Black Decker Inc.

Ronald A Jackson

Kristoffer A Hess

John Maruscak

Ronald G Hare

Michael Georges Sirois

Martin P Gierke

Richard Peter Rosa

David S Strong

Brian S Burnett

Courtney F Bond

Stephen B Hunter

A lawn mower having a deck height adjustment mechanism for simultaneously adjusting a height of a deck of a lawn mower at all four wheels of the lawn mower by the use of a single hand of the operator. The mechanism includes an index plate having a plurality of teeth thereon defining a plurality of deck height positions, and therefore a plurality of height positions of a cutting blade supported by the deck. The index plate is fixedly secured to an offset rear axle. An engaging plate having a pawl is coupled to an actuating member which is slidably, vertically moveable relative to the deck when the operator grips the actuating member and pulls upwardly away from the deck, while resting a palm of the same hand on a palm rest portion of the mechanism. A linkage member couples the index plate to a bracket of an offset front axle positioned at a front end of the deck. The operator adjusts the height of the deck relative to a ground surface by pulling upwardly with the fingers of one hand on the actuating member, while resting the palm of the same hand on the palm rest. This causes the engaging plate, and thus the pawl thereon, to be drawn out of engagement with the teeth of the index plate. The operator, while holding the actuating member engaged, may either pull upwardly with the same hand, thus raising the entire deck of the mower, or may urge the deck into a lower position. Movement of the index plate causes a simultaneous rotational movement of the offset front axle. Thus, all four corners of the deck are caused to be raised or lowered simultaneously as the operator either lifts or lowers the deck while engaging the actuation member.

Lawn mower having improved deck height adjustment mechanism

Lawn mower height-adjust systems include three embodiments. Two permit the user to adjust the position of the deck relative to each wheel individually. The third permits the user to adjust the positions of all four wheels simultaneously, aided by a counterbalance system. A modification of the third embodiment is available to automatically bypass the height-adjust mechanism in the event an abnormally high load is placed on the deck. One of the two individual systems permits an operator to adjust the position of a respective wheel simply by removing a single nut and washer from an axle bolt. The second individual height-adjust system permits the operator to adjust the height of an individual wheel by using one hand, and without having to disassemble the mechanism. The system which adjusts all four wheels simultaneously links front and rear axle subassemblies with a connecting rod, and indexes all four wheels simultaneously through a release handle which is recessed in a cavity formed in the lawn mower deck. When the operator lifts the release handle, he or she may simultaneously grasp a portion of the deck with the same hand and easily raise or lower it to a desired position. A single unitary plastic deck is the foundation for each of the three height-adjust systems, thereby significantly reducing the cost otherwise incurred by manufacturing three separate types of lawn mowers.

Lawn mower height-adjust systems

Lawn mower with bag

Lawn mower

A method and apparatus for mounting a protective flap assembly to the deck housing of a lawn and garden device is disclosed. The deck housing includes a horizontal support member having an open end and a closed end at opposite lateral edges thereof. The properties flap assembly has an upper socket portion adapted to surroundingly capture the support member upon inward sliding insertion onto the open end thereof. A lower portion of the protective flap assembly extends downwardly toward the ground. The support member is adapted to inhibit removal of the flap assembly following installation on the deck housing.

Lawn mower flap mount

A vise is cantilever mounted to a workbench, projects forwardly thereof, and is disposed below the extended plane of the workbench table top. The vise includes a pair of U-shaped brackets, secured to the underside of the table top, and a pair of tubular beams slidably received in the respective brackets. Each of the beams is selectively indexed to its cooperating bracket, thereby providing a 'coarse' adjustment. A fixed rear vise jaw is disposed on top of the beams, transversely thereof; this rear vise jaw is secured to the brackets and abuts against the lower portion of the longitudinal front side of the table top. A movable front vise jaw is mounted on top of the beams, transversely thereof, and may be moved in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the fixed rear vise jaw for clamping tapered workpieces therebetween. The means for mounting the movable front jaw to the beams includes a pair of independently-operable screw-threaded rods in the beams, restrained against axial movement thereof, and carrying respective crank handles. The rods are received in respective pivot nut members secured to the movable front vise jaw.

Vise for workbench

A one piece frame or channel for a work support which is usable during building or construction principally as a support at ground level or as a scaffold at elevated levels regardless of whether the surface is even, irregular or constitutes different heights. The channel is used in pairs to form the work support. A plurality of legs are conveniently made from two-by-fours which are clamped to the channel at a suitable height in conformance with the ground so as to set the plank horizontally which plank extends across the pair of laterally spaced channels. Top brackets are interlocked in the top portion of the channels to engage and to hold the plank in assembled position. A clamp is carried on leg portions of the channel on an axle journaled in punched support lugs. A spring biases the clamp to engage the legs. Teeth are formed on the clamp to secure the legs in adjusted position. The channel has a base at its inner side formed with a radius at the edges thereof which turn out into flanges, which radius co-acts with the clamp to wedge-lock the right angled edges of the leg thereagainst. Lock tabs are formed on the top brackets to freely slide within outturned support flanges of the channel to permit adjustment of the top brackets prior to their being bolted in assembled position. When disassembled the top brackets can be stored within the top portion of the channel.

Work support

A one piece frame for carrying a platform made from a unitary channel adapted to releasably receive a plurality of support legs. Adjustable top brackets mountable in the channel for supporting the platform connect to the frame to affix thereto. Bracing members on the frame prevent lateral shifting of the support legs. The channel at the leg is notched or recessed to permit a clamp to engage standard and substandard legs commonly made from two (2)-foot-by-four (4)-foot wood. Also, the clamps are provided with a plurality of teeth angularly disposed to engage the adjacent leg substantially perpendicular.

Work support frame

A tool guide for providing a stationary support for a portable power tool such as an electric drill. When the lower portion of the device is clamped between the vise jaws of a portable workbench and vise, an electric drill slidably mounted on the device may be used to drill either perpendicular or angular holes in a workpiece positioned on top of the vise jaws. An adjustable depth stop operatively associated with the slideway of the device provides accurate depth control. The device may also be used independently in order to add accuracy to free hand drilling for both perpendicular and angular holes.

Growing community of inventors

Brockville, Canada

Ronald A Jackson