Abstract: An air cleaner system that potentially reduces debris entering a prime mover (e.g., engine) during removal/replacement of an air cleaner. In one embodiment, the engine includes a shroud defining an air cleaner compartment. The engine further includes a tubular air feed port defining a combustion air intake. The air feed port terminates at an end face located at or within the air cleaner compartment, and a lower portion of the end face is notched relative to other portions of the end face. In other embodiments, an engine oil drain system is provided that selectively positions a distal end of an oil drain tube at a drain position located away from the engine. The oil drain tube may also be repositioned to a stored position, wherein the distal end of the drain tube attaches to a nipple connected to either an engine housing or surrounding structure.

Abstract: An air cleaner system that potentially reduces debris entering a prime mover (e.g., engine) during removal/replacement of an air cleaner. In one embodiment, the engine includes a shroud defining an air cleaner compartment. The engine further includes a tubular air feed port defining a combustion air intake. The air feed port terminates at an end face located at or within the air cleaner compartment, and a lower portion of the end face is notched relative to other portions of the end face. In other embodiments, an engine oil drain system is provided that selectively positions a distal end of an oil drain tube at a drain position located away from the engine. The oil drain tube may also be repositioned to a stored position, wherein the distal end of the drain tube attaches to a nipple connected to either an engine housing or surrounding structure.

Abstract: A rotary cutting deck has dual, side-by-side cutting chambers each of which houses a rotary cutting blade. The blades rotate so that grass clippings exit to the rear of the cutting deck through a central, rearwardly extending exit tunnel. A pivotal mulch door is located within the exit tunnel with the mulch door swinging between two positions. In one position, the exit tunnel is open to permit operation of the cutting deck in a discharge/collection mode of operation. In the other position, the exit tunnel is closed to convert the cutting deck to a mulching mode of operation. A V-shaped baffle with a forwardly facing apex is placed in the bottom and rear of the exit tunnel to enhance performance in the mulching mode of operation.

Abstract: A rotary cutting deck has dual, side-by-side cutting chambers each of which houses a rotary cutting blade. The blades rotate so that grass clippings exit to the rear of the cutting deck through a central, rearwardly extending exit tunnel. A pivotal mulch door is located within the exit tunnel with the mulch door swinging between two positions. In one position, the exit tunnel is open to permit operation of the cutting deck in a discharge/collection mode of operation. In the other position, the exit tunnel is closed to convert the cutting deck to a mulching mode of operation. A V-shaped baffle with a forwardly facing apex is placed in the bottom and rear of the exit tunnel to enhance performance in the mulching mode of operation.

Abstract: A grass catcher assembly 10 includes a hopper 15 has as inlet 16a for receiving a stream of air and grass clippings and an outlet 16b for venting air. A manifold 30 is operatively connected to the hopper 15. The manifold has an entrance for receiving the vented air and an exit for venting the air. The exit has a first orifice 33b and a second orifice 34b for venting air to the right and left side of the hopper. A baffle 40 selectively channels the vented air to the first or second orifices.

Abstract: A control system for selectively actuating a component on an outdoor power equipment unit, such as a blade on a lawn mower, uses two separate and distinct operator actions to prevent inadvertent actuation. The control system includes a pivotal bail that must be pivoted from a first component disengaged position to a second component engaged position in which the bail lies flat against the handle assembly of the outdoor power equipment unit. A slide is slidably mounted on a housing, carried on one of the legs of the bail, for movement towards and away from the pivot axis of the bail. The slide must be pushed down to engage the lower end of the slide with a notch in a pivotal cam to temporarily link the cam to the bail in order to actuate the component. When the bail is released to return to its initial position, camming surfaces on the lower end of the slide and the notch are effective to mechanically cam the slide back up to its disengaged position where the lower end of the slide has disengaged the notch.

