Mower path assistance system

Abstract

A mower path assistance system to encircle an obstacle projecting from a ground surface, including a barrier mat formed with a barrier mat aperture enclosed by the barrier mat and having a barrier mat aperture diameter, a perimeter edge, and a barrier mat installation slit extending from the perimeter edge to the barrier mat aperture, wherein the barrier mat is deformable around the barrier mat installation slit to create a pathway having a pathway width through which the obstacle may pass from the perimeter to the barrier mat aperture. The barrier mat has a plurality of edges with axes that intersect at obtuse angles.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A mower path assistance system ( 1000 ) to encircle an obstacle projecting from a ground surface, comprising,
 a barrier mat ( 2000 ) formed with a barrier mat aperture ( 2100 ) enclosed by the barrier mat ( 2000 ) and having a barrier mat aperture diameter ( 2120 ), a perimeter edge, and a barrier mat installation slit ( 2200 ) extending from the perimeter edge to the barrier mat aperture ( 2100 ), wherein the barrier mat ( 2000 ) is deformable around the barrier mat installation slit ( 2200 ) to create a pathway through which the obstacle may pass from the perimeter to the barrier mat aperture ( 2100 );   the barrier mat ( 2000 ) having at least a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge ( 2320 ), a barrier mat dextral proximal edge ( 2330 ), a barrier mat sinistral distal edge ( 2340 ), and a barrier mat dextral distal edge ( 2350 ), wherein a barrier mat sinistral distal edge axis intersects a barrier dextral distal edge axis at a barrier mat sinistral distal edge to dextral distal edge angle ( 2460 ), and a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge axis intersects a barrier dextral proximal edge axis at a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge to dextral proximal edge angle ( 2470 ), and at least one of the barrier mat sinistral distal edge to dextral distal edge angle ( 2460 ) and the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge to dextral proximal edge angle ( 2470 ) is obtuse and at least 100 degrees and no more than 170 degrees;   the barrier mat ( 2000 ) has a barrier mat top surface ( 2360 ), a barrier mat bottom surface ( 2370 ), and a barrier mat thickness ( 2380 ) that is at least 0.25″; and   the barrier mat ( 2000 ) is formed of a flexible water impermeable material.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge ( 2320 ) has a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) and a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 ), the barrier mat dextral proximal edge ( 2330 ) has a barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) and a barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ), the barrier mat sinistral distal edge ( 2340 ) has a barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) and a barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 ), and the barrier mat dextral distal edge ( 2350 ) has a barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) and a barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 ), wherein at least one of the following are true:
 a) the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 ), and the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 ); and   b) the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ), and the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 ).   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following are true:
 a) the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) is 50-200% greater than the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 ), and the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) is 50-200% greater than the barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 ); and   b) the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) is 50-200% greater than the barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ), and the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) is 50-200% greater than the barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 ).   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the following are true:
 a) the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) is greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ), and the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ); and   b) the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) is greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ), and the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) is greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ).   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ), the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ), the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ), the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) are substantially equal. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the barrier mat sinistral distal edge to dextral distal edge angle ( 2460 ) and the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge to dextral proximal edge angle ( 2470 ) is no more than 150 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a barrier mat sinistral edge ( 2300 ), having a barrier mat sinistral edge length ( 2305 ) that is at least 15% of the aperture diameter ( 2120 ), and a barrier mat dextral edge ( 2310 ) substantially parallel to the barrier mat sinistral edge ( 2300 ), having a barrier mat dextral edge length ( 2315 ) that is at least 15% of the aperture diameter ( 2120 ). 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the barrier mat sinistral edge length ( 2305 ) is 15-90% of the aperture diameter ( 2120 ), and the barrier mat dextral edge length ( 2315 ) is 15-90% of the aperture diameter ( 2120 ). 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier mat ( 2000 ) has an aspect ratio of a maximum length divided by a maximum width that is 1.5-5.0. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier mat installation slit ( 2200 ) has a length that is 25-100% of the aperture diameter ( 2120 ), and the barrier mat thickness ( 2380 ) is no more than 1.25″. 
     
