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:
Mar. 20, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 04, 1999
Carl Musat, Sheffield Lake, OH (US);
MTO Products Inc., Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A mower having a cruise control system is provided. The mower includes a frame, a plurality of wheels including at least a first drive wheel operatively supported by the frame, an engine operatively mounted to the frame, a mower deck operatively connected to the frame, and a drive system for use in transferring power from the engine to the at least first drive wheel. The drive system includes an accelerator pedal fixedly connected to an accelerator rod. The cruise control system mechanically locks the accelerator pedal and accelerator rod in place. This permits the operator to release all pressure from the accelerator pedal (resting the foot of the operator) while maintaining the accelerator pedal in any predetermined position. Preferably, the cruise control system includes a rack member fixedly attached to the accelerator rod and having rack teeth, a cruise cam pivotably attached to the frame and having cruise teeth, a cruise lever that is selectively adjustable by an associated operator, and an extension arm pivotably connected to the cruise lever and a having an end pivotably connected to the cruise cam. To engage this cruise control system the following steps are required. First, the operator depresses the accelerator pedal corresponding to the desired speed. Next, the cruise lever is pushed. This causes the extension arm to move resulting in the pivoting motion of the cruise cam. As the cruise cam moves, the cruise teeth are engaged with the rack teeth.