Abstract: A powered lawn mower having a frame, an engine mounted to the frame, a set of front wheels and a set of rear drive wheels connected to the frame. Attached to the rear of the frame is a standing platform positioned in front of the rear wheel axles so that the center of gravity is moved forward over the center of the mower with an operator standing on the platform. The positioning of the platform substantially improves the stability and safety of the mower. The platform, capable of supporting the weight of a standing operator, is mounted to the frame of the mower with a plurality of springs mounted between the platform and the frame to cushion the ride of the operator. The mower may also include as seat assembly removably attachable to the frame of the mower and positioned substantially above the platform. The seat assembly includes an attachment mechanism designed to be removably attached to the frame, so that an operator can choose between a standing position and a seated position.

Abstract: A self-propelled lawn mower having a hydrostatic drive system with individual brake control levers coupled to a linkage mechanism which when actuated releases hydraulic pressure in the hydrostatic drive system to slow rotation of rear drive wheels for improved steering and control of the lawn mower. The lawn mower includes a mower deck, a mower deck, and a control console extending between handle bars attached to the rear of the mower deck. The drive system comprises an infinitely variable speed control from forward, neutral, and reverse. Steering is accomplished by two independent wheel brakes, which are controlled by right and left hand brake control levers located adjacent respective handgrip levers. Squeezing one of the brake control levers partially releases the internal hydraulic pressure by the opening of a dump valve to effectively produce a reduced transmission drive condition.

Abstract: A self-propelled, walk-behind commercial type lawn mower having a frame with a mower deck attached to a front section of the frame, an engine mounted to a rear section of the frame, and a handle bar assembly attached to and extending rearwardly and upwardly from the rear section of the frame. The mower deck includes at least one rotatable wing section pivotally attached to the frame of the mower deck for movement between a substantially horizontal operating position and a substantially vertical non-operating position. The rotatable wing section extends the mowing width of the mower deck and allows mower to travel through narrow passageways of an enclosed mowing area. A locking mechanism secures the wing section in its substantially horizontal operating position and a substantially vertical non-operating position. A rotatable caster wheel attached to the front of the wing section may be retracted to provide maximum clearance when the wing section is in its vertical position.

Abstract: A lawn mower cutting blade spindle assembly having an elongate spindle shaft and a spindle shoulder projecting radially outward from the lower end thereof. A bearing assembly mounted within a spindle housing provides rotational support for the spindle shaft. Mounted on the upper end of the spindle shaft is at least one pulley configured to be driven by a drive belt connected to the mower's engine. A compression nut screwed onto the upper end of the spindle shaft is used to place the pulley or pulleys and bearing assembly in compression against the top face of the spindle shoulder. The spindle assembly also includes a cutting blade attached to the bottom face of the spindle shaft with a through-bolt and cutting blade attachment nut. Significantly, the cutting blade can be detached from the bottom face of the spindle shoulder without disturbing the compression placed on the pulley or pulleys and bearing assembly.

Abstract: A powered lawn mower having a frame, an engine mounted to the frame, a set of front wheels and rear wheels connected to the frame, a drive for transmitting rotational power from the engine to the rear wheels, and grass cutting blades associated with the frame, and powered by the engine. A platform is positioned behind the rear wheels, and is capable of supporting an operator while the lawn mower is operating. The platform and the other parts are connected to the frame in such a way and positioned so that the addition of the operator in a stand-up or riding position moves the center of gravity by no more than twenty-five percent of the wheelbase of the mower. The rear wheel set may be positioned up or down but is not swingable.

Abstract: A self-propelled lawn mower and control system for same which prevents the lawn mower from operating at high engine speed while in reverse, while still allowing a wide range of throttle speeds while in forward drive mode. Normally-open switches are closed to ground the primary ignition circuit when the lawn mower is in reverse and above a throttle speed threshold.

Abstract: A spindle assembly for the cutter blade of a rotary lawn mower includes a spindle rotatably mounted in a fixed housing by means of a pair of spaced apart tapered roller bearings. Lip seals are provided at the upper and lower ends of the housing and there is a further O-ring seal adjacent the lower housing end. The spindle shaft is maintained within the housing by snap rings and spacers, and the spindle and bearings are lubricated by a heavy oil disposed within the housing. A cutter blade is fixed to the lower end of the spindle and a pulley is fixed to the spindle above the housing.

Abstract: A lawn mower has a hydraulic motor mounted on each drive wheel and each motor is independently driven by a separate pump. Each pump includes a control lever for regulating fluid pressure and flow direction so that each wheel may be driven independently in the forward and reverse directions and at varying speeds. The control levers are independently connected to two speed control levers mounted on the mower's hand grips. A speed control index is mounted on each hand grip for releasably maintaining the speed control levers in a plurality of forward speed positions so that it is not necessary for the operator to exert hand pressure on the control levers in order to maintain a desired forward speed. A neutral control assembly returns the pump control levers to a neutral position when the control levers are moved into neutral.

Abstract: A lawn mower has a hydraulic motor mounted on each drive wheel and each motor is independently driven by a separate pump. Each pump includes a control lever for regulating fluid pressure and flow direction so that each wheel may be driven independently in the forward and reverse directions and at varying speeds. A speed control index is mounted on one side of the mower for releasably setting and maintaining the speed control levers in a plurality of equal forward speed positions so that the operator can preset the maximum forward speed. In addition, an individual speed control lever is mounted on each handgrip and each is independently coupled to one of the control levers for individually adjusting each wheel for speeds less than the preset maximum or for setting either wheel drive pump in neutral or reverse. A neutral control assembly returns the pump control levers to a neutral position when the control levers are moved into neutral.

Abstract: A lawn mower has an engine coupled by a transmission to drive wheels and by a belt drive to cutter blades. A cutter blade clutch lever is coupled to the belt drive and a shift lever is coupled to the transmission for respectively shifting the transmission and belt drive between neutral and drive positions. Safety interlock levers are mounted adjacent the lawn mower handles and each has a hand grip which is arcuate in cross section and engageable with and complementary to the mower handle hand grips. Each safety interlock hand grip is mounted on a control rod which is pivotable from a first position to a second position wherein the hand grips are located beneath and nestled against the mower handle hand grips.

Abstract: A lawn mower comprises a steering frame pivotally connected to an engine unit which is attached to a mower unit comprising a cutter deck and a cutter assembly. The center of gravity of the engine, transmission, battery and fuel tank is disposed to the rear of the drive wheel axis to counterbalance the weight of the mower unit. The steering frame is pivotally attached to the engine platform at a distance from the drive wheel axis which is a small fraction of the distance between this axis and the cutter deck front castor wheels. The engine and cutter units may be tilted about the drive wheel axis by a cable which extends from the steering frame at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to a radial line extending from the drive wheel axis.

Abstract: A power lawn mower has a drive which includes a pair of pulleys affixed to a shaft which is rotatably supported on a pair of arms which are each mounted at one end for pivotal movement about the axis of the engine power takeoff shaft. The arms are also supported intermediate their ends by rods which are pivotally supported at the lower ends on the rear wheel axles. A belt and a pair of pulleys couple the power takeoff shaft to the pulley shaft. A second pair of belts and pulleys couple the pulley shaft to pulleys affixed to each of the rear wheels.