Convertible rotary mower-vacuum sweeper

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A rotary lawn mower/vacuum sweeper, comprising a frame having an imperforate top panel and a depending peripheral wall providing a grass discharge passage therein and providing a grass cutting chamber having a downwardly facing opening defined by the wall; at least three wheels on the frame for rollably supporting the frame on an underlying surface, the points of contact of the wheels and the underlying surface generally defining a plane; a motor mounted on the top panel and including a drive shaft extending into the chamber; a grass cutting blade, in the chamber, affixed adjacent the center thereof to the shaft and including a grass cutting edge rotated by the shaft in cutting relation to grass over which the frame moves, the blade being configured as a fan for forcing air through the discharge passage and for drawing air inwardly under the underside of the peripheral wall and residing above the bottom of the peripheral wall and means for creating an area of substantial air velocity directed inwardly of the peripheral wall throughout substantially the length thereof, effective for lifting debris off the underlying surface in a generally annular band corresponding to the location of the peripheral wall, including a skirt substantially the length of the peripheral wall, providing a lower edge and an imperforate portion above the lower edge and means dependingly mounting the skirt on the frame in generally coaxial relation to the peripheral wall positioning the imperforate portion below the lower edge and spacing the lower edge from the plane but less than about 3/8" thereabove for drawing air inwardly into the chamber under the lower skirt edge upon operation of the motor; any obstruction of the chamber opening by the creating means providing an insignificant increase in air velocity under the lower skirt edge.
2.
The mower of claim 1 wherein the skirt is bodily flexible.
3.
The mower of claim 1 wherein the mounting means comprises means for effecting adjusting movement between the lower edge of the skirt and the points of contact of the wheels to provide a lower skirt position wherein air is drawn under the lower skirt edge and an upper skirt position for conducting normal grass cutting operations