US5343678A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lawn mower control device
Assignee: Schiller Grounds Care Inc
•
Filing: 1993-02-04
•
Granted: 1994-09-06
•
Expires: 2013-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A control apparatus for a lawn mower which includes two coupling members pivotable about a single axis. The coupling members are connected to a drive mechanism and a braking mechanism for the lawn mower. The members are coupled so that a forward pushing force applied by the operator actuates forward driving movement of the lawn mower and a pulling force actuates the braking mechanism when the drive mechanism is placed in a forward gear.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas G. Stuart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:31
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D34/00; A01D34/01; A01D34/412; A01D34/63; A01D34/67; A01D34/68; A01D34/6806; A01D34/6812; A01D2034/6843; A01D2101/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A lawn mower having an engine mounted on a main housing, cutting means contained in a cutter housing attached to the main housing and driven by the engine, and wheels attached to the main housing and driven by driving means, the improvement comprising: at least two coupling members pivotable about only a single axis; each of said coupling members being coupled to and capable of independently actuating the driving means; means for returning the driving means to a neutral configuration when external forces are absent; and the driving means being actuated to drive at least one side of the mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said coupling members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
A lawn mower having an engine mounted on a main housing, cutting means contained in a cutter housing attached to the main housing and driven by the engine, and wheels attached to the main housing and driven by driving means, the improvement comprising: at least two coupling members pivotable about only a single axis; each of said coupling members being coupled to and capable of independently actuating the driving means; means for returning the driving means to a neutral configuration when external forces are absent; and the driving means being actuated to drive at least one side of the mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said coupling members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A control apparatus for a lawn mower, comprising: at least two coupling members pivotable about only a single axis; each of such said coupling members being coupled to and capable of actuating a drive means for said lawn mower and capable of operating independently from one another; means for returning said drive means to a neutral configuration when external forces are absent; and said drive means being actuated to drive at least one side of said mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said coupling members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
A control apparatus for a lawn mower, comprising: at least two coupling members pivotable about only a single axis; each of such said coupling members being coupled to and capable of actuating a drive means for said lawn mower and capable of operating independently from one another; means for returning said drive means to a neutral configuration when external forces are absent; and said drive means being actuated to drive at least one side of said mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said coupling members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said coupling members are oriented substantially vertically when said drive means is in the neutral configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said coupling members are limited in their pivotal movement in at least one direction by a lawn mower handle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
A control apparatus for a lawn mower, comprising: at least two substantially elongate members pivotable between their ends about only a single axis; each of said substantially elongate members being substantially coupled to and capable of actuating a drive means for a lawn mower and capable of being independently operable from one another; means for returning said drive means to a neutral configuration when external forces are absent; and said drive means being actuated to drive at least one side of said mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said substantially elongate members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
A control apparatus for a lawn mower, comprising: at least two substantially elongate members pivotable between their ends about only a single axis; each of said substantially elongate members being substantially coupled to and capable of actuating a drive means for a lawn mower and capable of being independently operable from one another; means for returning said drive means to a neutral configuration when external forces are absent; and said drive means being actuated to drive at least one side of said mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said substantially elongate members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said substantially elongate members are oriented substantially vertically when said drive means is in the neutral configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said substantially elongate members limited in their pivotal movement in at least one direction by a lawn mower handle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
A control apparatus for a lawn mower, comprising: at least two substantially elongate members pivotable between their ends about a horizontal axis; each of said substantially elongate members being substantially coupled to and capable of actuating a drive means for a lawn mower and capable of being independently operable from one another; means for returning said drive means to a neutral configuration when external forces are absent; and said drive means being actuated to drive at least one side of said mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said substantially elongate members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
A control apparatus for a lawn mower, comprising: at least two substantially elongate members pivotable between their ends about a horizontal axis; each of said substantially elongate members being substantially coupled to and capable of actuating a drive means for a lawn mower and capable of being independently operable from one another; means for returning said drive means to a neutral configuration when external forces are absent; and said drive means being actuated to drive at least one side of said mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said substantially elongate members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said substantially elongate members are oriented substantially vertically when said drive means is in the neutral configuration.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said substantially elongate members are pivotable only about a horizontal axis.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said substantially elongate members are limited in their pivotal movement in at least one direction by a lawn mover handle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
A control apparatus for a lawn mower, comprising: at least two pivotable substantially polygonal-shaped members coupled substantially near their centers to a lawn mower handle; each of said substantially polygonal-shaped members being coupled to and capable of actuating a drive means for driving a lawn mower capable of being independently operable from one another; and said drive means being actuated to drive at least one side of a mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said substantially polygonal-shaped members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
86 words
A control apparatus for a lawn mower, comprising: at least two pivotable substantially polygonal-shaped members coupled substantially near their centers to a lawn mower handle; each of said substantially polygonal-shaped members being coupled to and capable of actuating a drive means for driving a lawn mower capable of being independently operable from one another; and said drive means being actuated to drive at least one side of a mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said substantially polygonal-shaped members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said substantially C-shaped members are capable of engaging a means for braking said lawn mower.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 12 further including means for returning said drive means to a neutral configuration when external forces are absent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said substantially polygonal-shaped members are oriented substantially vertically when said drive means is in a neutral configuration.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 12 wherein said substantially polygonal-shaped members are limited in their pivotal movement in at least one direction by said lawn mower handle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
88 words
A control apparatus for a lawn mower, comprising: at least two pivotable substantially C-shaped members coupled substantially near their centers to a lawn mower handle; each of said substantially C-shaped members being substantially coupled to and capable of actuating a drive means for driving said lawn mower and capable of being independently operable from each other; and said drive means being actuated to drive at least one side of said mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said substantially C-shaped members.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
88 words
A control apparatus for a lawn mower, comprising: at least two pivotable substantially C-shaped members coupled substantially near their centers to a lawn mower handle; each of said substantially C-shaped members being substantially coupled to and capable of actuating a drive means for driving said lawn mower and capable of being independently operable from each other; and said drive means being actuated to drive at least one side of said mower in substantially the same direction as a force applied to pivot one of said substantially C-shaped members.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 17 wherein said substantially C-shaped members are capable of engaging means for braking said lawn mower.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 17 further including means for returning said drive means to a neutral configuration when external forces are absent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 17 wherein said substantially C-shaped members are oriented substantially vertically when said drive means is in a neutral configuration.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 17 wherein said substantially C-shaped members are limited in their pivotal movement in at least one direction by said lawn mower handle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-05 | 1998-03-07 | 1998-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-05 | 2002-03-07 | 2002-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-05 | 2006-03-07 | 2006-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |