Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LAWNMOWER HANDLE ASSEMBLY
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a handle assembly for lawnmowers and other
wheeled appliances designed to be pushed by a human operator.
2. Description of the Related Art
Power lawnmowers designed to be pushed by a human being have traditionally
been manufactured with a handle assembly connected to the mower deck proximate
the
rear wheels of the mower. The handlebars of these mowers are generally angled
forward
and downward at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. This means that when an
operator applies a force along the handlebar, roughly one half of the force is
directed
downward instead of being directed forward to push the mower in the desired
direction of
travel, and the effect is even more pronounced when the operator attempts to
push the
mower up a hill or incline. This waste of effort causes the operator to suffer
from
unnecessary fatigue and makes the job of mowing more onerous than need be.
Currently, the primary options available to ease the strenuous burden of
pushing a
lawnmower involve purchasing self-propelled or riding mowers or hiring a lawn
service
to mow the lawn, all of which add to the expense of mowing. There remains the
need for
a simple yet inexpensive means for easing the burden of pushing a lawnmower,
particularly up hills.
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Summary of the Invention
The present invention comprise an improved handle assembly for an appliance
such as a lawnmower having front and rear wheels and which is adapted for
pushing by a
human operator. The handle assembly includes a handlebar which is connected to
the
mower deck through at least one mounting point proximate the front wheels and
which
extends upwardly and rearwardly until it terminates with a generally
horizontal push bar
adapted for gripping by the operator.
By mounting the handlebar to the mower deck at a position proximate the front
wheels of the mower, the angle of the handlebar with respect to horizontal is
reduced
significantly, to something on the order of 25 degrees. This decrease in the
angle of the
handlebar results in a reduction of approximately 22 percent in the amount of
force
directed along the handlebar which is required to propel the mower forward.
This labor
saving effect can be increased by arcuately bowing the handlebar so that the
angle of the
upper portion of the handlebar is reduced to approximately 20 degrees,
producing an
overall savings in the force required to push the mower of approximately 25
percent.
Pushable appliances other than lawnmowers such as handcarts and dollies can
also
benefit from the advantages obtained by use of a front-mounted handle
assembly.
The handlebar is preferably pivotally mounted to the mower deck so that the
mower deck can rise and fall with the terrain of the lawn while keeping the
height of the
push bar at a constant level which is comfortable for the operator. When the
handlebar is
so pivotally mounted, the handle assembly also includes a handle height
control
mechanism which is connected at a lower end to the appliance proximate the
rear wheels
and at an upper end to the handlebar at a point intermediate the front
mounting point and
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the push bar. The handle height control mechanism allows
the handlebar to pivot about the front mounting point
through a limited range of movement. One embodiment of the
handle height control mechanism includes a pair of
telescoping assemblies, each of which has an inner member
slidably received within an outer member; the outer member
being pivotally connected to the appliance and the inner
member being pivotally connected to the handlebar. The
outer member includes an upper limit stop and a lower limit
stop, and the inner member includes a plurality of
longitudinally spaced adjustment holes which receive first
and second limit stop pins. The first limit stop pin is
inserted into one of the adjustment holes above the upper
limit stop and the second limit stop pin is inserted into
one of the adjustment holes below the lower limit stop. The
first limit stop pin engages the upper limit stop to prevent
further downward movement of the handlebar when it reaches
the lower limit of its selected range of movement and the
second limit stop pin engages the lower limit stop to
prevent further upward movement of the handlebar when it
reaches the upper limit of its selected range of movement.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention,
there is provided a handle assembly for an appliance having
at least one front wheel at a front end of said appliance
and at least one rear wheel at a rear end of said appliance
and adapted for pushing by a human operator, said handle
assembly comprising: a) a handlebar pivotally connectable to
the appliance at a front mounting point proximate the
appliance front end and extending upwardly and rearwardly
therefrom and terminating with a generally horizontal push
bar adapted for gripping by the operator; and b) a handle
height control mechanism connectable at a lower end to the
appliance at a rear mounting point proximate the appliance
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rear end and at an upper end to said handlebar intermediate
the front mounting point and said push bar, said handle height
control mechanism allowing said handlebar to pivot about the
front mounting point through a limited range of movement while
said appliance is being propelled by the operator.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there
is provided a lawnmower adapted for pushing by an operator and
comprising: a) a mower deck; b) at least one front wheel
rotatably connected to and supporting said mower deck at a
