Green Industry Innovators, L.l.c.

Todd Pugh

Steffon Hoppel

A lawn mower or stand-on powered drivable machine has an electrical port that receives current from an alternator powered by the engine or motor. The port receives a plug from a garment worn by the lawn mower operator. The garment includes one or more thermo-electric elements that are powered from current extending through the port. The thermo-electric (TEC) elements may be resistive heaters to warm the operator or TEC coolers to cool the operator. Furthermore, the garment may include a rechargeable battery that powers the thermo-electric elements when the plug is disconnected from the port.

Apparatus and method for powering a garment

A lawn mower has an electrical port that receives current from an alternator powered by the lawn mower engine. The current and voltage sent the electrical port depend on a flywheel and stator arrangement operatively connected to the alternator. The stator may be replaceable or interchangeable to selectively determine the alternator current and voltage output. The port receives a plug from a garment worn by the lawn mower operator. The garment includes one or more thermo-electric elements that are powered from current extending through the port. The thermo-electric elements may be resistive heaters to warm the operator or TEC coolers to cool the operator. Furthermore, the garment may include a rechargeable battery that powers the thermo-electric elements when the plug is disconnected from the port.

A mower having a supplemental battery charging station mounted thereon is provided. The mower utilizes a flywheel/alternator arrangement to output a selected voltage. The voltage is directed to the supplement battery charging station. The supplemental batteries are thereby charged at the charging station as the mower is driven forward or in another direction. The lawn mower also includes a rack (which may be in the form of a hook) to carry a battery powered supplemental lawn maintenance tool, such as a weed trimmer, hedger, edger, or leaf blower, amongst others.

Charging station mounted on a powered driveable machine

A utility vehicle with adjustable wheel assemblies to accommodate different weight attachments selectively engageable with the vehicle. Adjustment assemblies are provided to engage each of the front wheel assemblies. Each adjustment assembly includes a guide plate, a first arm of a first length and a second arm of a second length. The operator will select the appropriate one of the first and second arms to secure to the guide plate and to one of the front wheel assemblies. The guide plates include holes therein for locking the selected one of the arms in a particular orientation. This is accomplished by inserting a pin through an aperture in the selected first or second arm and one of the holes in the guide plate. A first end of the selected first or second arm is secured to the guide plate and a second end thereof is engaged with the associated wheel assembly.

Method of mounting an attachment to a utility vehicle

Utility vehicle with adjustable wheel base and wheel stance

A utility vehicle with wheel assemblies that are adjustable to accommodate different weight attachments that are selectively engaged with the vehicle. The vehicle has a frame with a pair of rear wheels and a pair of front wheel assemblies spaced a first distance longitudinally from the rear wheels and a second distance laterally from each other. One or both of the front wheel assemblies are selectively adjustable so as to vary one or both of the first distance and the second distance. This adjustment is made to change the balance between the weight of an overhung load due to different weight attachments and the weight of the rest of the vehicle with the operator. The adjustment of one or both of the right and left front wheel assemblies simultaneously adjusts the first and second distances while maintaining the operational height of the vehicle's frame relative to the ground.

A utility vehicle and method are provided wherein the vehicle has wheel assemblies that are adjustable to accommodate different attachments that may be selectively mounted on the vehicle and may have different weights. The wheel assemblies may be adjusted to alter the distance between the front wheel assemblies and/or between rear wheels and front wheel assemblies.

A rotary tool and method for spreading mulch outwardly from a mound of the same. The tool has an elongated shaft with a rotatable body mounted proximate a first end thereof. The body has a peripheral edge with a plurality of flexible fingers radiating outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The fingers may be individually securable to the body. In a second embodiment, a ring is detachably mounted to the body and the fingers are on the ring. When the tool is activated, the fingers engage the mulch mound and cause pieces of mulch to be flicked outwardly away from the body. The tool may also be used as a shovel-type device when the motor is not activated and the mulch can then be carried on the upper surface of the body.

Rotary tool for spreading particulate materials and method of using the same

A rotary tool for spreading mulch outwardly from a mound of the same. The tool has an elongated shaft with a rotatable body mounted proximate a first end thereof. The body has a peripheral edge with a plurality of flexible fingers radiating outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The fingers may be individually securable to the body. In a second embodiment, a ring is detachably mounted to the body and the fingers are on the ring. When the tool is activated, the fingers engage the mulch mound and cause pieces of mulch to be flicked outwardly away from the body. The tool may also be used as a shovel-type device when the motor is not activated and the mulch can then be carried on the upper surface of the body.

The rotary tool for spreading particulate materials from a mound of the same. The tool has an elongated shaft with a rotatable body mounted proximate a first end thereof. The body has a peripheral edge with a plurality of flexible fingers radiating outwardly therefrom. The rotatable body has an upper surface and a center axis in the upper surface. The tool includes a motor which, when activated, causes the rotatable body to rotate about its center axis. As the rotatable body rotates, the fingers engage the particulate materials and cause the pieces to be flicked outwardly away from the rotating body. The tool may also be used as a shovel-type device when the motor is not activated.

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, OH, United States of America

Todd Pugh