Tiller with rotatable tines and guiding handle

A self-propelled tiller comprising:

• a rigid frame,
• a drive wheel supporting the frame for movement on the ground,
• a guiding handle,
• an engine supported by the frame and fixed to the frame,
• a plurality of tilling tines supported by the frame and engageable with the ground for tilling,
• traction drive means for selectively drivingly connected said engine to said drive wheel and for alternatively rotatably driving said drive wheel in forward driving engagement and reverse driving engagement,
• tine drive means for selectively drivingly connecting said engine to said tilling tines for rotatably driving said tilling tines, and
• drive control means connected to said traction drive means and to said tine drive means for precluding driving connection of said engine with said tilling tines when said traction drive means drivingly connects said engine with said drive wheel in reverse driving engagement.

A rear tined tiller comprising:

• a frame,
• a wheel supporting the frame for movement on the ground,
• a prime mover supported by the frame,
• a plurality of tilling tines rotatably supported by said frame and driven by said prime mover, said tines engaging the ground for tilling,
• a guiding handle,
• means for connecting said guiding handle to said frame and for supporting said guiding handle for pivotal movement with respect to said frame about a generally vertical axis and for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, said guiding handle connecting means including a handle support means for supporting said guiding handle for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, said handle support connected to said frame for rotation about a generally vertical axis and in an arc of at least 180.degree., and
• latch means for releasably restraining said guiding handle against pivotal movement, said latch means including a movable member movably connected between said frame and said handle for restraining said handle against pivotal movement with respect to said frame, said latch means including a first lever arm pivotally supported by said handle support means and selectively engageable with said frame for restraining said handle support means from pivotal movement about said generally vertical axis, and said latch means including a second lever arm releasably engageable with said guiding handle for releasably restraining said guiding handle from pivotal movement about said generally horizontal axis.

A rear tined tiller comprising:

• a rigid frame,
• a wheel supporting the frame for movement on the ground,
• a prime mover supported by said frame and fixed to said frame,
• a plurality of tilling tines rotatably supported by said frame and driven by said prime mover, said tines engaging the ground for tilling,
• a guiding handle,
• means for connecting said guiding handle to said frame and for supporting said guiding handle for pivotal movement with respect to said frame about a generally vertical axis and for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and a handle support means for supporting said guiding handle for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, said handle support connected to said frame for rotation about a generally vertical axis and in an arc of at least 180.degree., and
• latch means for releasably restraining said guiding handle against pivotal movement, said latch means including a movable member selectively connected to said frame and to said handle for selectively restraining said handle against pivotal movement with respect to said frame, said latch means being movable from a first position wherein said guiding handle is restrained against pivotal movement to a second position wherein said guiding handle is pivotable with respect to one of said axis, and a third position wherein said guiding handle is pivotable around both said generally vertical axes and said generally horizontal axis,
• said latch means including a first lever arm pivotally supported by said handle support and selectively engageable with said frame for restraining said handle support from pivotal movement about said generally vertical axis, and a second lever arm supported for movement with said first lever arm and releasably engageable with said guiding handle for releasably restraining said guiding handle from pivotal movement about said generally horizontal axis.