees; or wherein the first elongated blade is a lifting blade adapted to provide an upward force on the trimmed material produced during operation; or wherein the inner surface has a rear inner wall that forms a rear intersection with the sagittal plane, and wherein the rear intersection forms an angle between 30 and 60 degrees with the plane normal to the first axis; or wherein the inner surface has a front inner wall that forms a front intersection with the sagittal plane, and wherein the front intersection forms an angle between 30 and 60 degrees with the plane normal to the first axis.

[0221] The 90th aspect is an alternative to the 73rd aspect, wherein the cover plug has an inner surface having a surface edge conformally fitted to the periphery of the discharge opening; an outer surface including an operator handle; a discharge extension surface extending from the edge of the outer surface and conformally fitted to the surface of the discharge trench body and having a length dimension approximately equal to the depth of the discharge trench body; and a sleeve surface located at an end of the bottom surface opposite to the outer surface, the sleeve surface sitting on the rear surface of the discharge trench body and preventing the inner surface of the cover plug from extending through the discharge opening in the mower.

[0222] The 91st aspect is an alternative to any one of the 68th, 69th, 70th, or 71st aspects, and further includes a plurality of frame mounts at the rear of the mower, adapted to secure the mower to a frame and the discharge body of the mower; a central portion defining an opening through the mower and having a seat adapted to support the blade mount and the electric motor; a discharge opening defining a second opening extending through the surface of the mower near the periphery of the mower and between the rear of the mower and the right side of the mower, wherein the discharge opening is fluidly coupled to a discharge body input of the discharge body of the mower; a turf guide structure extending from the right side of the mower toward the front of the mower and defining a front-facing surface having a first edge extending to the right side of the mower; and a second turf guide structure extending from the left side of the mower toward the front of the mower and defining a second front-facing surface having a second edge extending to the left side of the mower, wherein the distance across the front of the mower from the first edge to the second edge is approximately equal to the width of the mower.

[0223] The ninety-second aspect is a method for manufacturing any of the above-mentioned lawn mowing equipment.

[0224] Based on the foregoing, it should be understood that the embodiments and examples described herein are for illustrative purposes only, and various modifications or changes thereto will be suggested to those skilled in the art and are included within the spirit and scope of this application and the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mowing apparatus, characterized in that, include: An electric motor having a working output shaft adapted to transmit work to rotate a component operably engaged therewith about a first axis; A rechargeable battery adapted to supply power to the electric motor; Lawn mowing platform, this lawn mowing platform has the following limitations: A front section and a rear section offset by one depth from the front section. The right side of the platform and the left side of the platform offset by one width from the right side of the platform. The top of the platform and the bottom of the platform, offset by one height from the top. The inner surface surrounding the first axis, and A sagittal plane, extending between the right and left sides of the stage, passes through the first axis. A coronal plane that extends through the first axis between the anterior and posterior portions of the table; A blade mount that is operably engaged with the working output shaft and adapted thereto rotate about a first axis in the operating direction within its inner surface; The first slender blade: Securely engages with the blade mount. Extending away from the first axis along the axis of the first blade, Adapted to rotate simultaneously with the blade mount about a first axis to define a first blade path boundary, the first blade path boundary having a rear half behind the coronal plane, and It is operable to cut trimmable material to produce trimmed material; The rear surface has one or more features that are adapted to change the airflow to increase the discharge rate of the trimmer as the distance along the rear half of the operating direction of the first blade path boundary increases.

2. The grass cutting arrangement of claim 1, characterized in that It also includes a second slender blade, which is: It is securely engaged with the blade mounting component; Extending away from the first axis along the second blade axis, which is offset by an offset angle from the first blade axis; It is adapted to rotate around the second axis simultaneously with the blade mount to define the boundary of the second blade path; and It can be operated to cut trimmed materials to produce trimmed items.

3. The lawnmowing equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, a) The rear surface is offset from the first axis by a clearance distance, which increases with the distance along the rear half of the first blade path boundary in the operating direction; or b) The inner surface has a height relative to the bottom of the stage, which increases continuously between a minimum height inflection point and a maximum height inflection point as the distance along the first blade path boundary in the operating direction increases.

