Abstract: A cable control lever apparatus is provided for use in a walk-behind lawnmower. The lawnmower includes a mower deck, a handle bar connected to the deck for permitting walk-behind operation of the mower, and a pair of control cables supported for translational movement relative to the handle bar. The handle bar including a pair of laterally spaced side arms, and an end bar extending between the side arms and connecting them together. Each side arm includes a transverse hole aligned with the hole in the other arm for receiving a bail formed of a shape corresponding to the shape of the handle bar. The bail includes opposed out-turned ends sized for receipt in the holes in the handle bar to permit relative pivotal movement of the bail between a non-actuated position spaced from the end bar of the handle bar and an actuated position against the end bar. The bail is connected to one of the cables so that movement of the bail is transmitted to the cable.

Abstract: In a walk-behind, powered lawnmower, a cable control apparatus is provided for supporting at least two different cable assemblies. The apparatus includes a housing for supporting the outer conduits of the cables at a fixed position on the handlebar of the mower and a fastener for fastening the housing to the handlebar. A throttle lever is supported on the housing for pivotal movement, the free end of the first cable being connected to the throttle lever so that movement of the lever is transmitted to the motor by the first cable, adjusting the speed of the motor. The free end of the second cable extends beyond the cable control apparatus and is connected to a separate ground drive lever so that movement of the ground drive lever is transmitted to the ground drive assembly by the second cable, actuating the ground drive assembly. The control apparatus includes an adjustment apparatus for removing slack from the second cable assembly.

Abstract: In a walk-behind, powered lawnmower, a cable control apparatus is provided for supporting at least two different cable assemblies. The apparatus includes a housing for supporting the outer conduits of the cables at a fixed position on the handlebar of the mower and a fastener for fastening the housing to the handlebar. A throttle lever is supported on the housing for pivotal movement, the free end of the first cable being connected to the throttle lever so that movement of the lever is transmitted to the motor by the first cable, adjusting the speed of the motor. The free end of the second cable extends beyond the cable control apparatus and is connected to a separate ground drive lever so that movement of the ground drive lever is transmitted to the ground drive assembly by the second cable, actuating the ground drive assembly. The control apparatus includes an adjustment apparatus for removing slack from the second cable assembly.

Abstract: A cable assembly for use in transmitting movement between an actuating mechanism and an actuated mechanism includes an adjustment apparatus for use in removing slack between the ends of the cable of the assembly. The adjustment apparatus includes an elongated fitting including a first end adapted for attachment to a conduit within which the cable is supported, and a second free end having a non-circular cross-sectional shape. A housing presents a non-circular bore sized for receipt of the second end of the fitting so that engagement between the fitting and the bore prevents the fitting from rotating relative to the housing. The fitting is axially shiftable within the bore between a plurality of positions to adjust the length of conduit extending through the housing. A button is supported on the housing for selectively locking the fitting in place within the bore and unlocking the fitting for axial movement.

Abstract: A control lever assembly includes a mounting bracket on which a control lever and detent plate are supported. The bracket presents a generally planer sliding surface in which a detent element is formed. The control lever and detent plate are supported on the bracket for movement across the sliding surface, and the detent plate includes a finger that is supported for pivotal movement about an axis extending in a direction parallel to the sliding surface. A pair of opposed side walls are provided on the detent plate for guiding the pivotal movement of the finger while preventing the finger from shifting relative to the plate along the pivot axis of the finger. A spring is provided for biasing the finger against the sliding surface so that when the lever is pivoted to a position in which the finger is aligned with the detent element, the finger is forced into engagement with the element and holds the lever in that position.

Abstract: An attachment apparatus is provided for attaching an elongated shaft to a structural element, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis, and the structural element includes an opening through the structural element which defines a central axis extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the shaft. The apparatus includes a helical coil of wire having a central coiled section and opposed end sections protruding from the coiled section, an inner space defined by the coiled section that is sized to grip the shaft and to prevent relative axial movement between the helical coil and the shaft when the coil is mounted on the shaft, and a fastening assembly for fastening the apparatus to the structural element when at least one end section is inserted into the opening.

Abstract: A remote valve control assembly broadly includes a lever assembly, a control plunger operably coupled with the lever assembly, and a case structure having a pair of case halves. The lever assembly includes a lever and a control handle having a detent pin. The case structure includes interior structure presenting a pivot and a plunger channel. The case structure also includes a single position detent slide mounted on one case half, and a double position detent slide on the other case half. The lever is retained in the case structure on the pivot for relative pivotal movement of the lever assembly between forward and aft positions. The detent pin is adapted to engage at least one of the detent slides for retaining the lever assembly in a desired position. The control handle is configured to selectively disengage the detent pin from the detent slides for movement of the lever assembly.

Abstract: A cable actuator control assembly for motion furniture such as lounge chairs having shiftable footrests and the like, includes a cable assembly (16), a cable actuator module (12) having a pivot assembly (46) connecting rearward base (18) and front handle (20) for shifting a cable (92) between first and second positions, a channel including an apertured bight (78) connecting opposed legs (80 and 82), and bolts (88) for biasing channel (14) into engagement with boss (28). Self-tensioning pivot assembly (52) includes coaxially aligned pins (62 and 64) connected by coiled spring (72).

Abstract: A dual action cable control apparatus (20) includes a mounting bracket (22), a first Bowden cable assembly (24), a second Bowden cable assembly (26), an elongated lever (28), and a rotatable spool (30) mounted upon one end of the lever. Spool (30) is coupled with cable assembly (24) for shifting the cable to actuate a lawn mower transmission linkage concomitant with rotation of the spool. Lever (28) is operably coupled with cable (26) for actuation of a lawn mower drive engagement control linkage concomitant with rocking of the lever. Detent assembly (34) is provided for retaining spool (30) at selected rotational positions representing lawn mower transmission settings.

Abstract: A screwdriver includes an elongated shaft including a first engagement surface, and a handle including a second engagement surface opposing the first surface. The handle receives the shaft and allows limited axial movement of the shaft relative to the handle in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft between a rotation transmitting position in which the first and second engagement surfaces are in contact with one another during rotation of the handle and a disengaged position in which the first and second engagement surfaces are out of contact with one another during rotation of the handle. The first and second engagement surfaces mate with one another to prevent relative sliding movement between the surfaces when they are in contact with one another so that the handle and shaft rotate together when the shaft is in the rotation transmitting position. The shaft rotates freely relative to the handle when the shaft is in the disengaged position, and is biased toward the disengaged position.

Abstract: A throttle control for connection to an engine throttle control wire broadly includes a shifter and a case, with the shifter including a rim which engages a corresponding bearing wall within the case to define a circular shift path and which enables the throttle control to be converted for either a positive-action or negative-action mode. The case includes a first portion and a second portion, with at least one of the portions preferably including an inner wall spaced radially inwardly toward a pivot axis of the shifter and away from the bearing wall. The inner wall preferably includes one or more recesses thereon for engagement with a follower on the shifter whereby the shifter may be releasably held by the recess at a preselected position along the shift path.