Electric starting system for an internal combustion engine

An electric starting system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a rechargeable battery including two voltage output terminals and an enable terminal;
• a battery receiver including a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable battery, two voltage output terminals, and an enable terminal;
• a starter motor configured to start the internal combustion engine;
• and
• an external battery control module including an electrical control circuit and a switch coupled in series between the enable terminal of the battery receiver and one of the voltage output terminals of the battery receiver to selectively enable and disable the rechargeable battery;
• wherein the voltage output terminals of the lithium-ion battery and the battery receiver are configured to connect to complete a circuit between the rechargeable battery and the starter motor when the rechargeable battery is attached to the battery receptacle and the switch is closed;
• and
• wherein the enable terminal of the rechargeable battery must be connected with the enable terminal of the battery receiver for the rechargeable battery to receive an enable signal to allow the rechargeable battery to provide power to the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine.

A lawn mower, comprising:

• an internal combustion engine;
• a blade coupled to the engine;
• a rechargeable battery including two voltage output terminals and an enable terminal;
• a battery receiver including a battery receptacle configured to receive the rechargeable battery, two voltage output terminals, and an enable terminal;
• a starter motor configured to start the internal combustion engine;
• and
• an external battery control module including an electrical control circuit and a switch coupled in series between the enable terminal of the battery receiver and one of the voltage output terminals of the battery receiver to selectively enable and disable the rechargeable battery;
• wherein the voltage output terminals of the lithium-ion battery and the battery receiver are configured to connect to complete a circuit between the rechargeable battery and the starter motor when the rechargeable battery is attached to the battery receptacle and the switch is closed;
• and
• wherein the enable terminal of the rechargeable battery must be connected with the enable terminal of the battery receiver for the rechargeable battery to receive an enable signal to allow the rechargeable battery to provide power to the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine.