Pivoting Net Guard for Riding Lawn Mower Safety Frame

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing riding lawn mowers with protective nets between the cockpit and collector face difficulties in folding the safety frame, making it hard to maneuver under trees and store the mower due to the configuration of the gate-shaped frame.

Innovation Solution

A safety guard structure with a pivoting net guard that can be locked in different postures, allowing the head frame to be easily folded and facilitating easier operation and storage by preventing accidental contact with the collector.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a protective net is arranged between the cockpit and the front portion of the collector, then operator safety is improved by preventing accidental intrusion to the collector, but the gate-shaped frame becomes difficult to fold, making it hard to maneuver under trees and store the mower

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidfolding operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective net is divided into two separate nets: a first net attached to the front surface of the gate-shaped frame and a second net attached to the rear surface. This segmentation allows the nets to be independently managed, enabling the gate-shaped frame to fold more easily while maintaining comprehensive operator protection against collector intrusion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective net system is designed to be dynamic rather than fixed. The nets can be detached and reattached, allowing the gate-shaped frame to transition between folded and unfolded states. This dynamic configuration maintains safety protection while enabling easy folding for maneuvering and storage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a gate-shaped frame with protective net is used between the cockpit and collector, then operator protection is enhanced, but the structural complexity increases, making folding and storage more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator protectionVSAvoidframe structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective system is segmented into multiple independent nets rather than a single complex integrated structure. The first net and second net can be separately attached and detached, reducing the overall structural complexity while maintaining comprehensive protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective nets are designed to be temporarily detached (discarded from the fixed position) when folding is needed, and then recovered (reattached) when protection is needed. This allows the system to switch between complex protected state and simple folded state

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP3771321B1Riding lawn mower
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 ISEKI & CO LTD
  • EP3771321B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3771321B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3771321B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a riding lawn mower in which a safety frame can be easily folded while including a protective net for the safety of an occupant when working with a mower collector. The riding lawn mower includes a mower 5 for mowing grass provided below the front part of a running vehicle body 1 and in front of front wheels 2, 2 and comprising a cutting blade 4, a collector 32 provided at the rear part of the vehicle body 1 and configured to accommodate mowed grass, and a cockpit 9 provided on the front side of the vehicle body 1. A safety guard 15 surrounding the cockpit 9 is provided between the cockpit 9 and the collector 32, a net guard 21 is provided in a space between left and right struts 15L, 15R of the safety guard 15, and the net guard 21 is pivotably provided in a posture that does not hinder the folding pivot of a head frame 15H of the safety guard 15.