Lawn care vehicle with heads up mower controls

A control module operably coupleable to at least one of a first steering lever or a second steering lever of a riding lawn care vehicle, wherein the riding lawn care vehicle comprises first and second drive wheels operably coupled to respective ones of the first and second steering levers to facilitate turning of the riding lawn care vehicle responsive to drive speed control of the first and second drive wheels based on positioning of the first and second steering levers, respectively, each of the first and second steering levers including a grip portion, the control module comprising:

• a housing;
• and
• a lever interface operably coupled to the housing,
• wherein the lever interface is configured to be secured to the first steering lever or the second steering lever separate from and proximate to the grip portion,
• wherein the control module comprises a control operator configured to control operation of an engine or work assembly of the riding lawn care vehicle,
• wherein the lever interface and the grip portion are made of different materials,
• wherein the control module is externally mounted on the first steering lever or the second steering lever,
• wherein the first and second steering levers are independently pivotable into and out of a neutral position in a forward direction and a rearward direction, both the forward direction and the rearward direction are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the riding lawn care vehicle,
• wherein responsive to both the first and second steering levers being in the neutral position, the control module is incapable of being longitudinally misaligned with the grip portion of the first steering lever or the second steering lever, and
• wherein responsive to the first and second steering levers being out of the neutral position, the control module is capable of being longitudinally misaligned with the grip portion of the first steering lever or the second steering lever.

A riding lawn care vehicle comprising:

• a frame to which at least a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel of the riding lawn care vehicle are attachable;
• an engine operably coupled to the frame and the first and second drive wheels to provide power to the first and second drive wheels;
• a steering assembly comprising a first steering lever and a second steering lever, wherein the first and second steering levers are operably coupled to the first and second drive wheels respectively to facilitate turning of the riding lawn care vehicle based on drive speed control of the first and second drive wheels responsive to positioning of the first and second steering levers;
• and
• a work assembly operably coupled to the engine to perform a work function responsive to power received from the engine,
• wherein each of the first and second steering levers includes a grip portion,
• wherein the first steering lever is operably coupled to a first control module disposed proximate to and separate from the grip portion, the first control module being externally mounted on the first steering lever,
• wherein the second steering lever is operably coupled to a second control module disposed proximate to and separate from the grip portion, the second control module being externally mounted on the second steering lever,
• wherein the first and second control modules comprise a control operator configured to control operation of the engine or the work assembly,
• wherein the first and second steering levers are independently pivotable into and out of a neutral position in a forward direction and a rearward direction, both the forward direction and the rearward direction are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the riding lawn care vehicle,
• wherein responsive to both the first and second steering levers being in the neutral position, the first control module of the first steering lever is incapable of being longitudinally misaligned with the second control module of the second steering lever, and
• wherein responsive to the first and second steering levers being out of the neutral position, the first control module of the first steering lever is capable of being longitudinally misaligned with the second control module of the second steering lever.