     
         11 . A mower path assistance system ( 1000 ) to encircle an obstacle projecting from a ground surface, comprising,
 a barrier mat ( 2000 ) formed with a barrier mat aperture ( 2100 ) enclosed by the barrier mat ( 2000 ) and having a barrier mat aperture diameter ( 2120 ), a perimeter edge, and a barrier mat installation slit ( 2200 ) extending from the perimeter edge to the barrier mat aperture ( 2100 ), wherein the barrier mat ( 2000 ) is deformable around the barrier mat installation slit ( 2200 ) to create a pathway through which the obstacle may pass from the perimeter to the barrier mat aperture ( 2100 );   the barrier mat ( 2000 ) having at least a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge ( 2320 ), a barrier mat dextral proximal edge ( 2330 ), a barrier mat sinistral distal edge ( 2340 ), and a barrier mat dextral distal edge ( 2350 ), wherein a barrier mat sinistral distal edge axis intersects a barrier dextral distal edge axis at a barrier mat sinistral distal edge to dextral distal edge angle ( 2460 ), a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge axis intersects a barrier dextral proximal edge axis at a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge to dextral proximal edge angle ( 2470 ), and at least one of the barrier mat sinistral distal edge to dextral distal edge angle ( 2460 ) and the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge to dextral proximal edge angle ( 2470 ) is obtuse; and   wherein the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge ( 2320 ) has a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) and a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 ), the barrier mat dextral proximal edge ( 2330 ) has a barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) and a barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ), the barrier mat sinistral distal edge ( 2340 ) has a barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) and a barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 ), and the barrier mat dextral distal edge ( 2350 ) has a barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) and a barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 ), wherein at least one of the following are true:   a) the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 ), and the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 ); and   b) the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ), and the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 ).   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the following are true:
 a) the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) is 50-200% greater than the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 );   b) the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) is 50-200% greater than the barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 );   c) the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) is 50-200% greater than the barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ); and   d) the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) is 50-200% greater than the barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 ).   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the following are true:
 a) the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) is greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ), and the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) is greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ); and   b) the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) is greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ), and the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) is greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ).   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein at least two of the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ), the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ), the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ), the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) are substantially equal, and at least one of the barrier mat sinistral distal edge to dextral distal edge angle ( 2460 ) and the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge to dextral proximal edge angle ( 2470 ) is at least 100 degrees and no more than 170 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the barrier mat installation slit ( 2200 ) has a length that is 25-100% of the aperture diameter ( 2120 ). 
     
     
         16 . A mower path assistance system ( 1000 ) to encircle an obstacle projecting from a ground surface, comprising,
 a barrier mat ( 2000 ) formed with a barrier mat aperture ( 2100 ) enclosed by the barrier mat ( 2000 ) and having a barrier mat aperture diameter ( 2120 ), a perimeter edge, and a barrier mat installation slit ( 2200 ) extending from the perimeter edge to the barrier mat aperture ( 2100 ), wherein the barrier mat ( 2000 ) is deformable around the barrier mat installation slit ( 2200 ) to create a pathway through which the obstacle may pass from the perimeter to the barrier mat aperture ( 2100 );   the barrier mat ( 2000 ) having at least a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge ( 2320 ), a barrier mat dextral proximal edge ( 2330 ), a barrier mat sinistral distal edge ( 2340 ), and a barrier mat dextral distal edge ( 2350 ), wherein a barrier mat sinistral distal edge axis intersects a barrier dextral distal edge axis at a barrier mat sinistral distal edge to dextral distal edge angle ( 2460 ), and a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge axis intersects a barrier dextral proximal edge axis at a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge to dextral proximal edge angle ( 2470 ), and at least one of the barrier mat sinistral distal edge to dextral distal edge angle ( 2460 ) and the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge to dextral proximal edge angle ( 2470 ) is obtuse;   the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge ( 2320 ) has a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) and a barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 ), the barrier mat dextral proximal edge ( 2330 ) has a barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) and a barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ), the barrier mat sinistral distal edge ( 2340 ) has a barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) and a barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 ), and the barrier mat dextral distal edge ( 2350 ) has a barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) and a barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 );   wherein at least one of the following are true:   a) the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) is greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ), and the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ); and   b) the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) is greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ), and the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) is greater than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ) and the barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 ) is less than the aperture diameter ( 2120 ).   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the following are true:
 a) the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2324 ), and the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat sinistral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2344 ); and   b) the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat dextral proximal edge y-coordinate length ( 2334 ), and the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) is at least 50% greater than the barrier mat dextral distal edge y-coordinate length ( 2354 ).   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein at least two of the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2322 ), the barrier mat dextral proximal edge x-coordinate length ( 2332 ), the barrier mat sinistral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2342 ), the barrier mat dextral distal edge x-coordinate length ( 2352 ) are substantially equal, and at least one of the barrier mat sinistral distal edge to dextral distal edge angle ( 2460 ) and the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge to dextral proximal edge angle ( 2470 ) is at least 100 degrees and no more than 170 degrees. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the barrier mat installation slit ( 2200 ) has a length that is 25-100% of the aperture diameter ( 2120 ). 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the barrier mat sinistral distal edge to dextral distal edge angle ( 2460 ) and the barrier mat sinistral proximal edge to dextral proximal edge angle ( 2470 ) is at least 100 degrees and no more than 170 degrees.