front end thereof and at least one rear wheel rotatably
connected to and supporting said mower deck at a rear end
thereof; c) a handlebar pivotally connected to said lawnmower
at a front mounting point proximate said front end of said
mower deck and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and
terminating with a push bar adapted for gripping by the
operator; and d) a handle height control mechanism connected
at a lower end to said lawnmower at a rear mounting point
proximate said rear end of said mower deck and at an upper end
to said handlebar, said handle height control mechanism
allowing said handlebar to pivot about the front mounting
point through a limited range of movement while said lawnmower
is being propelled by the operator.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention,
there is provided a handle assembly for an appliance having
at least one front wheel at a front end of said appliance
and at least one rear wheel at a rear end of said appliance
and adapted for pushing by a human operator, said handle
assembly comprising: a) a handlebar pivotally connectable to
the appliance at a front mounting point proximate the
appliance front end and extending upwardly and rearwardly
therefrom and terminating at a push bar adapted for gripping
by the operator; and b) a handle height control mechanism
connectable at a lower end to the appliance at a rear
3a
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mounting point proximate the appliance rear end and at an
upper end to said handlebar, said handle height control
mechanism allowing said handlebar to pivot about the front
mounting point through a limited range of movement while
said appliance is being propelled by the operator.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, there
is provided a lawnmower adapted for pushing by a human
operator and comprising: a) a mower deck; b) at least one
front wheel rotatably connected to and supporting said mower
deck at a front end thereof and at least one rear wheel
rotatably connected to and supporting said mower deck at a
rear end thereof; c) a handlebar pivotally connected to said
lawnmower at a front mounting point proximate said front end
of said mower deck and extending upwardly and rearwardly
therefrom and terminating with a push bar adapted for gripping
by the operator; said handlebar pivotable relative to said
mower deck while said lawnmower is being propelled by the
operator; and d) lower limit stop means for preventing said
handlebar from pivoting beyond a lower limit of a limited
range of motion of said handlebar, and upper limit stop means
for preventing said handlebar from pivoting beyond an upper
limit of a limited range of motion of said handlebar.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention,
there is provided a lawnmower adapted for pushing by a human
operator and comprising: a) a mower deck; b) at least one
front wheel rotatably connected to and supporting said mower
deck at a front end thereof and at least one rear wheel
rotatably connected to and supporting said mower deck at a
rear end thereof; c) a handlebar pivotally connected to said
lawnmower at a front mounting point proximate said front end
of said mower deck and extending upwardly and rearwardly
therefrom and terminating with a push bar adapted for
gripping by the operator; said handlebar pivotable relative
3b
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to said mower deck while said lawnmower is being propelled
by the operator; and d) a handle height control mechanism
connected to said mower deck and comprising a lower limit
stop adapted to prevent said handlebar from pivoting beyond
a lower limit of a limited range of motion of said handlebar
and an upper limit stop adapted to prevent said handlebar
from pivoting beyond an upper limit of a limited range of
motion of said handlebar.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention,
there is provided a lawnmower having a center of gravity and
being adapted for pushing by a human operator, said
lawnmower comprising: a) a mower deck; b) at least one front
wheel rotatably connected to and supporting said mower deck
at a front end thereof and at least one rear wheel rotatably
connected to and supporting said mower deck at a rear end
thereof; c) a handlebar having a pair of legs, each said leg
being connected to said mower deck at a respective front
mounting point proximate the lawnmower front end and
selectively pivotal relative to said mower deck while said
lawnmower is being propelled by the operator, said handlebar
extending upwardly and rearwardly from said front mounting
points and terminating at a push bar adapted for gripping by
the operator, said handlebar further including a front
crossbar connected between said legs forward of the center
of gravity of said lawnmower.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention,
there is provided a lawnmower adapted for pushing by a human
operator and comprising: a) a mower deck; b) at least one
front wheel rotatably connected to and supporting said mower
deck at a front end thereof and at least one rear wheel
rotatably connected to and supporting said mower deck at a
rear end thereof; c) a handlebar having a pair of legs, each
said leg being pivotally connected to said mower deck at a
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respective front mounting point proximate the lawnmower
front end, said handlebar extending upwardly and rearwardly
from said front mounting points and terminating at a push
bar adapted for gripping by the operator, said handlebar
further including a front crossbar connected between said
legs forward of the center of gravity of said lawnmower,
said handlebar being pivotable relative to said mower deck
while said lawnmower is being propelled by the operator; d)
lower limit stop means preventing said handlebar from
pivoting beyond a lower limit of a limited range of motion
of said handlebar; and e) upper limit stop means preventing
said handlebar from pivoting beyond an upper limit of a
limited range of motion of said handlebar.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention,
there is provided a lawnmower adapted for pushing by a human
operator and comprising: a) a mower deck; b) at least one
front wheel rotatably connected to and supporting said mower
deck at a front end thereof and at least one rear wheel
rotatably connected to and supporting said mower deck at a
rear end thereof; c) a handlebar having a pair of legs, each
said leg being pivotally connected to said mower deck at a
respective front mounting point proximate the lawnmower front
end, said handlebar extending upwardly and rearwardly from
said front mounting points and terminating at a push bar
adapted for gripping by the operator, said handlebar further
including a front crossbar connected between said legs
forward of the center of gravity of said lawnmower, said
handlebar being pivotable relative to said mower deck while
said lawnmower is being propelled by the operator; and d) a
handle height control mechanism connected to said mower deck
and comprising a lower limit stop adapted to prevent said
handlebar from pivoting beyond a lower limit of a limited
range of motion of said handlebar and an upper limit stop
3d
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adapted to prevent said handlebar from pivoting beyond an
upper limit of a limited range of motion of said handlebar.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention,
there is provided a lawnmower having a center of gravity and
being adapted for pushing by a human operator, said
lawnmower comprising: a) a mower deck; b) at least one front
wheel rotatably connected to and supporting said mower deck
at a front end thereof and at least one rear wheel rotatably
connected to and supporting said mower deck at a rear end
thereof; c) a handlebar having a pair of legs, each said leg
being pivotally connected to said mower deck at a respective
front mounting point proximate the lawnmower front end so as
to be selectively pivotal relative to said mower deck while
said lawnmower is being propelled by the operator, said
handlebar extending upwardly and rearwardly from said front
mounting points and terminating at a push bar adapted for
gripping by the operator, said handlebar further including a
front crossbar connected between said legs forward of the
center of gravity of said lawnmower.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lawnmower
equipped with a handle assembly embodying the present
invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the lawnmower and handle
assembly of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a top view of the lawnmower and handle
assembly of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the lawnmower
and handle assembly of Fig. 1 taken generally along line 4-4
in Fig. 3.
3e
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Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the telescoping handle height
control assemblies of the handle assembly of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a first alternative embodiment of
the
handle assembly.
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of
the handle assembly.
Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top view of the first alternative embodiment of the
handle
assembly.
Fig. 9 is a side view of the first alternative embodiment of the handle
assembly
showing the lawnmower being lifted using the handle assembly.
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a third alternative embodiment of the handle
assembly.
Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the telescoping
handle members of the handle assembly showing the telescoping member locked in
the
lowest possible position.
Fig. 12 is a side view of the third alternative embodiment of the handle
assembly
showing the lawnmower being lifted using the handle assembly.
Detailed Descrintion of the Preferred Embodiment
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed
herein;
however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely
exemplary of
the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific
structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting,
but merely as
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a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled
in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed
structure.
Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience
in
reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words "upwardly,"
"downwardly," "rightwardly," and "leftwardly" will refer to directions in the
drawings to
which reference is made. The words "inwardly" and "outwardly" will refer to
directions
toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment
being
described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the
words
specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of a similar import.
Referring to the drawings in more detail, the reference number 1 generally
designates a handle assembly embodying the present invention. The handle
assembly 1 is
designed for use on an appliance 3 having at least one front wheel 5 and at
least one rear
wheel 7 which is propelled by being pushed by a human operator. The appliance
3 is
generally depicted herein as being a power lawn mower having an engine 12 and
a mower
deck 13, however the handle assembly 1 could easily be adapted for use on
other
appliances 3 including but not being limited to various types of handcarts and
dollies.
The handle assembly 1 generally comprises a handlebar 15 and a handle height
control mechanism 17. A critical feature of the handle assembly 1 is that the
handlebar
15 is connected to the mower or other appliance 3 at the front end thereof,
proximate the
front wheels 5, instead of at the rear end, proximate the rear wheels 7, as is
common
practice in the industry. By connecting the handle assembly 1 to the front of
the
appliance 3, it becomes easier for the operator to push the appliance 3
because the force
vector applied to the appliance 3 through the handlebar 15 is directed in a
direction which
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is more forward and less downward than is the case with conventional rear-
attached
handle assemblies. This effort-reducing effect is especially noticeable when
the operator
attempts to push the appliance 3 up a hill or incline.
The handlebar 15 is formed of a strong, stiff material such as tubular steel,
and is
depicted herein as being generally U-shaped, however in other applications the
handlebar
15 could take on other configurations, such as being T-shaped. In its
generally U-shaped
configuration the handlebar 15 has a pair of legs 19 connected by a generally
horizontal
crosspiece or push bar 21. Each leg 19 of the handlebar 15 has a distal end 23
which is
preferably pivotally connected proximate the front end of the appliance 3 at a
mounting
point 25, such as by a pin 27 inserted into aligned receivers passing through
the leg 19
and a respective upstanding flange 29 connected to the mower deck 13 proximate
a
respective front wheel 5. Pivotal mounting of the handlebar 15 allows the
mower deck 13
to rise and fall with the terrain of the lawn while keeping the height of the
push bar 21 at
a relatively constant level which can be adjusted so as to accommodate
operators of
varying heights. It is foreseen, however, that in some circumstances a
handlebar 15 which
is fixedly connected to the appliance 3 might be acceptable or even preferable
to pivotal
mounting.
The legs 19 of the handlebar 15 each generally slope upwardly and rearwardly
from the respective mounting point 25 toward the push bar 21 and preferably
include an
arcuate bend 31 which further accentuates the effort-reducing effect of the
handle
assembly 1 by flattening out the angle with respect to horizontal of both the
handlebar 15
and the resultant force vector acting through the handlebar 15.
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For purposes of shipping and storing the mower 3, the handlebar 15 preferably
includes a lower handlebar section 33 and an upper handlebar section 35
connected by
pivotal mountings 37. Both the lower handlebar section 33 and the upper
handlebar
section 35 are substantially U-shaped and have legs 19a and 19b respectively
which form
portions of the handlebar legs 19. The legs 19b of the upper handlebar section
35 are
connected by the push bar 21, and the legs 19a of the lower handlebar section
33 are
connected by an intermediate crossbar 39. The pivot mountings 37 can be
constructed in
any of a variety of known manners so that the upper handlebar section 35 is
foldable
relative to the lower handlebar section 33 between a retracted position and an
extended
position, and is lockable in the extended position.
The handle height control mechanism 17 serves to limit the range of movement
of
the handlebar 15 as it pivots about the front mounting points 25. It is
desirable that the
handlebar 15 be allowed to pivot as the mower 3 is pushed over irregularities
in the
ground, thereby allowing the push bar 21 to be held at a constant height which
is
comfortable for the operator. The range of movement, however, should have a
lower
limit which is set so as to allow the operator to push downward on the push
bar 21 to
raise the front wheels 5 of the mower 3 off of the ground and pivot the mower
3 about its
rear wheels 7 for turning purposes. For the sake of safety, the upper limit of
movement of
the handlebar 15 should be set so as to prevent the handlebar 15 from pivoting
so far
forward as to allow the operator's feet from coming into contact with the
mower blades.
While the height control mechanism 17 could take a variety of forms including
something as simple as a length of chain or a hydraulic strut, it preferably
comprises a
pair of telescoping members 41 connected between the handlebar 15 and a
suitable
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structure of the appliance 3, such as the mower deck 13. The telescoping
members 41
each include an elongate inner member or rod 43 which is slidably mounted
within a
respective elongate outer member, channel or bracket 45.
The brackets 45 each have a lower end which is pivotally connected to the
appliance 3 at a mounting point 47 proximate the rear wheels 7, such as by a
pin 49
inserted in aligned receivers passing through the bracket 45 and a respective
upstanding
flange 51 fixedly connected to the mower deck 13. The upper ends of the
brackets 45
each have a respective, generally horizontal, upper flange or limit stop 53
which includes
a circular receiver 55 for accepting the rod 43. A lower flange or limit stop
57 fixedly
connected to each bracket 45 and spaced downwardly from the top flange 53
includes a
circular receiver 59 which also accepts the rod 43. It is foreseen that in
some applications
a single flange could function as both the upper limit stop 53 and the lower
limit stop 57.
The rods 43 each have an upper end which is pivotally connected to the
handlebar
15 intermediate the distal ends 23 of the legs 19 and the push bar 21, such as
by a pin 61
inserted into aligned receivers passing through the rod 43 and a respective
depending
flange 63 connected to the intermediate crossbar 39. The lower ends of the
rods 43 are
each accepted by respective receivers 55 and 59 of the brackets 45, such that
the rods 43
are slidably retained within the brackets 45 and telescope with respect to the
brackets 45
as the handlebar 15 pivots about the pin 27 of the front mounting point 25.
Each of the rods 43 includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced adjustment
holes
65 sized to receive upper and lower limit stop pins, such as hairpins 67 and
69
respectively, the upper hairpin 67 being placed through one of the adjustment
holes 65 in
a location above the bracket upper flange 53, and the lower hairpin 69 being
placed
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through another of the adjustment holes 65 in a location below the bracket
lower flange
57.
As the handlebar 15 pivots downward about the front mounting point 25, the
upper hairpins 67 come into contact with the upper surfaces of the bracket
upper flanges
53, thereby defining the lower limit of movement of the handlebar 15.
Conversely, as the
handlebar 15 pivots upward about the front mounting point 25, the lower
hairpins 69
come into contact with the lower surface of the bracket lower flanges 57,
thereby defining
the upper limit of movement of the handlebar 15. Having a plurality of
adjustment holes
65 in the rods 43 allows the telescoping members 41 to be adjusted so that the
height of
the push bar 21 and the range of movement of the handlebar 15 can be tailored
to fit each
individual operator. The adjustment is accomplished by simply relocating the
upper and
lower hairpins 67 and 69 to different adjustment holes 65.
Although the telescoping members 41 have been described herein as having a
lower end of the outer member 45 connected to the appliance 3 and an upper end
of the
inner member 43 connected to the handlebar 15, it should be apparent to a
person having
ordinary skill in the art that this arrangement could be easily reversed so
that a lower end
of the inner member 43 is connected to the appliance 3 and an upper end of the
outer
member 45 is connected to the handlebar 15. Furthermore, the respective
locations and
configuration of the limit stops 51, 53 and the limit stop pins 67, 69 could
be varied from
the embodiment described herein; i.e. the limit stops 51, 53 could be
connected to the
inner member 43 instead of the outer member 45 and engage limit stop pins 67,
69
connected to the outer member 45. The limit stop pins 67, 69 could also be
located
between the limit stops 51, 53 instead of respectively above and below them.
All that is
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required of the limit stops is that the pivoting action of the handlebar 15 be
constrained
between an upper limit and a lower limit if the handlebar 15 is pivotally
connected to the
appliance 3.
The handle assembly 1 may further include a front crossbar 71 connected
between
the legs 19 of the handlebar 15 forward of the center of gravity of the
appliance 3. The
crossbar 71 provides a handle by which the appliance 3 may be lifted, such as
when
loading and unloading the appliance 3 into and out of a vehicle.
The precise location of the front crossbar 71 may vary somewhat, so long as it
is
located forward of the center of gravity of the appliance 3. For example, the
front
crossbar may be mounted inboard of the front mounting points 25, but well
forward of the
engine 12 as shown in Figs. 6 and 8. Alternatively, the legs 19 of the
handlebar 15 may
each include an upwardly curved horn 73 forward of the respective front
mounting point
25, and the front crossbar 71 may be mounted between the horns 73 as shown in
Fig. 7.
Referring to Fig. 9, either of the previously described locations for the
front
crossbar 71 will allow the handle assembly 1 to be fully folded for transport,
because the
engine 12 will not interfere with the front crossbar 71. To fold the handle
assembly 1, the
telescoping members 41 are first disconnected at either the lower pivot pin 49
(as shown)
or at the upper pivot pin 61. The lower handlebar section 33 can then be
pivoted
downwardly against the mower deck 13. The pivot mountings 37 can then be
released
such that the upper handlebar section 35 may be folded forwardly over the
lower section
33. It is also foreseen that a catch or latch 75 may be provided for retaining
the lower
handlebar section 33 in the folded position.
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Referring again to Fig. 9, with the handle assembly 1 fully folded and the
lower
handlebar 33 latched in the folded position, the appliance 3 may be lifted by
grasping the
front crossbar 71 with one hand (as seen in Fig. 8) and the intermediate
crossbar 39 with
the other. If no latch 75 is provided, the appliance 3 may be lifted by
grasping the front
crossbar 71 with one hand and the rear edge of the mower deck 13 with the
other (not
shown).
Referring to Fig. 10, a third possible location for the front crossbar 71 is
forward
of the center of gravity of the appliance 3, but farther rearward, and thus
closer to the
engine 12, than previously described. Fixing the front crossbar 71 in such a
location
would prevent the handle assembly from being fully folded because the engine
12 would
interfere with the crossbar 71, however this problem can be alleviated by
making the front
crossbar removable from the handle assembly 1. For example, the front crossbar
71 may
be a rod 77 slidably receivable through respective holes 79 in the legs 19 of
the handle
assembly 1. The front crossbar 71 can also be selectively moveable between the
rearward
position to a forward position indicated by the dashed lines in Fig. 10. The
forward
position may be used for storage of the front crossbar 71 during shipping or
storage of the
appliance 3 in the fully folded position, or may be used for lifting the
appliance 3 in the
fully folded position as previously described with respect to the embodiment
shown in
Figures 8 and 9.
With the front crossbar 71 in its rearward position, the appliance 3 can be
partially
compressed for transport or storage by locking the handle height control
mechanism 17 in
its lowest possible position (as shown in Fig. 11) so as to rigidly or fixedly
secure the
lower handlebar section 33 relative to the mower deck 13. As shown in Fig. 11,
the rod
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43 of each telescoping member 41 may include a pair of closely spaced
adjustment holes
65 extending on opposite sides of the upper flange 53 when the rods 43 are
fully
retracted. With the rods 43 fully retracted, limit stop pins 67 and 69 can be
inserted into
the closely spaced adjustment holes 65 on opposite sides of the upper flange
(or one of
the pins could be place in the adjustment hole 65 just under upper flange 53)
to restrain
the handle bar section 35 from pivoting upward. The pivot mountings 37 can
then be
released such that the upper handlebar section 35 may be folded forwardly over
the lower
section 33, as shown in Fig. 12. The appliance 3 can then be comfortably
lifted by
grasping the front crossbar 71. with one hand and the intermediate crossbar 39
with the
other.
The handle assembly 1 can be sold either as original equipment on an
appropriate
appliance 3 or as an aftermarket add-on wherein an existing appliance 3 can be
retrofitted
with the improved handle assembly 1. Some existing lawnmower decks 13 are
already
equipped with the front mounting flanges 29 required for mounting the
handlebar 15,
needing only to have a receiver bored there through for receiving the pivot
pin 27. Other
existing mower decks 13 lack the flanges 29, but in these instances flanges 29
can be
added to the deck 13 by being bolted on or otherwise attached. It is also
foreseen that the
handlebars could be mounted to the deck 13 without flanges 29. In most cases,
the
existing rear-mount handlebar attaching points can be used to form the rear
mounting
points 47 for connecting the height control mechanism 17 to the mower deck 13.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have
been
illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific
forms or
arrangement of parts described and shown. For example, it is foreseen that the
handle
NICOLAY CANADIAN VERSION OF LAWNMOWER HANDLE ASSEMBLY WITI YEC FROM CIP AND
CLAIMS FROM PARENT AND CIP.WPD
CA 02397429 2002-08-12
height control mechanism 17 could take on an entirely different configuration
from the
telescoping members 41 described herein, and it is not required that it be
connected to the
appliance 3 proximate the rear wheels 7. A front mounting point 25 which
allows the
handlebar 15 to pivot between fixed upper and lower limits would also provide
a handle
assembly 1 within the scope of the present invention. It is also foreseen that
a wide
variety of means could be utilized for removably connecting the crossbar 71 to
the handle
assembly 1. It is also foreseen that the crossbar 71 could take a wide variety
of forms
such as a tube with ends designed to clamp around, wrap around or bolt onto
the opposed
legs 19 of the handle assembly 1.
NICOLAY CANADIAN VERSION OF LAWNMOWER HANDLE ASSEMBLY WITI ~EC FROM CIP AND
CLAIMS FROM PARENT AND CIP.WPD
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