Brush cutter having locking mechanism for cutter guard

A brush cutter comprising:

• a housing;
• a cutting member combined with the housing;
• a motor operatively combined with the cutting member to rotate the cutting member relative to the housing;
• a guard combined with the housing and configured to pivot about a guard pivot axis, the guard having an open position wherein the cutting member is exposed for cutting operations and a closed position wherein the cutting member is at least partially shielded by the guard, wherein the guard has a guard pivot point;
• a latch assembly having a latch configured to pivot about a latch pivot axis between a retracted position wherein the guard is movable from the closed position to the open position and an engaged position wherein the latch prevents movement of the guard from the closed position to the open position, wherein the latch has a latch pivot point and is configured to move from the retracted position to the engaged position upon tilting the housing about a tilt axis and beyond the latch pivot point;
• wherein the latch pivot point is reached upon tilting the housing a first angle relative to a horizontal ground surface and the guard pivot point is reached upon tilting the housing a second angle relative to the horizontal ground surface, wherein the first angle is less than the second angle so the latch moves to the engaged position before the guard reaches the guard pivot point.