Speed control assembly for a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower
AssigneeMTD Products Inc
InventorsPhilip Helin, Rick Baehr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A speed control mechanism for controlling selective engagement of the self-propelled transmission assembly for a walk-behind lawn mower is provided. The speed control mechanism is also configured to control the relative output speed of the transmission assembly. The speed control mechanism includes a speed engagement assembly and a speed adjustment assembly, wherein the speed engagement assembly includes a pair of rotatable levers for causing the transmission assembly to actuate between a disengaged position and an engaged position and the speed adjustment assembly includes a rotatable knob for causing the relative output speed of the transmission assembly to the wheels of the lawn mower to increase or decrease.
Claims10
A method for controlling the speed of a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower having a deck and a handle extending therefrom, said method comprising:
- providing a pair of driven wheels rotatably connected to said deck;
- providing a transmission assembly operatively connected to said pair of driven wheels and said deck of said lawn mower, said transmission assembly being selectively adjustable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said transmission assembly generating a selectively variable rotational output to said pair of driven wheels when said transmission assembly is in said engaged position;
- providing a speed control assembly attachable to said handle of said lawn mower, said speed control assembly comprising:
- a casing;
- at least one lever rotatably connected to said casing and operatively connected to said transmission assembly, and said at least one lever being movable between a first operative position and a second operative position for selectively moving said transmission assembly between said engage position and said disengaged position;
- and
- a knob rotatably connected to said casing and operatively connected to said transmission assembly, said knob being rotatable between a plurality of operative positions for selectively varying said rotational output of said transmission assembly to said driven wheels;
- and
- rotating at least one of said at least one lever from said first operative position in which said transmission assembly is located said disengaged position to said second operative position which moves said transmission assembly to said engaged position.
A method for controlling the speed of a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower having a deck and a handle extending therefrom, said method comprising:
- providing a pair of driven wheels rotatably connected to said deck;
- providing a transmission assembly operatively connected to said pair of driven wheels and said deck of said lawn mower, said transmission assembly being selectively adjustable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said transmission assembly generating a selectively variable rotational output to said pair of driven wheels when said transmission assembly is in said engaged position;
- providing a speed control assembly attached to said handle of said lawn mower, said speed control assembly comprising:
- a casing;
- at least one lever rotatably connected to said casing and operatively connected to said transmission assembly, and said at least one lever being movable between a first operative position and a second operative position for selectively moving said transmission assembly between said engage position and said disengaged position;
- and
- a knob rotatably connected to said casing and operatively connected to said transmission assembly, said knob being rotatable between a plurality of operative positions for selectively varying rotational output of said transmission assembly to said driven wheels;
- and
- rotating said knob from a first of said plurality of operative positions to a second of said plurality of operative positions which increases said rotational output of said transmission assembly to said driven wheels.
A method for controlling the speed of a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower having a deck and a handle extending therefrom, said method comprising:
- providing a pair of driven wheels rotatably connected to said deck;
- providing a transmission assembly operatively connected to said pair of driven wheels and said deck of said lawn mower, said transmission assembly being selectively adjustable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said transmission assembly generating a selectively variable rotational output to said pair of driven wheels when said transmission assembly is in said engaged position;
- providing a speed control assembly attached to said handle of said lawn mower, said speed control assembly comprising:
- a casing;
- at least one lever rotatably connected to said casing and operatively connected to said transmission assembly, and said at least one lever being movable between a first operative position and a second operative position for selectively moving said transmission assembly between said engage position and said disengaged position;
- and
- a knob rotatably connected to said casing and operatively connected to said transmission assembly, said knob being rotatable between a plurality of operative positions for selectively varying rotational output of said transmission assembly to said driven wheels;
- and
- rotating knob from a first of said plurality of operative positions to a second of said plurality of operative positions which increases said rotational output of said transmission assembly to said driven wheels or rotating at least one of said at least one lever from said first operative position in which said transmission assembly is located said disengaged position to said second operative position which moves said transmission assembly to said engaged position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.