The Toro Company

William D Wood

Richard A Thorud

Herman P Christopherson

Gary R Lamusga

Derald D Ramsey

Orvan D Edmonson

A lawn mower (2) is moveably supported by wheels (14) and (16). Wheels (14) and (16) are eccentrically mounted on front and rear link members (24) and (28) which are respectively joined together in pairs by through axles (30). Two flexible cables (32) and (34) transmit this rotation from one front link member (24) to one rear link member (28). One of the link members (24) and (28) is coupled by a flexible cable (80) to a selectively operable control (60) for effecting manual rotation of all of the link members (24) and (28). This effects a change in the height of the wheels (14) and (16) relative to housing (4) simultaneously.

Height of cut adjustment

A grass catcher assembly (2) for use on a lawn mower comprises a flexible bag (4). The bag (4) includes an open front side (14) and an open top side (16). A cover (40) is pivotally secured to bag (4) adjacent the rear wall (12). Cover (40) includes a chute (50) that has a frictional engagement with a bag frame (38) for securing cover (40) in place. When cover (40) is pivoted upwardly, grass can be dumped from bag (4) through both the open front and top sides (14) and (16) when bag (4) is tipped forwardly.

Grass catcher assembly

A starting interlock system for power equipment having a cam rotatable between two positions corresponding to energization modes of the equipment and a lever for holding the cam in each position. The cam has two cam surfaces, each of which is engaged by a separate one of two contact surfaces on the lever. The cam is pivotally mounted in a housing on the power equipment operator handle and the housing has an opening for insertion of a key into engagement with the cam to facilitate manual rotation of the cam. In a first energization mode, the lever must be continually manually held by the operator to retain the cam against rotation. Upon release of the lever, the cam pivots to a position corresponding to a second energization mode where it is locked against rotation until the lever is again manipulated by the operator. In the first energization mode, the key is retained within the housing, and cannot be removed. The cam is connected by a bowden wire cable to an electrical switch having two positions corresponding to the two energization modes. The switch is spring biased toward one of the energization modes. The biasing force is transferred from the switch, via the bowden wire cable to rotate the cam upon release of the manually held lever.

Power equipment starting system

In a lawn and garden implement, a starting system is provided therefor which prevents accidental energization of the implement, and which also provides for automatic deenergization of the implement upon release thereof by the operator. The starting system includes an actuator lever engaging a switch actuator to rotate a removable key inserted within a rotary operated switch to open and close the implement's circuitry. Lockout means are provided which engage the switch actuator and which must be disengaged therefrom to permit actuator rotation. The component parts of the present invention all cooperate sequentially to provide a starting system which will not energize the implement unless the operator consciously follows the proper starting sequence.

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

William D Wood