Lawn mower side discharge chute

A lawn mower having a side discharge chute, has structure for narrowing the passage through the discharge chute, and widening the passage downstream of the narrowed section. A deflector plate is mounted near the intake opening of the discharge chute. The deflector plate extends from the upper portion of the discharge chute downwardly into the path of the mixture of air and grass clippings exiting from the mower housing. The narrowing feature may also be accomplished by an inwardly extending convex portion inside the passage of the chute. This structure causes the mixture of the air and grass clippings to mix more thoroughly, enabling the clippings to exit the discharge chute and to be more evenly distributed when they fall to the ground.