Abstract: A snowthrower has a rotatable chute that directs the snow stream in different directions depending on the rotational position of the chute. A slidable hand grip is mounted on one of the handle tubes of the snowthrower. The hand grip can be slid down the handle tube by the operator to rotate the chute in a first direction. The hand grip can be slid up the handle tube by the operator to rotate the chute in a second opposite direction. The hand grip includes a rounded knob that the operator can grip with one hand. A latch is provided to lock the hand grip in an adjusted position on the handle tube.

Abstract: A U-shaped handle is physically attached to the back of a deflector atop a snow directing chute on a snowthrower. The deflector pivots atop the chute to adjust the trajectory of a stream of snow being thrown by the snowthrower. The handle is gripped and moved up and down to effect a pivotal adjustment of the deflector. A pivotal latch is carried on the handle which latch protrudes into the open interior hand grip space of the handle. The latch is spring biased so that a detent on the latch engages with a toothed rack with the interengagement between the detent and the rack holding the deflector in an adjusted position. When the operator grips the handle and squeezes the fingers of the gripping hand closed, the latch is pivoted to remove the detent from the rack and thereby permit pivotal adjustment of the deflector.

Abstract: A snowthrower has independent wheel drive trains to allow steering by clutching one drive train while unclutching the other drive train. The clutch in each drive train comprises a plurality of pivotal pawls carried on a drive member with the pawls pivoting in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the drive member. The pawls have heads that project through one face of the drive member and tails located on an opposite face of the drive member. The heads of the pawls can engage or disengage notches that are fixed to the driven member to clutch or unclutch the drive and driven members. A shift member axially presses on the tails of the pawls to disengage the heads of the pawls from the driven member. The shift member is selectively moved by an operator using a steering lever on the snowthrower.

Abstract: A single joystick type control handle controls the chute and deflector of a snowthrower. The control handle can be moved laterally from side to side and a second linkage including a gear connection laterally rotates the chute from side to side in the same direction, i.e. movement of the control handle to the left rotates the chute to the left and vise versa. The gear connection has a mechanical advantage that increases the amount of the angular rotation of the chute, i.e. the chute rotates further than the angular movement of the control handle. The control handle can also be moved longitudinally from fore to aft and a second linkage comprising a flexible cable pivots the deflector up and down on the chute in the same direction, i.e. moving the control handle forward pivots the deflector down and vise versa. A locking mechanism is provided to hold the chute and the deflector in their adjusted positions.

Abstract: A two stage snowthrower includes snow removal components comprising a transversely extending auger housed within an auger housing. A generally cylindrical impeller housing is joined to a rear wall of the auger housing. A rotatable impeller within the impeller housing rotates within a circular cross-section of the impeller housing to throw snow upwardly through a snow discharge pipe. The snow discharge pipe is offset to one side of the impeller housing such that a first side wall of the snow discharge pipe is longer than a second side wall of the snow discharge pipe. The first side wall of the snow discharge pipe is joined to the circular cross-section of the impeller housing along a first edge where snow is thrown upwardly by the impeller. The circular cross-section of the impeller housing resumes at a second edge which is displaced laterally and below a lower edge of the second side wall.

Abstract: An improved single-stage snow thrower including a wheeled frame assembly for supporting the snow thrower upon a ground surface and a driven impeller capable of being placed in ground contact to forwardly propel the snow thrower across the ground surface. A handle assembly including a user interface is further provided to permit the operator to selectively control the normal force associated with the driven impeller, and thus selectively control the propulsive drive force of the snow thrower. A bail control assembly may be provided upon the handle to permit the operator to selectively control a downward movement of the impeller to selectively control the degree of impeller ground contact.

Abstract: A filament trimmer has an improved trimmer head. The trimmer head includes a spool having crush ribs on its core to prevent contraction of the filament line from warping or otherwise damaging the spool. A slot shaped exit aperture is provided in the head which can be opened up when the head is disassembled to allow the filament line to be more easily placed therein, but which will be closed when the head is fully assembled and will constrain the line against excessive vertical movement. The head includes a line indexing system for feeding out additional line in which one of the groups of the conventional teeth in such system are vertically spaced away from the spool flanges and are placed on a spool core extension. A dirt seal is provided to help prevent from passing around the ground engaging member of the indexing system. Finally, the head includes a self threading drive shaft that forms the attachment threads for the head into the head when the head is threaded onto the drive shaft.

