The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 18, 1994
Filed:
Feb. 22, 1993
Larry W Schmidt, Farmington, MN (US);
The Toro Company, Bloomington, MN (US);
Abstract
A lawn mower self-propel and zone brake control system includes a deck, a ground engaging wheel rotatably coupled to and supporting the deck, a handlebar assembly coupled to the deck, and a transmission coupled to the ground engaging wheel. A pivoting control bail is pivotally mounted on the handlebar assembly and pivots between first and second positions. A power transmitting device connects an engine and the transmission. A zone brake is operatively coupled to the engine and the pivoting control bail and operates in either a first or a second mode wherein the zone brake inhibits rotational movement of and power generation by the engine in the first mode and allows rotational movement of and power generation by the engine in the second mode. The zone brake operates in the first mode when the pivoting control bail is in the first position and operates in the second mode when the pivoting control bail is in the second position. A selector mechanism is pivotally coupled to the pivoting control bail and is coupled to the transmission by a first bowden cable and is movable between first and second positions. Movement of the selector mechanism to its second position and movement of the control bail to its second position causes the power transmitting device to transmit power from the engine to the transmission and ground engaging wheel. Movement of either the selector mechanism or the pivoting control bail out of its respective second position stops the transmission of power to the ground engaging wheel.