초록 ▼

A walk-behind outdoor power machine includes a control that is actuable to control at least one operational aspect the power machine, a handle including a user-graspable portion that is graspable by an operator walking behind the machine, a locking mechanism locking the user-graspable portion of the

A walk-behind outdoor power machine includes a control that is actuable to control at least one operational aspect the power machine, a handle including a user-graspable portion that is graspable by an operator walking behind the machine, a locking mechanism locking the user-graspable portion of the handle at a desired height, and an actuator incorporated into the control. The control is actuated in a first direction to control the operational aspect of the power machine, and is actuated in a second direction to release the locking mechanism so the height of the user-graspable portion can be adjusted.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A walk-behind outdoor power machine designed to accomplish work, the machine comprising: at least one surface engaging element for engaging a surface over which the machine travels;a frame supported by the surface engaging element;a prime mover supported by the frame;an implement supported by the

1. A walk-behind outdoor power machine designed to accomplish work, the machine comprising: at least one surface engaging element for engaging a surface over which the machine travels;a frame supported by the surface engaging element;a prime mover supported by the frame;an implement supported by the frame and driven by the prime mover to accomplish the work;a control that is actuable to control at least one operational aspect of at least one of the surface engaging element, prime mover, and implement;a handle interconnected to the frame and extending upward, the handle including a user-graspable portion that is graspable by an operator walking behind the machine;a locking mechanism actuable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition, the locking mechanism locking the user-graspable portion of the handle at a desired height when the locking mechanism is in the engaged condition, and permitting movement of the user-graspable portion of the handle when in the disengaged condition; andan actuator incorporated into the control for actuating the locking mechanism between the engaged condition and the disengaged condition. 2. The machine of claim 1, wherein the control includes an operator presence switch that enables operation of the prime mover when moved in a first direction against the user graspable portion of the handle; and wherein the actuator includes a linkage interconnected between the control and the locking mechanism, such that the actuator moves the locking mechanism into the disengaged condition upon movement of the operator presence switch in a second direction opposite the first direction. 3. The machine of claim 1, wherein the handle includes at least one tubular portion; and wherein the actuator includes at least one cable within the tubular portion, the cable extending between and functionally interconnecting the control with the locking mechanism. 4. The machine of claim 1, wherein the user graspable portion of the handle is within an operator zone of the machine, the operator zone including all components of the machine accessible by an operator of the machine during operation of the machine. 5. The machine of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism includes a receiving plate mounted to the frame and including at least one receiving aperture; wherein the locking mechanism further includes a movable member supported on the handle; wherein the locking mechanism is in the engaged condition when the movable member is received within the receiving aperture; and wherein the locking mechanism is in the disengaged condition when the movable member is removed from the receiving aperture. 6. The machine of claim 5, wherein the actuator includes a cable interconnecting the control with the movable member; wherein actuation of the control moves the movable member into and out of the receiving aperture. 7. The machine of claim 5, wherein the movable member is biased into the receiving aperture. 8. The machine of claim 5, wherein the movable member includes a retractable pin that is retractable into a tubular portion of the handle. 9. The machine of claim 1, wherein the handle is pivotably interconnected to the frame; and wherein the height of the user-graspable portion of the handle is adjusted by pivoting the handle with respect to the frame. 10. The machine of claim 1, further comprising a pivot arm having first and second opposite ends, the pivot arm being pivotably mounted to the handle at a pivot point between the first and second opposite ends; wherein: the control includes a control cable interconnected between the first end of the pivot arm and a kill switch on the prime mover;the actuator includes an actuator cable interconnected between the second end of the pivot arm and the locking mechanism;actuation of the control in a first direction pivots the pivot arm in a first direction to apply tension to the control cable and disable the kill switch; andactuation of the control in a second direction opposite the first direction pivots the pivot arm in a second direction to apply tension to the actuator cable to move the locking mechanism into the disengaged condition. 11. The machine of claim 9, wherein the handle is pivotable relative to the frame between a first handle position, in which the handle extends at an oblique angle with respect to a plane that is parallel to the surface on which the machine travels, and a second handle position, in which the handle extends generally perpendicular with respect to the plane. 