Abstract: A slow in turn system for a vehicle comprises an accelerator linkage that is linked to the input lever of a variable speed transmission. The accelerator linkage includes first and second link arms that couple a foot pedal to a rotatable cam plate. The link arm that connects to the cam plate is coupled thereto by a slider so that the connection point of that link arm may be moved towards and away from the pivot axis of the cam plate. The slider is moved away from the pivot axis of the cam plate during turns of the vehicle to reversely rotate the cam plate, and hence retard the input lever of the speed changing system, to thereby automatically slow the vehicle. This movement of the slider is accomplished by a connecting linkage extending to the steering system of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle includes a cruise control system that can be set to obtain a particular forward speed but which allows the operator to temporarily speed up without subsequently having to reset the cruise control system.

Abstract: A cruise control system for a vehicle comprises an accelerator linkage that is linked to the input lever of a variable speed transmission. The accelerator linkage is biased to neutral, but can be moved against the bias by an operator who pushes down on an accelerator. A cruise control link which is separate from the accelerator linkage has one end coupled to the accelerator linkage by a pin and slot connection. The cruise control link can be locked in a fixed position by an electromagnet that can be selectively energized by the operator. A spring normally keeps the pin on the cruise control link in engagement with a forward end of the slot carried on the accelerator linkage to prevent the accelerator linkage from returning to neutral when the cruise control link is locked in place by the electromagnet. However, the operator can temporarily increase the vehicle speed since additional forward movement of the accelerator linkage is permitted by the length of the slot.

Abstract: A filament trimmer has an improved trimmer head. The trimmer head includes a spool having crush ribs on its core to prevent contraction of the filament line from warping or otherwise damaging the spool. A slot shaped exit aperture is provided in the head which can be opened up when the head is disassembled to allow the filament line to be more easily placed therein, but which will be closed when the head is fully assembled and will constrain the line against excessive vertical movement. The head includes a line indexing system for feeding out additional line in which one of the groups of the conventional teeth in such system are vertically spaced away from the spool flanges and are placed on a spool core extension. A dirt seal is provided to help prevent from passing around the ground engaging member of the indexing system. Finally, the head includes a self threading drive shaft that forms the attachment threads for the head into the head when the head is threaded onto the drive shaft.

Abstract: A filament trimmer has an improved trimmer head. The trimmer head includes a spool having crush ribs on its core to prevent contraction of the filament line from warping or otherwise damaging the spool. A slot shaped exit aperture is provided in the head which can be opened up when the head is disassembled to allow the filament line to be more easily placed therein, but which will be closed when the head is fully assembled and will constrain the line against excessive vertical movement. The head includes a line indexing system for feeding out additional line in which one of the groups of the conventional teeth in such system are vertically spaced away from the spool flanges and are placed on a spool core extension. A dirt seal is provided to help prevent from passing around the ground engaging member of the indexing system. Finally, the head includes a self threading drive shaft that forms the attachment threads for the head into the head when the head is threaded onto the drive shaft.

Abstract: A mulching mower has at least one generally enclosed cutting chamber in which a rotatable cutting blade is carried for rotation in a generally horizontal cutting plane. A sidewall defines the circumferential boundary of the cutting chamber and the grass clippings exit the cutting chamber through an open bottom side thereof. An attachment is abutted against the bottom of the blade and is secured thereto by the same attachment bolt that holds the blade to the engine drive shaft to provide a plurality of winglets that rotate in unison with the blade. The winglets include forwardly inclined grass deflecting surfaces that extend over an inner portion of each blade half and help evacuate the grass clippings from the cutting chamber. The tip portions of the blade may also be cut away or chamfered in the range of 7.degree.-15.degree. relative to a square radial tip configuration.

Abstract: A discharge chute assembly (30) includes a chute (32) and a pivotal deflector (34), the overlapping end portions of which define a partial spherical or bail joint (40) which maintains a tight seal against backflow and leakage over the entire range of rotation and deflection of the assembly. The assembly (30) is preferably secured to a rotatable base (54) by means of lower pivots (70) and a releasable fastener (72) for collapsibility.

