Toro receives patent for cutting unit invention
The Toro Company was recently
issued a second U.S. Patent for its SidewinderTM technology. The
first Sidewinder patent was issued in 2000 for reel mower applications and the
second, recently issued, patent covers all mower applications.
The Sidewinder feature gives the operators the ability to
shift all of the cutting units left or right while on the fly, providing
additional, adjustable overhang on both sides.
Currently, the Sidewinder feature is standard on the Groundsmaster®
3500-D and a popular optional on the Reelmaster® 3100-D.
“We’re proud of inventors Jack
Gust, Daniel Treu, Walter Petersen, Gordon Schmidt and Donald Lackner, who when
challenged to make trim mowing easier, invented the Sidewinder technology,"
said John Wright, Toro's director of marketing for golf products.
"Toro vigorously pursues patents, with more patents added every
year."
Since its release, the Sidewinder
technology has proven to be an asset for golf courses and
sports fields. In one of its
embodiments the Sidewinder Cutting System slides cutting units 12 inches left or
right of center to achieve greater trimming ability and varies the tire
tracking, an important feature in areas where mowing in the same pattern is
required, or in areas where striping is desirable.