Abstract: An inline conduit switch includes a body having an anchor fitting adapted for mounting to a support and a conduit fitting adapted for mounting a control cable thereto. The conduit fitting is at least partially received in a bore of the anchor fitting for relative axial movement between a first configuration to which the body is normally biased and a second, compressed configuration. First and second electrical contacts are operatively carried by the anchor fitting and the conduit fitting, and are brought into electrically conductive engagement in the second configuration. The inline conduit switch operates to create electrical contact when a control cable is placed in tension, thereby axially shifting the conduit fitting relative to the anchor fitting.

Abstract: A conduit guide clip is provided which includes a receiver and a single arm extending therefrom is provided for mounting to a tubular support such as the handlebar of a walk-behind lawn mower. The guide clip further includes a mounting post, which is inserted into a hole in the tubular support. The arm is curved to wrap around and clamp an arcuate inner surface of the receiver against the tubular support after installation. The mounting post is positioned to extend from the arcuate inner surface, and the arm includes a rearwardly swept remote edge and located whereby no portion of the arm is positioned to intersect the longitudinal axis of the mounting post.

Abstract: A conduit guide clip is provided which includes a receiver and a single arm extending therefrom is provided for mounting to a tubular support such as the handlebar of a walk-behind lawn mower. The guide clip further includes a mounting post, which is inserted into a hole in the tubular support. The arm is curved to wrap around and clamp an arcuate inner surface of the receiver against the tubular support after installation. The mounting post is positioned to extend from the arcuate inner surface, and the arm includes a rearwardly swept remote edge and located whereby no portion of the arm is positioned to intersect the longitudinal axis of the mounting post.

Abstract: A cable control assembly snaps into a control panel of a lawn mower or other piece of equipment to thereby enclose the opening in the control panel into which the assembly is received. The cable control assembly hereof includes a case and a shifter which is engaged by a detent spring, the case including a rim and at least one resilient snap for holding the margin of the control panel surrounding the opening therebetween. The detent spring includes a detent positioned between a pair of divergent arms which engage the case and inhibit transverse movement of the spring in the direction of orientation of the arms during pivotal movement of the shifter.

Abstract: A dual action bail and lever lawn mower control assembly is provided for operating the ground drive of a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower. The control assembly includes a housing, a shift lever having an extended handle and a substantially circular body which is coupled to a control cable. A bail socket is pivotally received in the housing and is coupled to the bail. A blocking pawl is provided within the housing for engagement with the circular body of the shift lever and the bail socket. The bail socket includes a retainer which is provided with a lug and is spring loaded so that when the bail is pulled back, the spring imparts a rotational force to the retainer. When the lever is shifted to position a recess therein opposite the pawl, the retainer pivots the pawl to enter the recess and hold the lever in the engaged position until the bail is released and a return spring associated with the ground drive pulls on the cable, with the shift lever being then free to return to its original position.

Abstract: A conduit guide fitting is provided which economically permits mounting a Bowden cable to a mounting bar of a lawn mower or the like. The conduit guide fitting includes a receiver adapted to receive the sheath of the Bowden cable therein and allows the control cable to pass through the receiver for connection to a shiftable control. A projection extends at an oblique angle to the fitting and is adapted to fit in a hole in the mounting bar so as to both hold the cable in position and permit pivoting of the receiver as the control is shifted.

Abstract: A push-pull control assembly which is lockable with respect to translational movement includes a rod received with a tube with a control cable attached to the rod and a collet received on an off-centered portion of the rod. The collet includes a raised ridge received within a keyway on the interior channel of the tube whereby the collet does not rotate but is free to translate within the channel. By turning the rod either clockwise or counterclockwise, the collet is wedged against the channel by the off-centered portion of the rod to lock the rod and thus the control cable against further movement. A key may be provided in addition to the collet to modify and limit the available translational movement of the rod.

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: 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 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 method of assembling the ratcheting tool driver. A plurality of inwardly facing ratchet teeth is integral with the walls of a cylindrical retainer cavity within the hollow cylindrical retainer. A washer is mounted around the generally conduit head and is sandwiched between an external head flange and an internal retainer flange. A snap ring is positioned in the head recess in order to provide friction for the washer in conjunction with maintaining the retainer around the open end. The ratcheting tool driver includes a generally solid cylindrical switch rod has a first rod end and a second rod end with a rod recess surrounded by a hollow neck. A pawl is provided with a pawl recess.

Abstract: A lawnmower cable control includes an operating handle having a tubular body rotatably mounted within a housing; a coupling element rotatably mounted coaxially with the handle body for coupling with a deadman handle; and a holding and releasing mechanism intercoupling the element and the body for holding the handle in a second position when the element is in the operating position and for releasing the handle for shifting to a first position when the element shifts to a relaxed position. Additionally, the preferred control includes a recess defined in the handle and an opening defined in the housing which are registrable with one another so that the cable can be connected to and removed from the handle without dismantling the control.