The Invention
The patent, US410836A, granted to Daniel Johnson of Kansas City, Missouri, on September 10, 1889, is for a lawn-mower attachment. The invention’s purpose is to create an adjustable and collapsible grass-catcher that attaches to a lawn mower, allowing the user to collect cut grass without having to rake it afterward.
Key Features:
- Adjustable Frame: The core of the invention is an adjustable frame (E) that attaches to the lawn mower’s handle (A). This frame is made of several slotted, U-shaped strips that can be moved and secured with bolts and nuts. This allows the user to increase or decrease the size of the grass receiver to suit their needs.
- Hood-Shaped Receiver: The patent describes a “hood-shaped receiver” (G), which is a flexible cloth bag. The front, open end of the bag is supported by an adjustable rod (
f''). The bottom of the bag is attached to this rod and is wrapped over it to form a secure connection. - Ground-Roller Bracket Attachment: The rod that holds the front of the receiver is supported by arms that pivot on the lawn mower’s ground-roller brackets (
f'). This clever design allows the receiver to be positioned close to the ground, where it can catch the grass as it is thrown by the mower’s rotating cutters. - Height Adjustment: The height of the receiver-carrying rod can be adjusted with screws. This allows the user to position the receiver at the ideal height for different types of grass, whether wet or dry.
- Easy Dumping: To empty the receiver, the user simply inverts the mower’s handle. The attached frame prevents the receiver from collapsing, and a rectangular opening with a cover on the bottom of the receiver allows the user to easily dump the grass.
Significance of the Invention and Inventor
Daniel Johnson’s patent for a lawn-mower attachment is an excellent example of a minor but practical invention that addressed a common need in late 19th-century society.
- Improving Efficiency in Home Care: Like Henry Peterson’s similar invention, Johnson’s grass catcher aimed to improve the efficiency of a common household chore. By combining the mowing and raking processes, the attachment saved time and labor, making it a valuable tool for a society that was increasingly valuing convenience.
- Versatile and User-Friendly Design: The key advantage of Johnson’s design is its high degree of adjustability. The ability to expand or shrink the receiver’s size, and to adjust its height and position, made it a versatile product that could be used with a variety of mowers and in different conditions. This shows a focus on user-centric design that was becoming more common in this era.
- The “Everyday” Inventor: Daniel Johnson, from Kansas City, Missouri, was likely an individual inventor or small entrepreneur. His patent, like many others of the time, shows that ingenuity was not limited to major industrial centers. His contribution, though perhaps not as widely known as others, is part of the collective history of American innovation that sought to improve everyday tools and make work easier.
