Abstract A folding handle for a rotary mower. The handle is composed of two similar inverted U-shaped sections, an upper and lower, with the lower section being attached to the mower housing, and with the upper section overlapping the lower section for a portion of its length, and being pivotally connected to the lower section. A unique latch mechanism locks both sides of the upper and lower handle sections together rigidly in the upright operative position, and is easily released by one hand of the operator to allow the upper section to be folded forward to a generally horizontal position over the engine. The latching mechanism includes two sliding pins biased outwardly by two spring-wire handles. The upper handle section includes ramps to engage and push inwardly the pins as the upper handle section is being swung into the rigid operative position. Aligned holes in the upper handle section engage the pins to secure the upper handle section to the lower handle section.
A folding handle and latching mechanism for a lawn mower, comprising in combination: a. a lower handle section having two elongated lower legs secured at the lower portion of said legs to the lawn mower and a cross portion located near the upper portion of said legs extending between said lower legs; b. two spring-wire handles each secured to one of said legs and extending along said legs toward said cross portion, said spring-wire handles also extending along said cross portion toward each other, said spring-wire handles terminating adjacent each other along said cross portion with each springwire handle including a hand engageable loop to permit a person to engage each loop on each spring-wire handle and bias said spring-wire handles toward each other; c. two latch pins each extending outwardly through each lower leg, each of said pins secured to one each of said spring-wire handles; and d. an upper handle section having two elongated upper legs each pivotably secured to one each of said lower legs, each said upper legs including a hole in alignment with and to receive said latch pin to rigidly secure said upper handle section to said lower handle section in the operative position of said upper handle section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A folding handle and latching mechanism for a lawn mower, comprising in combination: a. a lower handle section having two elongated lower legs secured at the lower portion of said legs to the lawn mower and a cross portion located near the upper portion of said legs extending between said lower legs; b. two spring-wire handles each secured to one of said legs and extending along said legs toward said cross portion, said spring-wire handles also extending along said cross portion toward each other, said spring-wire handles terminating adjacent each other along said cross portion with each springwire handle including a hand engageable loop to permit a person to engage each loop on each spring-wire handle and bias said spring-wire handles toward each other; c. two latch pins each extending outwardly through each lower leg, each of said pins secured to one each of said spring-wire handles; and d. an upper handle section having two elongated upper legs each pivotably secured to one each of said lower legs, each said upper legs including a hole in alignment with and to receive said latch pin to rigidly secure said upper handle section to said lower handle section in the operative position of said upper handle section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A folding handle and latching mechanism according to claim 1 wherein: each of said upper legs includes a ramp adjacent to said hole, said ramp to engage said latch pins for moving inwardly said latch pin as said upper handle section is swung toward the rigid operative position and when said upper handle section reaches the rigid operative position said latch pin will pass into said hole.