Abstract: A mulching lawn mower has a closed cutting chamber in a mulching mode such that the grass clippings are confined within the cutting chamber except for when they fall out through the open bottom face of the chamber. The cutting chamber has a first portion of toroidal or doughnut form generally closely surrounding the blade tips. In addition, the front portion of the cutting chamber includes a forwardly protruding wedge-shaped extension having side walls that converge towards one another in a pie-shaped fashion. The wedge-shaped extension further includes a top wall that extends between the side walls. This top wall is sloped or inclined downwardly as it extends to the front of the mower such that the height of the wedge-shaped extension gradually decreases until the wedge-shaped extension disappears at its front edge. The wedge-shaped extension reduces power consumption of the mower when the mower is placed in its mulching mode and is used to mulch grass.

Abstract: A lawn mower has a cutting chamber formed in a metallic liner having front and rear aprons. A plastic deck, molded in one-piece, is screwed to the liner to enclose and hide the liner. The deck/liner combination is inexpensive but strong and durable, the metallic liner being able to resist being chipped or damaged by rocks or other debris being circulated within the cutting chamber provided by the liner. Front and rear axles may be conveniently retained by being trapped or captured between the deck and the front and rear aprons of the liner when the deck and the liner are secured together. A trailing rear shield may be hung from the rear apron of the liner and retained in place by some of the attachment screws used to affix the deck and liner together.

Abstract: A kerosene heater (1) having a pump assembly (106) which includes a piston (113) having a hollow bore (121) through which fuel (98) is routed to the hollow shaft of a fuel atomizer (27). The piston (113) is operated by a cam (117) machined into the shaft (114) of the heater motor (22). Mounted on the motor shaft (114) between the atomizer (27) and the pump assembly (106) is a novel fan (26) combining both low pitched outer blade portions (143) and high pitched vanes (146) near the hub (136) of the fan (26). The air flow near the periphery of the fan tends to be axial while the flow near the hub (136) tends to be turbulent and of lower velocity. A series of rear heads (32,33) downstream of the atomizer (27) tends to separate cooling and combustion air while preheating a portion of the air in the region of the atomizer (27).

Abstract: A compost bin (20) including a plurality of substantially horizontal aeration/mixing slots (42). Slots (42), preferably "L-shaped," permit mixing and aeration of the composting material. A mixing tool, e.g., garden fork, can be inserted substantially vertically into the mixing/aeration slots (42), and pivoted to a substantially horizontal position to achieve thorough mixing of the compost material. Compost bin (20) also preferably includes a cover (26) having one or more rain collection ramps (74) which collect rainwater and divert it to one or more rain slots (76) and into the interior of compost bin (20).

Abstract: A cable connector (82) including a thermal fuse (25) for use with a low voltage electrical system (1). The preferred connector (82) includes a pair of electrically and thermally conductive jumper elements (19,23) with a plurality of sharpened edges (30,33,64,67) for piercing the insulating jacket (32,35,73,74) surrounding the inner conductors (14,15,22,24) with which the jumpers (19,23) make electrical contact. The jumpers (19,23) include a plurality of conductor engaging slots (31,34,65,66,68,69) which mechanically grip the conductors. In operation, the quality of the electrical contact between the jumpers and the conductors is proportional to the amount of heat radiated at the junction between the terminals (26,27,62,63) and the conductors (14,15,22,24), the heat causing the thermal fuse (25) to break the electrical circuit when the sensed heat exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A power box (12) for a low voltage lighting system (10). Power box (12), which connects to a 120 VAC source via 120 VAC cable (15) and a plurality of low voltage light fixtures (14) via a 12 VAC cable (16), includes a "tortuous path" strain relief (40) including a first strain relief structure (41) in a base (19) having vertically spaced horizontal ribs (44, 46, 48) and a second strain relief structure (43) in a cover (28) having corresponding vertically spaced horizontal ribs (56, 54, 52). When base (19) and cover (28) are assembled, structures (41 and 43) align such that the ribs interdigitate or mesh to form the tortuous path strain relief (40) for the 120 VAC cable (15). Another aspect of the invention is the use of a standard spade lug connector (77) and a pair of "double-L" spade lug connectors (78) for making the internal and external 12 VAC connections to a step down transformer (60) and the 12 VAC cable (16), respectively.

