Abstract: A grass mowing machine operator platform includes a one-piece plastic composite molded structure with a top surface and an outer wall, and a plurality of slots in the top surface and outer wall. A pair of steering levers may be pivotably mounted to steering pivot bolts in the slots in the top surface, and a brake lever pivotably mounted in a slot in the outer wall. The slots where the steering levers and brake lever are mounted have integral bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A towing bar assembly that is convertible from an articulated assembly for extracting a vehicle in an inaccessible location to a rigid assembly for safely towing a vehicle on a road.

Abstract: A shifter for use with a continuously variable transmission includes a grip portion and a hub portion. Specifically, the shifter is designed for use on a bicycle, but could also be used with any light vehicle. The grip portion is characterized by a rotatable adjuster that is coupled to a cable. The cable is also coupled to a hub portion. As the adjuster is rotated, the cable is pulled, in turn rotating a pulley assembly in the hub portion. As the pulley assembly is rotated, it advances a rod within a continuously variable transmission. The rod adjusts the power adjusters as described above. The grip portion is also unique in its display of information to the rider. The grip portion includes a display showing the ratio of input to output. The display also includes a filament that curves as the ration is adjusted. A high ratio renders the filament flat while the filament takes on a steep curve as the ratio is adjusted to make riding up hills easier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a towing bar assembly that may convert from an articulated assembly extracting a vehicle in an inaccessible location to a rigid assembly for safely towing a vehicle on a road.

Abstract: A grass mowing machine operator platform includes a one-piece plastic composite molded structure with a top surface and an outer wall, and a plurality of slots in the top surface and outer wall. A pair of steering levers may be pivotably mounted to steering pivot bolts in the slots in the top surface, and a brake lever pivotably mounted in a slot in the outer wall. The slots where the steering levers and brake lever are mounted have integral bearing surfaces.

Abstract: A self-pulling corkscrew is provided. The corkscrew includes a body comprised of a first arm extending downwardly from a central portion and a second arm extending downwardly from the central portion. The first and second arms each having an inner surface and an outer surface wherein the inner surfaces of the first arm and the second arm cooperatively define a bottle receiving cavity. The corkscrew further includes a first groove traversing at least a portion of the outer surface of the first arm and a second groove traversing at least a portion of the outer surface of the second arm. One of either the first and second grooves has a first depth at a proximate end of the groove and a second depth at a distal end of the groove. The corkscrew is further comprised of a sleeve, a handgrip and a screw. The sleeve is slidably engaged with the first and second arms and has a first inwardly projecting protrusion and a second inwardly projecting protrusion.

Abstract: A shifter for use with a continuously variable transmission includes a grip portion and a hub portion. Specifically, the shifter is designed for use on a bicycle, but could also be used with any light vehicle. The grip portion is characterized by a rotatable adjuster that is coupled to a cable. The cable is also coupled to a hub portion. As the adjuster is rotated, the cable is pulled, in turn rotating a pulley assembly in the hub portion. As the pulley assembly is rotated, it advances a rod within a continuously variable transmission. The rod adjusts the power adjusters as described above. The grip portion is also unique in its display of information to the rider. The grip portion includes a display showing the ratio of input to output. The display also includes a filament that curves as the ration is adjusted. A high ratio renders the filament flat while the filament takes on a steep curve as the ratio is adjusted to make riding up hills easier.

Abstract: A shifter for use with a continuously variable transmission includes a grip portion and a hub portion. Specifically, the shifter is designed for use on a bicycle, but could also be used with any light vehicle. The grip portion is characterized by a rotatable adjuster that is coupled to a cable. The cable is also coupled to a hub portion. As the adjuster is rotated, the cable is pulled, in turn rotating a pulley assembly in the hub portion. As the pulley assembly is rotated, it advances a rod within a continuously variable transmission. The rod adjusts the power adjusters as described above. The grip portion is also unique in its display of information to the rider. The grip portion includes a display showing the ratio of input to output. The display also includes a filament that curves as the ration is adjusted. A high ratio renders the filament flat while the filament takes on a steep curve as the ratio is adjusted to make riding up hills easier.

Abstract: A shifter for use with a continuously variable transmission includes a grip portion and a hub portion. Specifically, the shifter is designed for use on a bicycle, but could also be used with any light vehicle. The grip portion is characterized by a rotatable adjuster that is coupled to a cable. The cable is also coupled to a hub portion. As the adjuster is rotated, the cable is pulled, in turn rotating a pulley assembly in the hub portion. As the pulley assembly is rotated, it advances a rod within a continuously variable transmission. The rod adjusts the power adjusters as described above. The grip portion is also unique in its display of information to the rider. The grip portion includes a display showing the ratio of input to output. The display also includes a filament that curves as the ration is adjusted. A high ratio renders the filament flat while the filament takes on a steep curve as the ratio is adjusted to make riding up hills easier.

Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector. DC electric rotary motors assemblies may be used to set the reel-to-bedknife gap and height-of-cut for the reel cutting unit.

Abstract: A control system for a cutting reel unit includes a height-of-cut adjusting system and a reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system. The height-of-cut adjusting system includes a first frame; a second frame; a cutting reel supported by the second frame; a bedknife arranged adjacent to the cutting reel and supported by the second frame; at least one support element arranged to translate along the ground and arranged to support the first frame; and at least one first actuator connected between the first frame and the second frame and arranged to adjust the relative elevation of the second frame with respect to the first frame. The reel-to-bedknife clearance adjusting system includes at least one second actuator operatively connected between the reel and the second frame and a sound detector. The reel mower cutting unit may be manual or self-adjusting.

Abstract: A tractor cab roof with integral HVAC air ducts includes an upper roof member and a lower roof member. The upper roof member includes a top panel, downwardly depending side edges, and a downwardly depending rear edge. The lower roof member includes a central panel, left and right side panels below the central panel, a rear panel below the central panel, sloping side walls, and a sloping rear wall. Conditioned air ducts are between the upper roof member and the left and right side panels, with conditioned air outlet apertures in the sloping side walls. An evaporator/heater core is mounted on the rear panel, with an air mixing chamber to the rear and a conditioned air discharge cavity in front. Recirculating air intake apertures are provided where the sloping rear wall joins the rear panel. A pair of blowers move conditioned air from the conditioned air chamber into the conditioned air ducts. The flow of conditioned air crosses over the recirculating air in a figure eight pattern.

Abstract: A shifter for use with a continuously variable transmission includes a grip portion and a hub portion. Specifically, the shifter is designed for use on a bicycle, but could also be used with any light vehicle. The grip portion is characterized by a rotatable adjuster that is coupled to a cable. The cable is also coupled to a hub portion. As the adjuster is rotated, the cable is pulled, in turn rotating a pulley assembly in the hub portion. As the pulley assembly is rotated, it advances a rod within a continuously variable transmission. The rod adjusts the power adjusters as described above. The grip portion is also unique in its display of information to the rider. The grip portion includes a display showing the ratio of input to output. The display also includes a filament that curves as the ration is adjusted. A high ratio renders the filament flat while the filament takes on a steep curve as the ratio is adjusted to make riding up hills easier.

Abstract: An integrated fan shroud air intake system for a tractor provides an air passage through a fan shroud positioned between the radiator and internal combustion engine. The air passage has an intake and an outlet laterally displaced from the intake. An air filter is mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tractor, with a dirty air inlet plugged directly into the outlet of the air passage.