Steering control for zero turn radius mower

Abstract

A single lever handle control mechanism constrained to pivot about two perpendicular axes to control forward, reverse, speed and steering of the mower. By this constraint to the movement of the lever handle, inadvertent movement of the lever handle is less likely to occur when the mower is bouncing over uneven terrain. Forward or backward movement of the lever handle is constrained about a single transverse axis. Right or left movement of the lever handle about the longitudinal axis effects steering of the mower. The longitudinal axis is constrained to move in a single plane perpendicular to the transverse axis. As an option a second lever handle, constrained as the first lever handle and linked to the first lever handle may be provided for control from a second location. With a lever handle on each side of the operator the mower can be fully controlled with either hand. The lever handle control is most advantageously applied to a zero turn radius riding lawn mower.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.