Zippered Riding Mower Bag Flap for Easier Grass Emptying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Riding lawn mower grass collection bags, which can weigh up to 100 lbs when full, require strenuous lifting and flipping to empty, posing a risk of back and shoulder injuries.
Innovation Solution
A U-shaped attachment path with a detachable fastener on the grass collection bag allows a movable flap, enabling easy removal of grass without lifting the bag by converting it into an open condition using the fastener, such as a coil zipper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the grass collection bag is made large enough to hold up to 4.7 bushels of grass, then the volume of debris that can be collected is improved, but the weight of the bag increases to up to 100 lbs, making it difficult to handle and empty
Solution Approach 1:
The rear panel of the grass collection bag is segmented into a fixed portion and a movable flap portion. The flap is separated from the main bag body through a U-shaped attachment path, allowing it to be moved independently to access and empty the grass debris without moving the entire heavy bag.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap is extracted as a movable component from the rigid rear panel structure. By detaching the fastener along the U-shaped attachment path, the flap can be removed or opened to create an outlet for grass removal, eliminating the need to lift or move the entire heavy bag.
2Ease of manufacture
If the traditional method of emptying the grass collection bag is used (lifting and flipping the bag), then the grass can be emptied, but the process is strenuous and causes back and shoulder injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The rear panel is divided into a fixed portion and a movable flap portion connected by a U-shaped attachment path. This segmentation allows the flap to be manipulated independently to access grass debris without requiring the user to lift or flip the entire heavy bag, eliminating the harmful physical strain.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap mechanism is designed to be operated by simple fastener detachment along the U-shaped attachment path, allowing the user to open the flap and remove grass by hand or with minimal tools. The system serves itself by providing direct access to the grass without requiring external lifting or flipping actions.
3Extent of automation
If the mower blows grass up a chute into the hanging bag, then the grass is discharged automatically, but the bag still requires manual lifting and flipping to empty the grass
Solution Approach 1:
The rear panel is segmented with a movable flap portion that can be independently operated. This allows the bag to maintain automatic grass discharge through the chute while providing a separate access mechanism via the flap for easy emptying without lifting the bag.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap is designed as a dynamic component that can transition between closed and open states through fastener detachment along the U-shaped attachment path. This dynamic access point allows users to easily remove grass by hand or with tools without requiring the strenuous action of lifting or flipping the entire bag.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of improving the collection bag of a riding lawn mower is disclosed. The method includes defining a flap along a rear panel of the collection bag by way of an attachment path, wherein a detachable fastener is operatively associated with the attachment path. The attachment path extends adjacent to at least one side edge and one of a top edge and bottom edge of the rear panel to define the flap so that it is movable between a closed condition and an open condition defining a debris outlet entirely below the bagger attachment of the riding lawn mower. The detachable fastener operatively associated with the attachment path enables users to secure the flap in the closed condition or unsecure the flap to move it to the open condition for removing debris from the collection bag through the outlet without disengaging the collection bag from the bagger attachment.