Mulch kit control lever
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsTrevor Huss, Kyle T. Ressler, Ryan S. Strasser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mulch kit control lever includes a handle pivotably mounted to a support plate with a tension spring connecting the handle to the support plate and urging the handle to pivot to either a mulching position or a side discharge position relative to the support plate. The tension spring is connected before the mulch kit control lever is installed on the mower deck. A retainer slides in a slot in one of the support plate and the handle preventing over-travel of the handle past the mulching position and the side discharge position.
Claims4
A mulch kit control lever, comprising:
- a handle pivotably mounted to a support plate attached to a mower deck at a position spaced above a top surface of the mower deck;
- a mulch plate attached to a vertical rod extending through the mower deck, the support plate, and the handle, the handle engaging the vertical rod for pivoting the mulch plate between a mulching position and a side discharge position;
- an over-center spring connecting between the handle and the support plate urging the handle toward the mulching position and the side discharge position on each side of an over-center position;
- a curved slot in at least one of the handle and the support plate preventing travel of the handle past the mulching position and the side discharge position;
- and
- a pin extending from the support plate through the curved slot.
A mulch kit control lever, comprising:
- a handle pivotably mounted to a support plate attached to a mower deck at a position spaced above a top surface of the mower deck;
- a mulch plate attached to a vertical rod extending through the mower deck, the support plate, and the handle, the handle engaging the vertical rod for pivoting the mulch plate between a mulching position and a side discharge position;
- an over-center spring connecting between the handle and the support plate urging the handle toward the mulching position and the side discharge position on each side of an over-center position;
- a curved slot in at least one of the handle and the support plate preventing travel of the handle past the mulching position and the side discharge position;
- and
- a curved slot in each of the handle and the support plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.