Outdoor power equipment hood hinge

A hood hinge assembly for rotation of a hood of an outdoor power equipment device between an open position and a closed position, the hood hinge assembly comprising:

• a fixed bracket operably coupled to a frame of the outdoor power equipment device;
• and
• a movable bracket operably coupled to the hood to enable the hood to be moved between the open position and the closed position via rotation of the movable bracket relative to the fixed bracket,
• wherein the hood hinge assembly defines an axis of rotation for the hood via a first offset pin and a second offset pin that have respective distal ends oriented in the same direction for sequential engagement with respective ones of a first receiving hole and a second receiving hole that are spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than a distance between the respective distal ends of the first and second offset pins,
• wherein the first and second offset pins are disposed on the fixed bracket,
• wherein the first and second receiving holes are disposed proximate to a distal end of respective ones of a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm of the movable bracket, and
• wherein the first and second pivot arms each comprise a cam edge disposed at distal ends thereof, and wherein the cam edge is configured to engage a corresponding surface of a locking cam such that engagement of the locking cam and the cam edge during rotation of the hood to a closed position further seats the first and second receiving holes on the first and second offset pins, respectively.

A method of installing a hood of an outdoor power equipment device, the method comprising:

• providing assembly of a hood hinge assembly for rotation of the hood of an outdoor power equipment device between an open position and a closed position, the hood hinge assembly comprising a fixed bracket operably coupled to a frame of the outdoor power equipment device, and a movable bracket operably coupled to the hood to enable the hood to be moved between the open position and the closed position via rotation of the movable bracket relative to the fixed bracket, the hood hinge assembly defining an axis of rotation for the hood via a first offset pin and a second offset pin that have respective distal ends oriented in the same direction for sequential engagement with respective ones of a first receiving hole and a second receiving hole that are spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than a distance between the respective distal ends of the first and second offset pins,
• wherein providing assembly comprises:
• aligning the first receiving hole with the first offset pin while the second receiving hole is spaced farther apart from the second offset pin than a distance between the first offset pin and the first receiving hole;
• seating the first receiving hole onto the first offset pin while aligning the second receiving hole with the second offset pin;
• and
• seating the second receiving hole onto the second offset pin,
• wherein seating the second receiving hole onto the second offset pin is accomplished via rotation the hood from the open position to the closed position such that a cam edge disposed at a distal end of at least one of the first or second pivot arms engages a corresponding surface of a locking cam such that engagement of the locking cam and the cam edge during rotation of the hood to the closed position further seats the second receiving hole on the second offset pin.