Walk reel mower with handle assembly

A walk reel mower, which comprises:

• (a) a traction frame which mounts a prime mover, wherein the traction frame carries at least one ground engaging drive member that is operatively powered by the prime mover through a traction drive to self-propel the traction frame over the ground;
• (b) a rotatable cutting reel that rotates about a substantially horizontal axis and that is operatively powered by the prime mover for pushing grass against a bedknife for cutting the grass;
• (c) a handle assembly comprising a handle, the handle assembly extending rearwardly and upwardly from the traction frame;
• (d) a prime mover speed control;
• and
• (e) a traction bail carried on the handle assembly for motion relative to the handle between a first position in which the traction bail is spaced from the handle assembly for disengaging the traction drive and a second position in which the traction bail is closer to the handle assembly for engaging the traction drive such that a ground speed of the traction frame in the second position of the traction bail is a nominal speed selected by a user, wherein the traction bail is movable in a range of motion between the first and second positions of the traction bail that is large enough to permit the user to move the traction bail into at least one intermediate position between the first and second positions to produce a reduced ground speed greater than zero but less than the nominal ground speed to allow the user to temporarily slow the traction frame down while a speed setting of the prime mover remains unchanged,
• (f) wherein the traction bail is located between the handle assembly and the rotatable cutting reel, and
• (g) wherein the nominal speed selected by the user by placing the traction bail in the second position comprises a maximum nominal speed set by the user through the prime mover speed control.

A walk reel mower, which comprises:

• (a) a traction frame which mounts a prime mover, wherein the traction frame carries at least one ground engaging drive member that is operatively powered by the prime mover through a traction drive to self-propel the traction frame over the ground, wherein the traction drive is a mechanical traction drive;
• (b) a rotatable cutting reel that rotates about a substantially horizontal axis and that is operatively powered by the prime mover for pushing grass against a bedknife for cutting the grass;
• (c) a handle assembly comprising a handle, the handle assembly extending rearwardly and upwardly from the traction frame;
• and
• (d) a traction bail carried on the handle assembly for motion relative to the handle between a first position in which the traction bail is spaced from the handle assembly for disengaging the traction drive and a second position in which the traction bail is closer to the handle assembly for engaging the traction drive such that a ground speed of the traction frame in the second position of the traction bail is a nominal speed selected by a user, wherein the traction bail is movable in a range of motion between the first and second positions of the traction bail that is large enough to permit the user to move the traction bail into at least one intermediate position between the first and second positions to produce a reduced ground speed greater than zero but less than a nominal ground speed to allow the user to temporarily slow the traction frame down;
• (e) wherein the traction bail is located between the handle assembly and the rotatable cutting reel, wherein the traction bail is selectively movable by the user into a plurality of intermediate positions between the first and second positions to permit the user to select from among a plurality of reduced ground speeds when the user chooses to temporarily slow the traction frame down, and wherein the control traction bail provides the plurality of reduced ground speeds by slipping to varying degrees the traction drive.