Abstract: A lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine, a rotary tool driven by the internal combustion engine, an electric motor coupled to the internal combustion engine and configured to start the internal combustion engine, a receiving port mounted to the internal combustion engine, an energy storage device configured to be selectively inserted into and removed from the receiving port without tools, a first user interface, and a second user interface, wherein the electric motor starts the internal combustion engine upon actuation of the first user interface and the second user interface.

Abstract: Outdoor power equipment includes an internal combustion engine including an electric motor, a battery receiving port, a rechargeable battery removably attached to the battery receiving port, wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to power the electric motor to start the engine, an implement driven by the internal combustion engine, a release mechanism movable to an engaged position to put the implement in a ready-to-run condition in which the implement is ready to be driven by the engine, a run sensor configured to detect the ready-to-run condition, a switch actuated by the release mechanism, and a control module coupled to the switch so that the switch provides a signal to the control module when the release mechanism is in the engaged position and the control module turns on the electric motor to start the engine in response to the signal from the switch and the run sensor detecting the ready-to-run condition.

Abstract: Outdoor power equipment includes an internal combustion engine including an electric motor, a battery receiving port, a rechargeable battery removably attached to the battery receiving port, wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to power the electric motor to start the engine, an implement driven by the internal combustion engine, a release mechanism movable to an engaged position to put the implement in a ready-to-run condition in which the implement is ready to be driven by the engine, a run sensor configured to detect the ready-to-run condition, a switch actuated by the release mechanism, and a control module coupled to the switch so that the switch provides a signal to the control module when the release mechanism is in the engaged position and the control module turns on the electric motor to start the engine in response to the signal from the switch and the run sensor detecting the ready-to-run condition.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine, a rotary tool driven by the internal combustion engine, an electric motor coupled to the internal combustion engine and configured to start the internal combustion engine, a receiving port mounted to the internal combustion engine, an energy storage device configured to be selectively inserted into and removed from the receiving port without tools, a first user interface, and a second user interface, wherein the electric motor starts the internal combustion engine upon actuation of the first user interface and the second user interface.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder, an exhaust, a fuel tank, an engine cover, a power take off configured to drive an implement, an electric starting system including a starter motor, a battery receiving port, and a rechargeable battery removably attached to the battery receiving port, and an electric start control module including a switch configured to be actuated by a release mechanism configured to put the implement in the ready-to-run condition and a controller coupled to the switch, wherein the switch is configured to provide a signal when the release mechanism is in the engaged position, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal, wherein the controller it configured to turn on the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine upon receipt of the signal from the switch and an input from a run sensor confirming that the implement is in the ready-to-run condition, and wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to power the starter motor to start the engine.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine, a blade, and a deck. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block having a crankcase and a cover. The crankcase surrounds a crankshaft, which powers the blade. The blade spins below the deck during operation of the rotary lawn mower. The deck is integrally formed with the cover.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine, a rotary tool driven by the internal combustion engine, an electric motor coupled to the internal combustion engine and configured to start the internal combustion engine, a receiving port mounted to the internal combustion engine, an energy storage device configured to be selectively inserted into and removed from the receiving port without tools, a first user interface, and a second user interface, wherein the electric motor starts the internal combustion engine upon actuation of the first user interface and the second user interface.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder, an exhaust, a fuel tank, an engine cover, a power take off configured to drive an implement, an electric starting system including a starter motor, a battery receiving port, and a rechargeable battery removably attached to the battery receiving port, and an electric start control module including a switch configured to be actuated by a release mechanism configured to put the implement in the ready-to-run condition and a controller coupled to the switch, wherein the switch is configured to provide a signal when the release mechanism is in the engaged position, wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal, wherein the controller it configured to turn on the starter motor to start the internal combustion engine upon receipt of the signal from the switch and an input from a run sensor confirming that the implement is in the ready-to-run condition, and wherein the rechargeable battery is configured to power the starter motor to start the engine.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine, a blade, and a deck. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block having a crankcase and a cover. The crankcase surrounds a crankshaft, which powers the blade. The blade spins below the deck during operation of the rotary lawn mower. The deck is integrally formed with the cover.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor configured to start the engine, a blade driven by the engine, and an assembly for stopping at least one of the blade and the engine. The assembly includes a brake mechanism, a release mechanism movable to an engaged position to release the brake mechanism, an interlock configured to selectively prevent the release mechanism from moving to the engaged position, and an interface allowing an operator to release the interlock to allow the release mechanism to move to the engaged position. The lawn mower further includes a switch actuated by the release mechanism and a control module coupled to the switch so that the switch provides a signal to the control module when the release mechanism is in the engaged position and the control module turns on the electric motor in response to the signal to start the engine.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine, a rotary tool driven by the internal combustion engine, an electric motor coupled to the internal combustion engine and configured to start the internal combustion engine, a receiving port mounted to the internal combustion engine, an energy storage device configured to be selectively inserted into and removed from the receiving port without tools, a first user interface, and a second user interface, wherein the electric motor starts the internal combustion engine upon actuation of the first user interface and the second user interface.

