US 12,453,299 B2
Implement and grounds maintenance vehicle including same
Jerrod Neal Winter, Faribault, MN (US); and Phat Toan Nghiem, Minnetonka, MN (US)
Assigned to THE TORO COMPANY, Bloomington, MN (US)
Filed by THE TORO COMPANY, Bloomington, MN (US)
Filed on May 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/752,100.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/193,161, filed on May 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0377961 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. A01B 45/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01B 45/00 (2013.01) 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising:
a chassis comprising a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end, wherein the chassis is supported upon a ground surface by at least a front wheel located proximate the front end of the chassis and a rear wheel located proximate the rear end of the chassis; and
a ground-working implement connected to the chassis between the front and rear wheels, the implement comprising:
an implement frame; and
a tool carousel rotatably connected to the implement frame and comprising a shaft and first and second operator-selectable ground-working tools extending outwardly from the shaft, wherein the shaft extends along a carousel axis, and wherein the tool carousel is configured to rotate about the carousel axis and alternately lock in:
a first position, wherein the first ground-working tool is configured to contact the ground surface, and
a second position, wherein the second ground-working tool is configured to contact the ground surface;
wherein the tool carousel is further configured to rotate the first ground-working tool about the carousel axis through a sweep angle that is greater than 0 degrees and no greater than 120 degrees when the tool carousel is in the first position and lock in the first ground-working tool at any sweep angle.