Abstract: A handlebar coupling and adjustment unit comprises a housing, a pivot pin, a manual grip and a retaining pin. The housing receives an end portion of a handlebar. The pivot pin joins the housing to the handlebar and pivotally supports the handle relative to the handle bracket. The retaining pin is connected to the manual grip and is linearly translatable in a first direction from an extended positioned projecting beyond the housing to a withdrawn position within the housing. The manual grip is rotatable while the retaining pin is in the withdrawn position between a locked position in which the housing holds the manual grip with the retaining pin in the withdrawn position and an unlocked positioned in which the manual grip is linearly translatable in a second direction to return the retaining pin to the extended position.

Abstract: A handlebar coupling and adjustment unit comprises a housing, a pivot pin, a manual grip and a retaining pin. The housing receives an end portion of a handlebar. The pivot pin joins the housing to the handlebar and pivotally supports the handle relative to the handle bracket. The retaining pin is connected to the manual grip and is linearly translatable in a first direction from an extended positioned projecting beyond the housing to a withdrawn position within the housing. The manual grip is rotatable while the retaining pin is in the withdrawn position between a locked position in which the housing holds the manual grip with the retaining pin in the withdrawn position and an unlocked positioned in which the manual grip is linearly translatable in a second direction to return the retaining pin to the extended position.

Abstract: A height of cut adjustment system for use with a walk behind mower. The height of cut adjustment system includes a single drive motor that is operable in a first direction and a second direction. The single drive motor is connected to a linkage assembly that supports the four wheels of the walk behind mower relative to the mower deck. When the single drive motor is operated in a first direction, the mower height of cut increases and when the drive motor is operated in the second direction, the height of cut is decreased. The height of cut adjustment system includes a height of cut indicator system that visually indicates the relative position of the wheels relative to the mower deck. The height of cut indicator system includes one or more position indicators that can be selectively positioned to visually indicate the desired height of cut for the mower.

Abstract: A height of cut adjustment system for use with a walk behind mower. The height of cut adjustment system includes a single drive motor that is operable in a first direction and a second direction. The single drive motor is connected to a linkage assembly that supports the four wheels of the walk behind mower relative to the mower deck. When the single drive motor is operated in a first direction, the mower height of cut increases and when the drive motor is operated in the second direction, the height of cut is decreased. The height of cut adjustment system includes a height of cut indicator system that visually indicates the relative position of the wheels relative to the mower deck. The height of cut indicator system includes one or more position indicators that can be selectively positioned to visually indicate the desired height of cut for the mower.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a control assembly and method of manufacturing a walk-behind mower having a transmission and an engine electrically connected to an operator presence switch. The control assembly can include a left drive lever and a right drive lever. The control assembly can also include a left control member and a right control member each coupled to the transmission. The control assembly can further include a left operator presence lever and a right operator presence lever coupled to the operator presence switch. The operator presence switch can allow the engine to operate when either the left operator presence lever is moved toward the left drive lever or the right operator presence lever is moved toward the right drive lever.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a control assembly and method of manufacturing a walk-behind mower having a transmission and an engine electrically connected to an operator presence switch. The control assembly can include a left drive lever and a right drive lever. The control assembly can also include a left control member and a right control member each coupled to the transmission. The control assembly can further include a left operator presence lever and a right operator presence lever coupled to the operator presence switch. The operator presence switch can allow the engine to operate when either the left operator presence lever is moved toward the left drive lever or the right operator presence lever is moved toward the right drive lever.

Abstract: One or more elongate barriers are provided that are movably (in one configuration pivotably) mounted proximate the outside of a grass cutting deck. When one of the barriers encounters a foreign object in a certain manner, the barrier moves towards its “tripped” position, thus causing a corresponding change to the operating characteristic of the lawn mover, be it a termination of the cutting process, the mower drive process, or both. The barriers can be used with electric or mechanical control elements.

Abstract: A grass cutting blade is provided which can be rotated in either direction while providing cutting and airlift in either direction. This can be used in cooperation with a cutting deck housing which includes a particular discharge opening and channel configuration which facilitates side discharge for one blade direction and mulching in the other. By controlling the blade direction, such as by an electric switch controlling electric blade shaft drive motor, side discharge or mulching can be had at a flip of a switch.