Abstract: An engine mounting system for power equipment includes a tubular frame, an internal combustion engine, and one or more supports for mounting the engine to the tubular frame. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block and a crankcase cover attached to the engine block. The one or more supports are integrally cast with and extend away from at least one of the engine block and the crankcase cover. Additionally, the one or more supports are designed to be mounted to the frame and are contoured to match a portion of a profile of the frame.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor configured to start the internal combustion engine, and a blade driven by the internal combustion engine. The lawn mower further includes an assembly for stopping at least one of the blade and the internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a brake mechanism, a release mechanism, a linkage between the brake mechanism and the release mechanism. The assembly further includes an interlock configured to prevent the release mechanism from releasing the brake mechanism, and an interface allowing an operator to release the interlock. The electric motor is coupled to the assembly such that release of the brake mechanism automatically engages the electric motor to start the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A pressure washer includes an engine, a water pump driven by the engine, a starter motor coupled to the engine to start the engine, an energy storage device electrically coupled to the starter motor, a spray device including an activation device for starting and stopping a flow of water from the spray device, a pressure sensor, and a flow sensor. The water pump has a low pressure side and a high pressure side. The high pressure side provides pressurized water. The pressure sensor is located at the low pressure side and is configured to indicate a water pressure relative to a threshold pressure. The flow sensor is located at the low pressure side and is configured to indicate a water flow relative to a threshold flow. With the engine off, the starter motor starts the engine when the pressure sensor indicates the water pressure is above the threshold pressure and the flow sensor indicates the water flow is above the threshold flow.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor configured to start the internal combustion engine, and a blade driven by the internal combustion engine. The lawn mower further includes an assembly for stopping at least one of the blade and the internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a brake mechanism, a release mechanism, a linkage between the brake mechanism and the release mechanism. The assembly further includes an interlock configured to prevent the release mechanism from releasing the brake mechanism, and an interface allowing an operator to release the interlock. The electric motor is coupled to the assembly such that release of the brake mechanism automatically engages the electric motor to start the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An engine mounting system for power equipment includes a tubular frame, an internal combustion engine, and one or more supports for mounting the engine to the tubular frame. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block and a crankcase cover attached to the engine block. The one or more supports are integrally cast with and extend away from at least one of the engine block and the crankcase cover. Additionally, the one or more supports are designed to be mounted to the frame and are contoured to match a portion of a profile of the frame.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lubrication system for an internal combustion engine including a lubricant reservoir, a lubricant dispersing device disposed in communication with the lubricant reservoir, and a lubrication apparatus including a recess integrally formed with an engine housing and an elongated trough disposed substantially within the recess and in fluid communication with a shaft bearing. The recess has an opening that extends radially outward relative to the shaft axis such that the lubricant dispersing device can disperse lubricant, during at least a portion of the engine cycle, along a direct and substantially unobstructed path into the recess. The trough is adapted to direct the lubricant received in the recess to the shaft bearing. The trough also extends radially outward and is inclined downwardly in a direction toward the shaft bearing.

Abstract: An air intake system for an internal combustion engine has a vertical crankshaft and a pair of substantially horizontally disposed cylinders that extend outward from a crankcase to form a V-space therebetween. The air intake system includes an air inlet through a blower housing on top of the engine, an air cleaner housing that is disposed substantially directly above the V-space and that receives air from the air inlet, an air-fuel mixing device disposed substantially directly below the air cleaner, and an intake manifold adapted to deliver a combustible mixture from the air-fuel device to each cylinder. The air cleaner includes a filter supported such that air received from the air inlet flows through the filter in a substantially upward direction. The air cleaner housing and the blower housing are integrated into a single housing.

Abstract: An oil fill tube assembly for an internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a tube having a lower end communicating with the crankcase of the engine and an open upper end that is enclosed by a cap. The undersurface of the cap carries a dipstick which extends downwardly within the tube. The upper end of the tube has a pair of locking elements which are spaced circumferentially with the spaces between the elements being of different circumferential dimension. The lower edge of a peripheral flange on the cap has a pair of locking lugs of different circumferential dimension that are constructed and arranged to be received within the spaces between the locking elements of the tube as the cap is inserted on the tube. The locking elements and the locking lugs are provided with mating cam surfaces so that when the cap is rotated one quarter of a turn, a seal on the under surface of the cap will be forced against the upper end of the tube to tightly seal the cap to the tube.