4. The lawnmowing equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The offset angle is between 85 degrees and 95 degrees; or The first slender blade is a lifting blade, which is adapted to provide an upward force on the trimmed material produced during operation; or The inner surface has a rear inner wall that intersects the sagittal plane at a rear portion, and the rear intersecting portion forms an angle between 30 and 60 degrees with the plane normal to the first axis; or The inner surface has a foremost inner wall that intersects the sagittal plane at a front portion, and the front portion forms an angle between 30 and 60 degrees with the plane normal to the first axis.

5. The lawnmower equipment according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, It also includes a discharge opening defined in the rear side portion of the mowing platform, wherein the discharge opening has a front edge behind the rightmost side of the mowing platform and a rear edge near the rearmost side of the mowing platform, the rightmost and rearmost sides being defined relative to the operator position at the rear of the mowing equipment.

6. The lawnmowing equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a discharge trench body having a discharge trench inlet that is fluidly connected to a discharge opening defined in the mower.

7. The lawnmowing equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a cover plug configured to conformally fit within the discharge groove inlet and having an inner surface configured to prevent trimming material from entering the discharge groove body through the discharge opening.

8. The lawnmowing equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a discharge trench body having a discharge trench inlet and a discharge trench outlet, wherein the discharge trench inlet of the discharge trench body is fluidly connected to a discharge opening defined in the mowing table, such that air and trimming material inside the mowing table enter the discharge trench body from the discharge opening and the discharge trench inlet, and exit the discharge trench body through the discharge trench outlet.

9. The lawnmowing equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inner surface has a height relative to the bottom of the stage, which increases continuously between the minimum height inflection point and the maximum height inflection point as the distance along the first blade path boundary in the operating direction increases.

10. The lawnmower equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that, The minimum height inflection point is on a plane passing through the first axis and forms a first acute angle with the coronal plane when measured in the operating direction; and the first angle is approximately 30 degrees.

11. The lawnmower equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that, The height at the maximum height inflection point is 15% to 95% greater than the height at the minimum height inflection point; or The maximum height inflection point is between 3 inches and 5.5 inches, and the minimum height inflection point is between 2.25 inches and 2.75 inches.

12. The lawnmower equipment according to claim 7, characterized in that, The inner surface of the cover plug defines a first flow path for trimming and a second flow path for trimming, the second flow path being physically separated from the first flow path by the edge of the input guide vane; and The first flow path guides the trimmed material to the discharge side of the rear surface, and the second flow path guides the trimmed material to the trimming side of the rear surface.

13. The lawnmower equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a cover plug, wherein the cover plug has: The inner surface has a surface edge that conformally fits the periphery of the discharge opening; The outer surface includes an operator handle; A discharge extension surface extends from the edge of the outer surface and conformally fits the surface of the discharge groove body and has a length dimension approximately equal to the depth of the discharge groove body; and A sleeve surface located at the end of the bottom surface opposite the outer surface, the sleeve surface sitting on the rear surface of the discharge groove body, and preventing the inner surface of the cover plug from extending through the discharge opening in the mower.

14. The lawnmower equipment according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The lawn mowing platform also includes: Multiple frame mounts at the rear of the platform are adapted to secure the mower platform to the frame and the discharge body of the mower. The central portion defines an opening through the mower and has a seat adapted to support the blade mount and the electric motor; The discharge opening defines a second opening that passes through the surface of the mower table near the periphery of the mower table and between the rear of the table and the right side of the table, and wherein the discharge opening is fluidly connected to the discharge body input of the discharge body of the mower. A turf guiding structure extending from the right side of the platform toward the front portion of the platform and defining a front-facing surface having a first edge extending to the right side of the platform; and A second turf guide structure extends from the left side of the platform toward the front of the platform and defines a second forward-facing surface having a second edge extending to the left side of the platform, wherein the distance across the front of the platform from the first edge to the second edge is approximately equal to the width of the platform.

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