Conchemco, Incorporated

Bruce J Kester

Anthony F Beugelsdyk

Arthur L Urban

Terence J Stuchlik

Dale C Kester

Michael A Barnard

A compact, safety, control assembly for lawnmowers having electrically started engines is provided which includes a 'dead man' function and which requires two distinct steps for starting the lawnmower engine. The control assembly preferably includes a shiftable bail, a movable lever, a cable connected to the lawnmower ignition assembly and shiftable between positions corresponding to the off, on and start position of the ignition assembly, a rotatable operating mechanism connected to the cable and operable by the bail, a fitting attached to the cable and engageable by the lever, and a spring biasing the cable to the off position. A second embodiment of the invention is provided that does not include a lever or cable fitting and which is applicable to so-called zone restart lawnmower controls. In operation, the operating mechanism is rotated by the operation of the bail thereby shifting the cable into the on position. Rotation of the operating mechanism clears the movable lever for shifting thereof, and the fitting attached to the cable is engaged by the lever for shifting the cable from the on to the start position. The biasing spring returns the cable to the on position when the lever is released, and the cable is retained in the on position so long as the bail is held in its grapsed position. Upon release of the bail, the operating mechanism rotates to its original position, the cable shifts to the off position, and the lawnmower engine is shut down.

Electric restart control

A control apparatus for the blade clutch assembly of a walk-behind powered lawnmower is provided that incorporates a 'dead man' feature along with a two-step procedure for engagement of the clutch. The control apparatus includes a shiftable bail, a cable having an engageable end portion, a two-armed coupling mechanism responsive to shifting of the handle, and a pivotally mounted cam for engaging and disengaging the coupling mechanism from the cable end portion. The coupling mechanism is positioned in cable end portion engaging alignment by shifting of the handle to a first position, and is maintained in engagement with the cable end portion by one surface of the cam as the handle and cable are shifted to second positions. The cable is biased by a coil spring to its first position, and upon release of the handle the cable will shift from the second to the first position. A second surface of the cam engages the coupling mechanism for disengagement of the coupling mechanism from the cable end portion when the cable shifts to its first position. Reengagement of the cable end portion by the coupling mechanism can only be accomplished by the two-step procedure described above.

Locking mechanism for blade clutch control assembly

A compact, safety, control assembly for lawnmowers having electrically started engines is provided which includes a 'dead man' function and which requires two distinct steps for starting the lawnmower engine. The control assembly preferably includes a shiftable handle, a moveable lever, a cable connected to the lawnmower ignition assembly and shiftable between positions corresponding to the off, on and start position of the ignition assembly, a spring biasing the cable to the off position, a rotatable operating mechanism connected to the cable and engageable by the handle and lever, and a guide and slot assembly that enables shifting of the cable to the start position from the off position only after completion of a two-handed, two-step operation. In operation, the operating mechanism is rotated by the operation of the handle, thereby shifting the cable into the on position. The operating mechanism and the cable may be shifted to the start position, once the operating mechanism and cable have been rotated to the on position, by manual operation of the lever. The biasing spring returns the cable and operating mechanism to the on position when the lever is released, where they are retained by the handle. Upon release of the handle, the operating mechanism and cable shift to the off position under the influence of the biasing spring, and the lawnmower engine is shut down.

Control assembly for lawnmower having electrically started engine

A compact safety control apparatus and method for powered lawnmowers having a cable actuated clutch between the motor and blade thereof is provided which includes a 'dead man' function along with an operating mechanism requiring two distinct steps for engaging the clutch and initiating rotation of the lawnmower blade. The control apparatus preferably includes a shiftable handle, a coupler responsive to shifting of the handle, a depressible push button for moving the coupler into engagement with an end fitting on the actuating cable, and a pivotally mounted ramp for selectively disengaging the coupler and the end fitting. In operation, the coupler is moved by operation of the handle into a position adjacent the end fitting of the actuating cable, the push button is depressed to engage the coupler with the end fitting, and the handle is shifted to move the coupler, cable end fitting and cable, thereby engaging the clutch. The cable is releasably locked in position by the interengagement of the coupler and the cable end fitting as long as the handle is held in position by the operator. Upon release of the handle, the cable shifts under influence of a biasing spring, and the ramp interposed in the path of travel of the cable end fitting and coupler serves to disengage the coupler and cable end fitting.

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Wichita, KS, United States of America

Bruce J Kester