Abstract: A power box (12) for a low voltage lighting system (10). Power box (12), which connects to a 120 VAC source via 120 VAC cable (15) and a plurality of low voltage light fixtures (14) via a 12 VAC cable (16), includes a "tortuous path" strain relief (40) including a first strain relief structure (41) in a base (19) having vertically spaced horizontal ribs (44, 46, 48) and a second strain relief structure (43) in a cover (28) having corresponding vertically spaced horizontal ribs (56, 54, 52). When base (19) and cover (28) are assembled, structures (41 and 43) align such that the ribs interdigitate or mesh to form the tortuous path strain relief (40) for the 120 VAC cable (15). Another aspect of the invention is the use of a standard spade lug connector (77) and a pair of "double-L" spade lug connectors (78) for making the internal and external 12 VAC connections to a step down transformer (60) and the 12 VAC cable (16), respectively.

Abstract: A Power box (12) for a low voltage lighting system (10). Power box (12), which connects to a 120 VAC source via 120 VAC cable (15) and a plurality of low voltage light fixtures (14) via a 12 VAC cable (16), includes a "tortuous path" strain relief (40) including a first strain relief structure (41) in a base (19) having vertically spaced horizontal ribs (44, 46, 48) and a second strain relief structure (43) in a cover (28) having corresponding vertically spaced horizontal ribs (56, 54, 52). When base (19) and cover (28) are assembled, structures (41 and 43) align such that the ribs interdigitate or mesh to form the tortuous path strain relief (40) for the 120 VAC cable (15). Another aspect of the invention is the use of a standard spade lug connector (77) and a pair of "double-L" spade lug connectors (78) for making the internal and external 12 VAC connections to a step down transformer (60) and the 12 VAC cable (16), respectively.

Abstract: A light fixture (10) adjustable in focus and/or beam direction. Light fixture (10) is of the "vertical" or "downlighting" type, and preferably includes a bulb/lens assembly (16) mounted atop a relatively short post (14). Bulb/lens assembly (16) includes a lens (30) which rotatably carries a cap (72). Inside lens (30) and beneath cap (72) is a bulb (42) and a reflector assembly (48). Reflector assembly (48) includes a reflector holder (50) having a plurality of outwardly-extending posts (70) which are first received by vertical slots (46) in lens (30) and finally by cam grooves (80) in cap (72). Rotation of cap (72) relative to lens (30) causes cam grooves (80) to act upon posts (70) to move reflector assembly (48) relative to bulb (42). Reflector assembly (48) can be moved vertically relative to bulb (42) to adjust the width or focus of the light beam; and/or tilted vis-a-vis bulb (42) to adjust the direction of the light beam.

Abstract: A cable connector for a low voltage electrical system. A preferred connector (22) includes a pair of electrically conductive jumper elements (62a, 62b) with a pair of spaced sharp protrusions (66) that are electrically connected. The preferred connector (22) includes a cap (52) consisting of electrically resistive material with means for engaging the jumper elements (62a, 62b). The preferred cable connector (22) includes a base (24) consisting of electrically resistive material with a plurality of channel-like cavities (26, 28, 30, 32) for accepting low voltage electrical cables (36, 38). The base (24) is sized so as to nest within cap (52) and the cavities (26, 28, 30, 32) are sized so as to receive the sharp protrusions (66) so that the cables (36, 38) are penetrated by the protrusions (66) and the base (24) nests within the cap (52).

Abstract: A deck light (20) including a post (22), cap (24) and lamp/lens assembly (26). Lamp/lens assembly (26) independently attaches to post (22) and cap (24) so that lamp/lens assembly (26) can be removed and separately attached to a deck member; or, alternatively, either post (22) or cap (24), or both, can be attached to lamp/lens assembly (26) and the combination can be attached in a variety of ways to the deck. Preferably, lamp/lens assembly (26) is about 31/2 inches wide and about 11/2 inches deep so that it (either alone or in combination with post (22) and/or cap (24) can be flush mounted to various deck members in a variety of ways. In a preferred embodiment, a stake (100) can be attached to the bottom of post (22) so that fixture (20) can even be used as a stake light.