Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha

Christopher M Osborne

Vincent Andrew Prinzo

Dean E Hartley

Scott J Kaskawitz

Jeffrey Allen Wians

Brian Bender

Christopher Wayne Vaughn

Yuya Kato

George B Graus

Junya Inukai

Eugene Petit Harter

Vincent A Prinzo

Jeffrey Scott Miller

Eugene Harter

Pin apparatuses and methods are disclosed having particular suitability for use with machine handles such as those associated with walk-behind machines such as lawnmowers. A pin apparatus may include a housing defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of a pin. The pin may include an elongated pin body having a proximal end section and a distal end section. The pin apparatus may further include a pin handle external from the housing for moving the pin within the housing. At least a portion of the pin body can be positioned at least partially through a machine handle and at least a portion of the housing can be positioned outside of the machine handle. Rotation of the pin handle can move the pin between the extended position and the retracted position.

Pin apparatuses and methods

A paneled partition assembly is disclosed that can be used to selectively separate a first space from a second space. The paneled partition assembly can cover an opening when in a closed and extended position and uncover the opening when in an opened and retracted position. The paneled partition assembly can include a first panel and a second panel configured such that rotation of a handle on the first panel causes linear movement of the second panel. The partition assembly can include a pair of mating assemblies that selectively move from open and retracted positions on opposite sides of an opening to closed and extended positions in which opposite leading edges abut one another.

Paneled partition having a retractable extension

Transmissions and drive systems for a self-propelled machine and related methods are provided. An input shaft having an axis and extending transverse to an output shaft is provided. The input shaft can be rotatable about the axis of the input shaft and configured to drivingly engage the output shaft. A variable pitch pulley can be disposed axially on the input shaft and configured to rotate about the axis of the input shaft. The variable pitch pulley can be configured to change pitch diameter to regulate the speed at which the input shaft is rotated. Further, the input shaft can be at least partially rotatable about an axis of the output shaft to vary the pitch of the variable pitch pulley to regulate the speed at which the input shaft drives the output shaft.

Transmissions, drive systems and methods for using same

Pin apparatuses and methods are disclosed having particular suitability for use with machine handles such as those associated with walk-behind machines such as lawnmowers. A pin apparatus can include a housing defining an opening for receiving at least a portion of a pin. A pin can be provided having an elongated pin body with a proximal end section and a distal end section. The pin body can be adapted for positioning at least partially through the opening of the housing where the pin is movable with respect to the housing according to a method disclosed herein from an extended position where at least a portion of the distal end section extends to a predetermined extent outside of the opening, and a retracted position where the distal end section is in a retracted position from the predetermined extent. A handle can be provided external from the housing for moving the pin whereby movement of the handle moves the pin between the extended position and the retracted position.

Drive assemblies and related methods are provided particularly suited for a snowblower. The drive assemblies include a transmission wheel disposed about a shaft and rotatably movable for rotating at least one wheel. The transmission wheel has a contact surface. The drive assemblies also include a drive pulley having a drive surface. The drive pulley is rotatable and configured for causing the transmission wheel to rotate when the drive surface and the contact surface of the transmission wheel are in contact. At least one brake clutch is disposed about an end of the shaft to provide independent control to the at least one wheel.

Independent variable drive assemblies for wheels on a snowblower and related methods

Centrifugal blade brake clutch apparatuses and methods are provided. In one aspect, a centrifugal blade brake clutch includes a rotatable clutch housing having an axis extending therethrough. The clutch housing can have a base and side walls. The clutch housing also can have a brake surface thereon and an integral clutch surface disposed on a side wall surface of the side walls. At least one centrifugally extendable clutch shoe device can be disposed within the clutch housing and configured for engaging the integral clutch surface of the clutch housing. A brake assembly can be positioned proximal to the clutch housing with the axis of the clutch housing passing therethrough. The brake assembly can include a brake member that has a braking surface and is configured to move in a direction parallel with the axis of the clutch housing to axially engage the brake surface of the clutch housing with the braking surface of the brake member.

Centrifugal blade brake clutch apparatuses and methods

Apparatuses and methods are provided for removing dust particles from air circulating within a mowing machine, such as a lawn mowing machine, including a housing, a handle attached to the housing, a prime mover attached to the housing, and a grassbag employing a cyclonic separator. A grassbag apparatus can be provided that can include a grass clippings chamber for collecting blades of grass that have been cut and a dust collection chamber for removing and collecting dust-filled air from the air circulating within the lawn mowing machine. The dust collection chamber can include a cyclonic separator and a dust collection receptacle, wherein the cyclonic separator can be configured to remove dust particles from air circulating within the grassbag apparatus.

Cyclonic separation grassbag apparatuses and methods for mowing machines

Steering control apparatuses and methods for a vehicle are provided. A steering control apparatus can include a steering shaft drivingly linked to a pair of front wheels of a vehicle. A movable steering handle can also be provided and disposed about the steering shaft, with the steering handle being capable of selectively turning the pair of front wheels to direct the movement of the vehicle. A first and second brake clutch mechanism for engaging and disengaging first and second drive wheels, respectively, can be provided. First and second brake clutch control levers can selectively control the first and second brake clutch mechanism, respectively, to engage and disengage the first and second drive wheels. The steering handle can include a coupling base. The coupling base can engage the steering shaft to permit decoupling of the steering handle from the steering shaft allowing the steering shaft and the linked pair of front wheels to turn free of the steering handle while the steering handle is still disposed about the steering shaft.

Apparatuses and methods for providing hybrid steering for a vehicle

Apparatuses and methods are provided for preventing damage to a lawnmower engine and crankshaft when the lawnmower cutting blade encounters an obstructive object. A cutting device for a lawnmower is provided and can include an elongate base member, at least one cutting element pivotably attached to the elongate base member, and a biasing mechanism that engages the cutting element and elongate base member. The at least one cutting element can include a blade portion and a drive engagement portion. The cutting element can pivot when the blade portion strikes an obstructive object such that the blade portion absorbs the impact and retracts to form a blunt shape to prevent damage to the cutting element. The pivoting of the cutting element causes the drive engagement portion to disengage from the crankshaft of the lawnmower to prevent damage thereto.

Retractable blade cutting apparatuses and methods for mowing machines

Apparatuses and methods are provided for controlling a self-propelled machine, such as a lawn mowing machine, including a housing, a handle attached to the housing, and a prime mover attached to the housing with a variable speed transmission for propelling the mowing machine. A variable speed adjustable twist control is provided and can include an elongate body moveable in a twisting manner and an adjustable bracket lockably adapted to the elongate body for twisting with the elongate body and the adjustable bracket having an inner channel adapted for guiding a cable control connector operatively connected to the variable speed transmission through a cable for controlling the variable speed transmission, whereby self-propelled speed of the mowing machine can be controlled by operating the adjustable twist control.

Variable speed transmission adjustable twist control apparatuses and methods for self-propelled mowing machine

Apparatuses are provided for controlling a self-propelled machine wherein the apparatuses include a handle and a control device and can utilize first and second linking members. The control device is pivotably coupled to the handle, and includes a slidable control portion that is linearly translatable relative to the handle. The first linking member includes a first proximal section that is coupled to the control device, and a first distal section that is engagable with the machine. The first linking member is actuatable in response to pivoting of the control device. The second linking member includes a second proximal section coupled to the control device and a first distal section engagable with a transmission. The second linking member is actuatable in response to sliding of the slidable control portion. The control device can be pivoted between an ON state and an OFF state to implement operator presence control. The slidable control portion can be linearly translated to implement variable speed control.

Apparatuses for controlling self-propelled machines

Apparatuses and methods are provided for controlling a self-propelled machine, such as a lawn mowing machine, including a housing, a handle attached to the housing, and a prime mover attached to the housing with a variable speed transmission for propelling the mowing machine. A variable speed twist control is provided including an elongate body moveable in a twisting manner, the body having an inner channel adapted for guiding a cable control connector operatively connected to the variable speed transmission through a cable for controlling the variable speed transmission, whereby self-propelled speed of the mowing machine can be controlled by operating the twist control.

Variable speed transmission twist control apparatuses and methods for self-propelled mowing machine

Apparatuses and methods are provided for controlling a self-propelled machine wherein the apparatuses and methods include a handle and a control device and can utilize first and second linking members. The control device is pivotably coupled to the handle, and includes a slidable control portion that is linearly translatable relative to the handle. The first linking member includes a first proximal section that is coupled to the control device, and a first distal section that is engagable with the machine. The first linking member is actuatable in response to pivoting of the control device. The second linking member includes a second proximal section coupled to the control device and a first distal section engagable with a transmission. The second linking member is actuatable in response to sliding of the slidable control portion. The control device can be pivoted between an ON state and an OFF state to implement operator presence control. The slidable control portion can be linearly translated to implement variable speed control.

Growing community of inventors

Hillsborough, NC, United States of America

Christopher M Osborne