Promow Gang Reel Mowers: Patent Documents


	US005865017A
United States Patent [19] Short	[11] Patent Number: 5,865,017 [45] *Date of Patent: Feb. 2, 1999**

[54] GANG MOWER [76] Inventor: Douglas Short, 12210 Leo Rd., Fort Wayne, Ind. 46825 [] Notice: The term of this patent shall not extend beyond the expiration date of Pat. No. 5,497,603. [21] Appl. No.: 860,682* [22] PCT Filed: Jan. 11, 1996 [86] PCT No.: PCT/US96/00191 § 371 Date: Jun. 10, 1997 § 102(e)Date: Jun. 10, 1997 [87] PCT Pub. No.: WO96/21344 PCT Pub. Date: Jul. 18, 1996 Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 370,664, Jan. 10, 1995, Pat. No. 5,497,603. [51] Int. Cl.6....................................A01D 75/30 [52] U.S. Cl. ....................................56/7; 56/249 [58] Field of Search ................56/6, 7, 249, 294, 56/15.4, 15.5, 15.6 [56] References Cited U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 1,663,900 3/1928 Braun.	1,725,375 8/1929 Seely. 1,902,928 3/1933 Worthington. 2,177,189 10/1939 Roseman. 2,830,421 4/1958 Blue et al. 3,058,280 10/1962 Lewis. 3,650,096 3/1972 Caldwell. 3,058,778 5/1974 Hoffmeyer et al. 4,021,996 5/1977 Bartlett et al. 4,287,706 9/1981 Tobin, Jr. 4,330,981 5/1982 Hall et al. 5,343,680 9/1994 Reichen et al. FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 2842739 4/1980 Germany. 9312843.6 2/1994 Germany. 714138 8/1954 United Kingdom. Primary Examiner-Heather Shackelford Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael B. McNeil [54] ABSTRACT A gang mower for garden tractors includes a frame, a hitch and either three, five or seven reel-type mower units attached to the frame. The frame is attached below the forward wheel axis of each mower unit. In action, the frame leverages the forward drive wheels downward to turn the mower blades when the frame is pulled forward by a garden tractor. 20 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets