초록 ▼

An engine-driven assembly including an engine-driven device, a vertical-shaft engine, a frame, and a handle. The vertical-shaft engine supplies power to the engine-driven device. The frame is coupled to the vertical-shaft engine and the engine-driven device. The frame includes at least one frame foo

An engine-driven assembly including an engine-driven device, a vertical-shaft engine, a frame, and a handle. The vertical-shaft engine supplies power to the engine-driven device. The frame is coupled to the vertical-shaft engine and the engine-driven device. The frame includes at least one frame foot in contact with a ground surface when the frame is in an operating position. The handle has legs coupled for to the frame for movement of the handle between retracted and extended positions. The legs are oriented such that an acute angle is formed between the ground surface and the legs when the handle is extended and the engine-driven assembly is in the operating position. The handle is higher in the extended position than in the retracted position.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An engine-driven assembly comprising: an engine-driven device; a vertical-shaft engine for supplying power to the engine-driven device; a frame coupled to at least one of the vertical-shaft engine and the engine-driven device, the frame having at least one frame foot in

The invention claimed is: 1. An engine-driven assembly comprising: an engine-driven device; a vertical-shaft engine for supplying power to the engine-driven device; a frame coupled to at least one of the vertical-shaft engine and the engine-driven device, the frame having at least one frame foot in contact with a ground surface when the frame is in an operating position; a handle coupled to the frame having legs for movement of the handle between retracted and extended positions, wherein the legs define an axis, wherein the legs are configured to move in a direction parallel to the axis, and wherein the axis is oriented such that an acute angle is formed between the ground surface and the axis when the handle is extended and the engine-driven assembly is in the operating position; and a mounting bracket coupled to the frame, wherein the mounting bracket includes an aperture, wherein at least one of the legs is received by the aperture, and wherein the at least one of the legs is configured to directly engage and to be directly supported by the mounting bracket and to slide relative to the mounting bracket. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the acute angle is between 15 and 35 degrees. 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the acute angle is approximately 25 degrees. 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a mounting plate having first and second surfaces, the frame supporting the engine-driven device adjacent the first surface and supporting the vertical-shaft engine adjacent to the second surface. 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the mounting bracket is coupled to the first surface. 6. The assembly of claim 5, further comprising a stop on at least one of the legs, wherein the stop contacts a sleeve on the mounting bracket resisting extension of the handle beyond the extended position. 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle includes at least one bend resisting retraction of the handle beyond the retracted position. 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the bend in the handle is between about 115 and 145 degrees. 9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the bend in the handle is approximately 130 degrees. 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket further includes a sleeve surrounding the aperture, wherein the sleeve is configured to directly engage and support the at least one of the legs to provide a bearing surface for the at least one of the legs to slide relative to the mounting bracket. 11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the sleeve is formed of nylon. 12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a front panel having apertures through which the legs of the handle extend. 13. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising inserts received within the apertures of the front panel, the inserts receiving the legs of the handle. 14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the inserts are made of nylon. 15. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising wheels rotatably mounted to the frame for supporting the vertical-shaft engine and the engine-driven device when the at least one frame foot is moved out of contact with the ground surface. 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the handle further comprises a gripping location, and wherein the vertical-shaft engine is substantially positioned between the wheels and the handle when the gripping location is held by an operator that is standing upright. 17. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a gripping location, wherein there is a distance between the gripping location and the frame, and wherein the distance increases as the handle is moved from the retracted position to the extended position. 18. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the handle is movable between the retracted position and the extended position along a linear path. 19. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one frame foot does not rotate with respect to the frame. 20. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the engine-driven assembly is a pressure washer. 21. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the engine-driven assembly is a portable electrical generator. 22. An engine-driven assembly comprising: an engine-driven device; a vertical-shaft engine for supplying power to the engine-driven device; a frame coupled to at least one of the vertical-shaft engine and the engine-driven device, the frame having at least one frame foot in contact with a ground surface when the frame is in an operating position; a handle coupled to the frame having legs for movement of the handle between retracted and extended positions, wherein the legs define an axis, wherein the legs are configured to move in a direction parallel to the axis, wherein the axis is oriented such that an acute angle is formed between the ground surface and the axis when the handle is extended and the engine-driven assembly is in the operating position, and wherein the frame includes a front panel having apertures through which the legs of the handle extend; and mounting brackets coupled to the frame, wherein the mounting brackets include second apertures, wherein the legs extend through the second apertures, wherein the first apertures of the front panel and the second apertures of the mounting brackets are coaxially aligned and configured to allow the legs to be extended and retracted through the front panel and the mounting brackets, and wherein the front panel and the mounting brackets support the legs. 23. The assembly of claim 22, further comprising nylon sleeves, wherein the first apertures in the front panel and the second apertures in the mounting brackets receive the nylon sleeves, and wherein the nylon sleeves are configured to directly engage and support the legs to provide bearing surfaces for the legs to slide relative to the mounting brackets and the front panel.