The Toro Company

Other

Miller Manufacturing Company

Nathan J Friberg

Philip G Stalpes

David J Martin

Derek S Duchscherer

Nicholas J Wersal

Donald M White, Iii

Richard A Thorud

Philip C Dretzka

Anthony N Pink

Joseph J Walto

Larry W Schmidt

Jerry J Zien

Steven J Svoboda

Charles A Boulos

Henry B Tillotson, Iii

Kevin D Docken

Floyd D Niskanen

Brett P Yeager

A self-propelled snowthrower wherein, in one embodiment, drive members on each side of the snowthrower provide variable speed propulsion. A transmission that delivers power to the drive members may be adapted to de-clutch one of the two drive wheels when the ground speed of that wheel exceeds the driving speed of the transmission. In other embodiments, the snowthrower includes a rotor having a snow ejection surface forming a negative rake angle. Yet other embodiments include a chute rotation control mechanism that permits manual discharge chute rotation via one-handed input.

Rotor and rotor housing for a snowthrower

Snowthrower power head

A self-propelled, single-stage snowthrower wherein, in one embodiment, drive members on each side of the snowthrower provide variable speed propulsion. A transmission that delivers power to the drive members may be adapted to de-clutch one of the two drive wheels when the ground speed of that wheel exceeds the driving speed of the transmission. In other embodiments, the snowthrower includes a rotor having a snow ejection surface forming a negative rake angle. Yet other embodiments include a chute rotation control mechanism that permits manual discharge chute rotation via one-handed input.

Self-propelled, single-stage snowthrower

Snowthrower chute control

A snowthrower that, in one embodiment, includes a chute rotation control mechanism that permits manual rotation of a directional chute about a chute axis via one-handed input. The mechanism may have a chute rotation lever having a proximal end attached to the directional chute, the lever extending radially from the chute axis to terminate at a distal end, wherein a handle is provided at or near the distal end, the handle having a handle axis parallel to the chute axis.

Snowthrower and chute rotation control mechanism for use with same

A snowthrower has a rotatable chute that directs the snow stream in different directions depending on the rotational position of the chute. A slidable hand grip is mounted on one of the handle tubes of the snowthrower. The hand grip can be slid down the handle tube by the operator to rotate the chute in a first direction. The hand grip can be slid up the handle tube by the operator to rotate the chute in a second opposite direction. The hand grip includes a rounded knob that the operator can grip with one hand. A latch is provided to lock the hand grip in an adjusted position on the handle tube.

A hand truck for carrying and transporting an object comprises a frame having a base and a back arranged in a generally L-shaped configuration. The frame is supported by at least a pair of wheels for rolling over the ground. An object may be placed on the base for using the hand truck to move the object. A retainer has a loading position in which the retainer is sufficiently clear of the base to allow the object to be slid onto the base. After the object is slid onto the base, the retainer may be raised to a transport position in which the retainer at least partially encircles the object to hold the retainer on the base. The retainer may be releasably latched in the transport position.

Hand truck with pivotal retainer

A snowthrower has independent wheel drive trains to allow steering by clutching one drive train while unclutching the other drive train. The clutch in each drive train comprises a plurality of pivotal pawls carried on a drive member with the pawls pivoting in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the drive member. The pawls have heads that project through one face of the drive member and tails located on an opposite face of the drive member. The heads of the pawls can engage or disengage notches that are fixed to the driven member to clutch or unclutch the drive and driven members. A shift member axially presses on the tails of the pawls to disengage the heads of the pawls from the driven member. The shift member is selectively moved by an operator using a steering lever on the snowthrower.

Snowthrower wheel drive steering system

A support bracket for hanging differently sized buckets comprises a bracket body which can be secured to a vertical support surface such as a wall. The bracket body includes a lip that forms an upwardly facing hook that hooks into a downwardly facing channel on the rim of the bucket. The bracket body includes fixed upper and lower seats for receiving the pivotal bail on the bucket. The pivotal bail of a larger bucket will be received in the upper seat and the pivotal bail of a smaller bucket will be received in the lower seat when the rim channel of the bucket is hung on the lip. A pin retains the pivotal bail of the bucket in whatever seat holds the bail.

Support bracket for differently sized buckets

A single joystick type control handle controls the chute and deflector of a snowthrower. The control handle can be moved laterally from side to side and a second linkage including a gear connection laterally rotates the chute from side to side in the same direction, i.e. movement of the control handle to the left rotates the chute to the left and vise versa. The gear connection has a mechanical advantage that increases the amount of the angular rotation of the chute, i.e. the chute rotates further than the angular movement of the control handle. The control handle can also be moved longitudinally from fore to aft and a second linkage comprising a flexible cable pivots the deflector up and down on the chute in the same direction, i.e. moving the control handle forward pivots the deflector down and vise versa. A locking mechanism is provided to hold the chute and the deflector in their adjusted positions.

Snowthrower chute and deflector control

Two stage snowthrower

A picture stand comprises an upper portion and a lower portion which are joined together and are configured to be non-planar relative to one another, namely the lower portion is at an angle relative to the upper portion. When the lower edge of the lower portion is engaged against a horizontal support surface, such as the top of a desk, the picture stand will lean over to engage the upper portion of the picture stand with a vertical display surface, such as a wall. A picture can be suspended in a flat, upright orientation from a hook provided on the upper portion of the picture stand. Thus; the picture stand allows a picture to be displayed as if the picture were suspended from a picture hanger, but without having to pound any nails into or otherwise damage the wall.

Picture stand

A handle for an outdoor power equipment unit, such as a lawn mower, includes a control system for allowing the user to manually vary the ground speed of the mower provided by a self propel system. The control system includes a handle grip on the handle that slides up and down relative to a lower portion of the handle. As the handle grip slides down, the ground speed increases. As the handle grip slides up, the ground speed decreases. A grab member can be used to allow the operator to have leverage in pushing the handle grip down.

Growing community of inventors

Bloomington, MN, United States of America

Nathan J Friberg