Noise-reducing mower blade

Abstract

A mower blade includes a body including an axis of rotation about which the blade is configured to rotate, a first body portion extending in a first direction from the axis of rotation, and a second body portion extending in a second opposite direction from the axis of rotation, wherein the second body portion is asymmetrically shaped with respect to the first body portion such that the center of mass of the blade lies on the axis of rotation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mower blade, comprising:
 a body including an axis of rotation about which the blade is configured to rotate;   a first body portion extending in a first direction from the axis of rotation; and   a second body portion extending in a second opposite direction from the axis of rotation, wherein the second body portion is asymmetrically shaped with respect to the first body portion such that the center of mass of the blade lies on the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The mower blade of  claim 1 , wherein a mid-point of the length of the mower blade is located in the first body portion. 
     
     
         3 . The mower blade of  claim 1 , wherein the first body portion includes a sharpened edge. 
     
     
         4 . The mower blade of  claim 3 , wherein the first body portion comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge located opposite the leading edge, and wherein the sharpened edge is formed along at least a portion of the leading edge. 
     
     
         5 . The mower blade of  claim 4 , wherein the first body portion further includes a rounded end. 
     
     
         6 . The mower blade of  claim 5 , wherein the trailing edge tapers to the rounded end. 
     
     
         7 . The mower blade of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a second sharpened edge formed along at least a portion of the trailing edge.   
     
     
         8 . The mower blade of  claim 7 , wherein the leading edge is straight. 
     
     
         9 . The mower blade of  claim 4 , wherein the first body portion further includes a lift feature. 
     
     
         10 . The mower blade of  claim 4 , wherein the lift feature is an air foil. 
     
     
         11 . The mower blade of  claim 4 , wherein the lift feature is a twisted region. 
     
     
         12 . The mower blade of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a slot extending from the trailing edge towards the leading edge.   
     
     
         13 . A mower blade, comprising:
 two symmetrical body portions disposed on either side of an axis of rotation;   wherein each body portion includes a leading edge having a first sharpened edge formed along at least a portion of the leading edge, and a trailing edge having a second sharpened edge formed along at least a portion of the trailing edge.   
     
     
         14 . The mower blade of  claim 13 , wherein each body portion tapers to a rounded end. 
     
     
         15 . The mower blade of  claim 14 , wherein each body portion includes a lift feature. 
     
     
         16 . The mower blade of  claim 13 , wherein the leading edges are straight, and wherein the trailing edges are curved 
     
     
         17 . The mower blade of  claim 16 , wherein each body portion includes a lift feature. 
     
     
         18 . A mower blade comprising:
 a mounting structure defining an axis of rotation about which the lawn mower blade is configured to rotate;   a cutting portion extending in a first direction from the axis of rotation, wherein the cutting portion includes a lift feature and a leading edge having a first sharpened edge formed along at least a portion of the leading edge; and   a counterweight portion extending in a second direction from the axis of rotation, the counterweight portion including a counterweight so that the center of mass of the mower blade lies on the axis of rotation.   
     
     
         19 . The mower blade of  claim 18 , wherein the cutting portion further includes a trailing edge opposite the leading edge and the trailing edge includes a second sharpened edge formed along at least a portion of the trailing edge. 
     
     
         20 . The mower blade of  claim 19 , wherein the counterweight includes a sacrificial grinding portion and a leading counterweight edge having a third sharpened edge formed along at least a portion of the leading counterweight edge.