Turf maintenance device for aeration and vertical cutting of soil

Abstract

A turf maintenance device for the aeration and vertical cutting of soil, including a conventional aerator, a vertical cutting device mounted to the aerator, operatively connected to a power source such that the aerator and vertical cutting device may be operated independently and/or simultaneously.

1 . A turf maintenance device comprising: 
 an aerator having a tubular tine wherein the tine is adapted to intermittently puncture ground; and    a vertical cutting unit mounted to the aerator, the vertical cutting unit adapted to make a series of vertical cuts in the ground.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the vertical cutting unit is operatively connected to the aerator.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the vertical cutting unit is operatively connected to the aerator by a pulley assembly.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the vertical cutting unit operates independently of the aerator.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the vertical cutting unit operates independently of the aerator.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the vertical cutting unit is raised and lowered in relation to the aerator.  
   
   
       7 . A turf maintenance device comprising: 
 an aerator having a pivotably mounted tine wherein the tine is adapted to puncture ground; and    a vertical cutting unit mounted to the aerator, the vertical cutting unit adapted to make a series of vertical cuts in the ground.    
   
   
       8 . A turf maintenance device comprising: 
 a housing;    an aerator having a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the housing and a plurality of tines adapted to puncture the ground operatively connected to the drive shaft;    a vertical cutting device having a drive shaft connected to the housing and adapted to make a series of vertical cuts in the ground; and    a pulley assembly operatively connected to the drive shaft of the aerator and the drive shat of the vertical cutting device.