Abstract: One or more elongate barriers are provided that are movably (in one configuration pivotably) mounted proximate the outside of a grass cutting deck. When one of the barriers encounters a foreign object in a certain manner, the barrier moves towards its “tripped” position, thus causing a corresponding change to the operating characteristic of the lawn mover, be it a termination of the cutting process, the mower drive process, or both. The barriers can be used with electric or mechanical control elements.

Abstract: A disabling feature used with a lawn mower, for disabling the drive wheels of a lawn mower when an obstacle is encountered. Braking, engine kill, blade stopping, and declutching is contemplated upon the tripping of a pivotable contact device which in one embodiment is configured to be tripped when contacting an object while in reverse. A directional extension flap is also provided.

Abstract: One or more elongate barriers are provided that are movably (in one configuration pivotably) mounted proximate the outside of a grass cutting deck. When one of the barriers encounters a foreign object in a certain manner, the barrier moves towards its “tripped” position, thus causing a corresponding change to the operating characteristic of the lawn mover, be it a termination of the cutting process, the mower drive process, or both. The barriers can be used with electric or mechanical control elements.

Abstract: A shield configuration for a snowthrowing discharge chute, which may be pivoted out of the way for clean-out purposes while reducing the opportunity for the user to extend a body part or other object into the chute while the engine is running. The apparatus makes a clean-out rod readily available to the user just after the shield has been opened.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to vehicles, and particularly relates to a “personal mobility vehicle”, which is typically used by a single rider on relatively flat terrain and can be powered by rechargeable batteries. The vehicle is configured to be “broken down” into smaller subapparatuses for purposes of transport. Also included is the use of a single elongate pivoting control bar, which can be grasped by an operator's fingertips while the operator keeps the operator's palms on main handle grips.

Abstract: A grass bag apparatus includes a bag portion, a lower bag attachment subassembly, and an upper bag attachment subassembly. The lower bag attachment subassembly includes a hoop portion and a handle portion. The upper bag attachment subassembly includes a first upper subportion element (itself including a main wireform subportion and hook portions) and a second upper subportion element (itself including a main wireform subportion and a shield portion). When the grass bag apparatus is attached to a convention lawnmower having a handle assembly, the lower bag attachment subassembly is mounted proximate the discharge opening of the lawnmower. The upper bag attachment subassembly is mounted proximate the handle assembly, particularly at a location including a crossbar. Hook portions being part of the first upper subportion element hook over the crossbar such that the first and second upper subportion elements tend to be locked together during such mounting on said crossbar.

Abstract: A grass cutting blade is provided which can be rotated in either direction while providing cutting and airlift in either direction. This can be used in cooperation with a cutting deck housing which includes a particular discharge opening and channel configuration which facilitates side discharge for one blade direction and mulching in the other. By controlling the blade direction, such as by an electric switch controlling electric blade shaft drive motor, side discharge or mulching can be had at a flip of a switch.

Abstract: A lock out feature for preventing a lawn mower from going into reverse unless the lawn mower blade is first disengaged, while allowing the lawn mower cutting blade to be reengaged upon being placed in reverse, the latch nevertheless allowing the lawn mower to be moved out of reverse without disengaging the lawn mower blade. An override feature is also allowed by use of a separate override control to allow the user to override the reverse lock out latch in order to go from forward or neutral into reverse without disengaging the cutting blade.

Abstract: A disabling feature used with a lawn mower, for disabling the drive wheels of a lawn mower when an obstacle is encountered. Braking, engine kill, blade stopping, and declutching is contemplated upon the tripping of a pivotable contact device which in one embodiment is configured to be tripped when contacting an object while in reverse. A directional extension flap is also provided.

Abstract: A disabling feature used with a lawn mower, for disabling the drive wheels of a lawn mower when an obstacle is encountered. Braking, engine kill, blade stopping, and declutching is contemplated upon the tripping of a pivotable contact device which in one embodiment is configured to be tripped when contacting an object while in reverse. A directional extension flap is also provided.