Ferris Industries, Inc.

David Giere

Philip H Wenzel

An improved riding lawn mower includes a vehicle frame having a front end, a rear end, and a rear motor deck that is secured to the rear end of the frame. A drive motor is mounted above the motor deck while a rear wheel assembly engaged with the motor, is connected to the bottom of the rear motor deck. The mower also includes a front wheel assembly connected to the front end of the vehicle frame. A vehicle body and driver's seat are attached to vehicle frame. A steering column is cooperatively connected at its lower end to the front wheel assembly and includes at its upper end, a steering wheel positioned within reach of the operator seated on the mower. A steering mechanism is linked between the lower end of the steering column and the front wheel assembly. The steering mechanism is positioned above the front wheels of the mower and turns the front wheels asynchronously so that the lawn mower can be driven along an arc path having a radius approximately half the length of the vehicle frame.

Steering mechanism for four wheel lawn mower

An improved vehicle frame and cutter assembly lifting mechanism for a riding lawn mower. The frame includes a pair of oppositely opposed support rails extending along a substantial portion of the vehicle frame, a rear support member fixedly secured to the rear end of each of the support rails, a front support member fixedly secured to the front end of each of the support rails, a rear motor deck rotatably connected to the rear support member, a front wheel assembly connected to the front support member, a rear wheel assembly connected to said rear motor deck, an articulating pantograph type lifting mechanism for supporting a mower cutter assembly, and an actuator connected to the articulating pantograph type lifting mechanism for extending and retracting the mower cutter assembly between a cutting position proximate ground level and a fully retracted position. The rear motor deck is provided with a pair of extension arms which are secured to a frame axle that is rotatably retained within the rear support member. The mower is also provided with a kill switch assembly that disengages an electric clutch to remove drive power from the cutting blades when the mower cutter assembly reaches a predetermined height above ground level.

Growing community of inventors

Canastota, NY, United States of America

David Giere