Jack for power implement

Abstract

A lawnmower comprising a chassis and a mower deck movable with respect to the chassis. A cylinder assembly is mounted to said chassis, and includes an actuating cylinder, and a piston shaft selectively extendable and retractable with respect to the cylinder under the influence of fluid pressure within the cylinder. A deck lift assembly is interconnected to the chassis and the mower deck for adjusting the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis. The deck lift assembly includes a pivot member pivotally connected to the chassis. A jack is removably coupled to the pivot member, such that the chassis is raised and lowered in response to movement of the piston shaft with respect to the cylinder. The jack utilizes the existing hydraulic system and cylinder assembly of the lawnmower to raise the lawnmower with respect to the ground.

1 . A lawnmower comprising: 
 a chassis;    a mower deck movable with respect to the chassis;    a deck lift assembly interconnected between the mower deck and the chassis and operable to adjust the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis; and    a jack movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;    wherein operation of the deck lift assembly raises and lowers the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground when the jack is in the engaged position.    
     
     
         2 . The lawnmower of  claim 1 , wherein the jack is disconnected from the deck lift assembly when the jack is in the disengaged position.  
     
     
         3 . The lawnmower of  claim 1 , wherein operation of the deck lift assembly when the jack is in the engaged position raises and lowers the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground while simultaneously adjusting the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis.  
     
     
         4 . The lawnmower of  claim 1 , wherein the deck lift assembly includes an actuator; wherein the deck lift assembly adjusts the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis in response to operation of the actuator when the jack is in either of the engaged position and the disengaged position; and wherein the deck lift assembly adjusts the height of the chassis with respect to the ground in response to operation of the actuator when the jack is in the engaged position.  
     
     
         5 . The lawnmower of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator includes a cylinder and a piston shaft selectively extendable and retractable with respect to the cylinder under the influence of pressure within the cylinder; wherein the deck lift assembly adjusts the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis in response to movement of the piston shaft with respect to the cylinder when the jack is in either of the engaged position and the disengaged position; and wherein the deck lift assembly adjusts the height of the chassis with respect to the ground in response to movement of the piston shaft with respect to the cylinder when the jack is in the engaged position.  
     
     
         6 . The lawnmower of  claim 1 , wherein the deck lift assembly includes a linkage interconnected between the mower deck and the chassis; wherein the jack is interconnectable with the linkage; and wherein movement of the linkage raises and lowers the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground when the jack is in the engaged position.  
     
     
         7 . The lawnmower of  claim 6 , wherein the linkage includes a pivot member; 
 wherein the jack is interconnectable with the pivot member; and wherein pivoting of the pivot member raises and lowers the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground when the jack is in the engaged position.    
     
     
         8 . The lawnmower of  claim 1 , wherein operation of the deck lift assembly when the jack is in the disengaged position adjusts the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis and does not raise and lower the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground.  
     
     
         9 . A lawnmower comprising: 
 a chassis;    a mower deck movable with respect to the chassis;    means for adjusting the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis; and    a jack movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position;    wherein the chassis is raised on the jack with respect to the ground in response to operation of the adjusting means when the jack is in the engaged position.    
     
     
         10 . The lawnmower of  claim 9 , wherein the jack is disconnected from the adjusting means when the jack is in the disengaged position.  
     
     
         11 . The lawnmower of  claim 9 , wherein operating the adjusting means when the jack is in the engaged position raises and lowers the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground while simultaneously adjusting the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis.  
     
     
         12 . The lawnmower of  claim 9 , wherein operation of the adjusting means when the jack is in the disengaged position adjusts the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis and does not raise and lower the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground.  
     
     
         13 . The lawnmower of  claim 9 , wherein the adjusting means includes an actuator; wherein the adjusting means adjusts the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis in response to operation of the actuator when the jack is in either of the engaged position and the disengaged position; and wherein the adjusting means adjusts the height of the chassis with respect to the ground in response to operation of the actuator when the jack is in the engaged position.  
     
     
         14 . A method for jacking a lawnmower comprising a chassis, a mower deck movable with respect to the chassis, and a deck lift assembly interconnected between the mower deck and the chassis and operable to adjust the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis, the method comprising: 
 providing a jack;    moving the jack from a disengaged position to an engaged position;    operating the deck lift assembly; and    raising the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground in response to operation of the deck lift assembly when the jack is in the engaged position.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein moving the jack from a disengaged position to an engaged position includes connecting the jack to the deck lift assembly.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein operating the deck lift assembly when the jack is in the engaged position raises and lowers the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground while simultaneously adjusting the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the deck lift assembly includes an actuator, and wherein operating the deck lift assembly includes operating the actuator to simultaneously adjust the height of the mower deck with respect to the chassis and the height of the chassis with respect to the ground.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator includes a cylinder and a piston shaft selectively extendable and retractable with respect to the cylinder under the influence of pressure within the cylinder, and wherein operating the actuator includes moving the piston shaft with respect to the cylinder.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the deck lift assembly includes a linkage interconnected between the mower deck and the chassis; wherein moving the jack from a disengaged position to an engaged position includes connecting the jack to the linkage; and wherein operating the deck lift assembly includes moving the linkage, thereby raising the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the linkage includes a pivot member pivotable to raise and lower the mower deck with respect to the chassis; wherein connecting the jack to the linkage includes connecting the jack to the pivot member; and wherein moving the linkage includes pivoting the pivot member, thereby raising the chassis on the jack with respect to the ground.