IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,376,517
Granted Patent B2
US 12,376,517 · App. 18/508,625 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Lawnmower discharge accessories

Inventors: David Marolla (Menomonee Falls, WI); Shane McCue (Greenfield, WI); Hans T. Banholzer (Mequon, WI); John L. Whealon (West Bend, WI); Ryan Gunderson (Jackson, WI)
Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
A01D34/71A01D34/005A01D34/81A01D43/06A01D43/063A01D43/0631A01D43/0635A01D43/0638A01D2101/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,376,517
App. No.
18/508,625
Granted
Aug 5, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mulch plug accessory for a lawnmower includes a curvilinear plug wall having a convex side, and a plurality of alignment legs extending in a direction away from the convex side of the curvilinear plug wall. Each alignment leg has a distal end including a stop flange. The mulch plug accessory further includes a post extending in a direction away from the convex side of the curvilinear plug wall. A lawnmower including a main body having an ejection port also includes a mulch plug accessory configured to be selectively disposed within the ejection port.

Claims (35)

1. A mulch plug accessory for a lawnmower, the mulch plug comprising:

a curvilinear plug wall having a convex side;

a plurality of alignment legs extending in a direction away from the convex side of the curvilinear plug wall, each alignment leg having a distal end including a stop flange; and

a post extending in a direction away from the convex side of the curvilinear plug wall, wherein a longitudinal central axis of the post extends at an upward angle from the curvilinear plug wall.

2. The mulch plug accessory of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of alignment legs extends from a position on a perimeter of the curvilinear plug wall.

3. The mulch plug accessory of claim 2 , wherein the post extends from a position within the perimeter of the curvilinear plug wall.

4. The mulch plug accessory of claim 3 , wherein a cross-section of the post is oblong.

5. The mulch plug accessory of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ribs extending from the convex side.

6. The mulch plug accessory of claim 1 , wherein the stop flange is configured to prevent the mulch plug from being inserted too far into the ejection port.

7. A mulch plug accessory for a lawnmower, the mulch plug accessory comprising:

a curvilinear plug wall having a convex side and a concave side;

a plurality of alignment legs extending in a direction away from the convex side of the curvilinear plug wall; and

a post extending in a direction away from the convex side of the curvilinear plug wall,

wherein the post is positioned closer to a center of the curvilinear plug wall than the plurality of alignment legs, and

wherein the post and the plurality of alignment legs are non-parallel.

8. The mulch plug accessory of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of alignment legs extends from a position on a perimeter of the curvilinear plug wall.

9. The mulch plug accessory of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of alignment legs includes a stop flange extending from a distal end thereof, the distal end being opposite the curvilinear plug wall.

10. The mulch plug accessory of claim 9 , wherein the stop flange of each of the plurality of alignment legs extends in a direction away from the post.

11. The mulch plug accessory of claim 7 , wherein the curvilinear plug wall is defined by a perimeter having four corners, and wherein each of the plurality of alignment legs extends from a corner of the perimeter.

12. The mulch plug accessory of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of alignment legs is two alignment legs.

13. The mulch plug accessory of claim 7 , wherein a cross-section of the post is oblong.

14. The mulch plug accessory of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of ribs extending from the convex side.

15. A lawnmower comprising:

a main body including an ejection port having an interior opening and an exterior opening, the ejection port defining an elongated channel extending between the interior opening and the exterior opening;

a cover coupled to the main body and movable between an open position, in which the cover does not enclose the exterior opening of the ejection portion, and a closed position, in which the cover encloses the exterior opening of the ejection port; and

a mulch plug accessory configured to be selectively disposed within the ejection port, the mulch plug accessory including

a curvilinear plug wall having a convex side;

a plurality of alignment legs extending in a direction away from the convex side of the curvilinear plug wall, each alignment leg having a distal end including a stop flange; and

a post extending in a direction away from the convex side of the curvilinear plug wall,

wherein the cover includes a recess extending toward the exterior opening, and wherein the recess is configured to engage with the post when the mulch plug is disposed within the ejection port and the cover is in the closed position.

16. The lawnmower of claim 15 , wherein the stop flange of each alignment leg engages with a perimeter of the exterior opening when the mulch plug is disposed within the ejection port.

17. The lawnmower of claim 15 , wherein the main body has a curvilinear interior portion, and wherein the mulch plug includes a concave side opposite the convex side, the concave side of the curvilinear plug wall corresponds in shape to the curvilinear interior portion.

18. The lawnmower of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of alignment legs extends from a position on a perimeter of the curvilinear plug wall.

19. The lawnmower of claim 18 , wherein the perimeter of the curvilinear plug wall corresponds in shape to a perimeter of the interior opening such that the mulch plug accessory is configured to close the ejection port.

20. The lawnmower of claim 15 , wherein the cover is biased toward the closed position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 14, 2023
From: MAROLLA, DAVID; MCCUE, SHANE; BANHOLZER, HANS T.; WHEALON, JOHN L.; GUNDERSON, RYAN
To: MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065561/0909 →
Continuity (3)
Division 17885385 · Aug 10, 2022
Provisional Application 63231677 · Aug 10, 2021
Related Publication 20240074347A1 · Mar 7, 2024
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