Lawn mower activation switch

A method of activating an electric lawn mower having an electric motor driving a cutting blade, the cutting blade located below a mower deck having a plurality of wheels for movably supporting said cutting blade relative to a lawn to be cut, the method comprising:

• providing an elongated handle having a first end affixed to said mower deck and a second end cooperating with an operator using said mower;
• depressing an activator button cooperating with said handle to an ACTIVE position, said activator button movable in a first degree of freedom between said ACTIVE position and a STOP position, said activator button movable in a second degree of freedom between a READY orientation and a RUN orientation;
• shifting a bail bar to an ON position while maintaining said activator button in said READY orientation against a biasing means biasing said activator button in said STOP position in said first degree of freedom relative to said handle and biasing said activator button in said READY orientation in said second degree of freedom relative to said handle, said bail bar being shiftable between said ON position and an OFF position;
• activating said lawn mower by engaging a normally open electrical switch with said activator button while said activator button is in said RUN orientation in response to movement of said bail bar to said ON position;
• and
• preventing said biasing means from biasing said activator button to said STOP position by providing a detent allowing the operator to release said activator button when said activator button is in said RUN position enabling operation of said mower with one hand.

A motor starting device for use with an electric lawn mower, comprising:

• a housing adapted to receive a lever shiftable relative said housing between an ON position and a STOP position for activating said starting device;
• means for shiftably fastening said lever for movement between said ON position and said OFF position;
• an activator button movably affixed to said housing, said activator button movable in a first degree of freedom relative to said housing between an ACTIVE position and a STOP position and movable in a second degree of freedom relative said housing between a READY orientation and a RUN orientation in response to movement of said lever to said ON position;
• biasing means cooperating with said housing and said activator button for biasing said activator button toward said STOP position and said READY orientation;
• a normally open electrical switch on said housing for starting said electric lawn mower, said switch being closeable only when said activator button is moved to said RUN orientation;
• and
• a detent cooperating with said housing and said activator button when said activator button is in said RUN orientation to prevent said biasing means from biasing said activator button to said STOP position.

A method of closing a switch to start an electric motor at a handle having a bail on a lawn mower having a cutting blade driven by said motor;

• an actuator axially moving against a bias into alignment with said switch and said bail;
• rotating said actuator with said bail while both are in alignment to close said switch;
• and
• preventing said actuator from axially moving out of such alignment in response to said bias only so long as said actuator is rotated by said bail.