Patents by Inventor Lee E. Roller

Lee E. Roller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5048478
    Abstract: A single cylinder air-cooled internal combustion engine has a bracket which is mounted to the engine encircling the crankshaft between the flywheel and the crankcase. A plurality of engine accessories are mounted to the bracket as a subassembly prior to assembly of the bracket to the engine. The engine accessories include a safety brake, a throttle control lever, an electric starter, an alternator, a finger guard and a cooling air baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventors: Kevin G. Bonde, Mark T. Holschuh, Lee E. Roller
  • Patent number: 4979596
    Abstract: A safety brake system for a walk behind lawn mower in which provision is made for alternative orientations of the engine relative to the mower deck and operator's position while utilizing the same components for the safety brake system. Only the interconnection of the components is changed for the alternative engine orientations. In one configuration, a control lever connected intermediate an operator actuated bowden cable and the brake disengagement device is pivoted between the attachment points of the control lever to the bowden cable and the disengagement device such that a reverseal of direction of pull is effected. In the other configuration, the point of attachment of the control lever to the disengagement device is on the same side of the pivot point of attachment to the bowden cable such that no reversal of direction of pull occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Lee E. Roller
  • Patent number: 4889213
    Abstract: A safety device for an internal combustion engine powered implement and for disabling the operation of the internal combustion engine by means of a brake. The safety device includes a braking lever and a control lever which are both mounted on a single pivot member. Two springs are provided, the first of which normally urges the braking lever into contact with the flywheel of the internal combustion engine to prevent rotation thereof. The second spring biases the control lever into a rest position wherein the deadman control lever assumes its normal non-operated position and allows adjustment of control effort. The braking lever and control lever are mounted on the pivoting member by means of bushings to permit independent pivoting movement of the levers when the deadman lever is operated. The control lever contacts the braking lever by means of an abutment surface thereby rotating the braking lever out of contact with the flywheel and permitting the engine to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Tecumseh Products Company
    Inventor: Lee E. Roller