Abstract: A discharge chute assembly (30) includes a chute (32) and a pivotal deflector (34), the overlapping end portions of which define a partial spherical or ball joint (40) which maintains a tight seal against backflow and leakage over the entire range of rotation and deflection of the assembly. The assembly (30) is preferably secured to a rotatable base (54) by means of lower pivots (70) and a releasable fastener (72) for collapsibility.

Abstract: An improved riding lawn mower comprises a frame having steerable front wheels and rear traction wheels. Each rear wheel is independently driven by a separate transmission. A steering wheel is used to turn the front wheels to control the direction of movement of the rider. Linkage assemblies connected to the steering assembly declutch the rear wheel on the inside of a sharp turn to give the mower near ZTR turning ability. However, the declutched rear wheel freewheels to avoid tearing the turf and the mower does not speed up during the turn.

Abstract: An improved single stage snowthrower (2) includes an open front portion (14) having a rotatable impeller (30) contained therein. Impeller (30) contains at least one outwardly extending paddle (32) having a complex curved shape. Paddle (32) includes a central snowthrowing section (34) which is curved forwardly from its midpoint to each side thereof to be concave with this central section (34) extending over at least the middle 50 percent of the entire paddle's length. Two end sections (36) fill out the remaining length of paddle (32) and are shaped to function as augers for moving a relatively small volume of snow inwardly onto the central snowthrowing section (34). Improved impeller (30) can be used with an inverted funnel-shaped collecting chamber (22) located in the rear wall (18) of front portion (14) of snowthrower (2). Collecting chamber (22) is sized and shaped to approximate the size and shape of the inwardly tapered stream which is thrown off central section (34).

Abstract: An improved single stage snowthrower (2) includes an open front portion (14) having a rotatable impeller (30) contained therein. Impeller (30) contains at least one outwardly extending paddle (32) having a complex curved shape. Paddle (32) includes a central snowthrowing section (34) which is curved forwardly from its midpoint to each side thereof to be concave with this central section (34) extending over at least the middle 50 percent of the entire paddle's length. Two end sections (36) fill out the remaining length of paddle (32) and are shaped to function as augers for moving a relatively small volume of snow inwardly onto the central snowthrowing section (34). Improved impeller (30) can be used with an inverted funnel-shaped collecting chamber (22) located in the rear wall (18) of front portion (14) of snowthrower (2). Collecting chamber (22) is sized and shaped to approximate the size and shape of the inwardly tapered stream which is thrown off central section (34).

Abstract: A cutting head (20) for a filament trimmer utilizing a fixed length of filament is shaped like an inverted bowl with a flange (2). A filament retainer cup (60) is attached to the concavity of head (20) and has two V-shaped slits (64) diametrically opposed. Apertures (6) in the sides of head (20) are aligned with slits (64). Bosses (36) extend outwardly from sides of bowl about half the width of flange (2) and terminate in planar faces (6). Faces (6) are inclined inwardly and upwardly and contain slots (26). Eyelets (24) are press fit into slots (26). Filament (4) is installed through eyelets and is pressed into slits (64) so free ends (5) are the same length on both sides of the head. Free ends (5) define a cutting plane when head (20) is rotating. Slits (64) impose a slight crimp in filament (4) and prevent filament (4) from moving axially when the device is in operation.

Abstract: An improved single stage snowthrower (2) includes an open front portion (14) having a rotatable impeller (30) contained therein. Impeller (30) contains at least one outwardly extending paddle (32) having a complex curved shape. Paddle (32) includes a central snowthrowing section (34) which is curved forwardly from its midpoint to each side thereof to be concave with this central section (34) extending over at least the middle 50 percent of the entire paddle's length. Two end sections (36) fill out the remaining length of paddle (32) and are shaped to function as augers for moving a relatively small volume of snow inwardly onto the central snowthrowing section (34). Improved impeller (30) can be used with an inverted funnel-shaped collecting chamber (22) located in the rear wall (18) of front portion (14) of snowthrower (2). Collecting chamber (22) is sized and shaped to approximate the size and shape of the inwardly tapered stream which is thrown off central section (34).