12. The machine of claim 11, wherein the handle is pivotable relative to the frame to a third handle position, in which the handle extends at a different oblique angle with respect to the plane. 13. The machine of claim 1, wherein the control is movable in a first direction to control the at least one operational aspect, and is movable in a second direction opposite the first direction to disengage the locking mechanism. 14. The machine of claim 13, wherein the control pivots with respect to the handle in the first and second directions. 15. The machine of claim 1, wherein the control is movable between a neutral position, a first position to control the at least one operational aspect, and a second position to disengage the locking mechanism. 16. The machine of claim 15, wherein the control is biased to the neutral position. 17. The machine of claim 15, wherein the control is pivotable between the neutral position, the first position, and the second position. 18. The machine of claim 15, wherein the control is movable from the neutral position in a first direction toward the first position, and is movable from the neutral position in a second direction that is different than the first direction toward the second position. 19. A walk-behind lawn mower comprising: a plurality of wheels;a frame supported by the plurality of wheels, the frame including a cutting deck;a prime mover supported by the frame;a cutting blade supported by the frame and driven by the prime mover;a handle pivotally connected to the frame, the handle including a user-graspable portion that is graspable by an operator walking behind the lawn mower;a locking mechanism actuable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition, the locking mechanism securing the handle relative to the frame when in the engaged condition, and permitting movement of the handle relative to the frame when in the disengaged condition; anda control that is actuable to control the cutting blade and the locking mechanism. 20. The walk-behind lawn mower of claim 19, wherein the control is supported by the handle adjacent the user-graspable portion. 21. The walk-behind lawn mower of claim 19, wherein the control is movable in a first direction to drive the cutting blade, and is movable in a second direction that is different than the first direction to disengage the locking mechanism. 22. The walk-behind lawn mower of claim 21, wherein the control includes a generally U-shaped bail that is movable from a neutral position in the first direction to drive the cutting blade, and is movable from the neutral position in a second direction to disengage the locking mechanism. 23. The walk-behind lawn mower of claim 21, further comprising: a control cable interconnected between the control and a kill switch on the prime mover, andan actuator cable interconnected between the control and the locking mechanism,wherein actuation of the control in the first direction applies tension to the control cable to disable the kill switch, and wherein actuation of the control in the second direction applies tension to the actuator cable to move the locking mechanism into the disengaged condition. 24. The walk-behind lawn mower of claim 19, wherein the handle is pivotable relative to the frame between a first handle position, in which the handle extends at a first oblique angle with respect to a plane that is parallel to a surface on which the lawn mower sits, and a second handle position, in which the handle extends generally perpendicular with respect to the plane. 25. The walk-behind lawn mower of claim 24, wherein the handle is pivotable relative to the frame to a third handle position, in which the handle extends at a different oblique angle with respect to the plane. 26. The walk-behind lawn mower of claim 19, wherein the locking mechanism includes a receiving plate mounted to the frame and defining a plurality of receiving apertures, anda movable member supported on the handle and coupled to the control for movement relative to the receiving plate,wherein the locking mechanism is in the engaged condition when the movable member is received within one of the plurality of receiving apertures, and wherein the locking mechanism is in the disengaged condition when the movable member is removed from the plurality of receiving apertures. 27. A walk-behind lawn mower comprising: a plurality of wheels;a frame supported by the plurality of wheels, the frame including a cutting deck;a prime mover supported by the frame, the prime mover including a kill switch;a cutting blade supported by the cutting deck and driven by the prime mover;a handle pivotally connected to the frame, the handle including a user-graspable portion that is graspable by an operator walking behind the lawn mower;a generally U-shaped bail supported by the handle adjacent the user-graspable portion;a locking mechanism including a receiving plate mounted to the frame and defining a plurality of receiving apertures,a movable member supported on the handle and movable between an engaged condition, in which the movable member extends into one of the plurality of receiving apertures, and a disengaged condition, in which the movable member is removed from the plurality of receiving apertures, anda spring coupled to the movable member to bias the movable member toward the engaged position;a control cable interconnected between the bail and the kill switch on the prime mover, wherein actuation of the bail in a first direction tensions the control cable to disable the kill switch; andan actuator cable interconnected between the bail and the movable member, wherein actuation of the bail in a second direction opposite the first direction tensions the actuator cable to move the movable member against the bias of the spring to the disengaged condition.