Operator control system for self-propelled vehicles

• US 20030000192A1
• Filed: 01/17/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exmark Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Exmark Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Nicholson, Gary L., Busboom, Garry W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,668,529 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/10.8
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2034/6843 Control levers on the handle of the mower
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/6806 Driving mechanisms for the cutters A01D34/76
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 56/18 Handles

Abstract

An operator control system for a self-propelled vehicle such as a lawn mower is provided wherein the control system includes two opposing and preferably upwardly extending and converging hand grips each having a corresponding drive control lever associated therewith. Each drive control lever may have at least a portion that is parallel to a grip axis of its respective hand grip. Further, each drive control lever may have a pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the corresponding grip axis such that the drive control lever remains substantially parallel to its respective hand grip throughout its travel. A latching device may be provided to permit latching of each drive control lever in two or more positions, e.g., a neutral position and a park position. Secondary levers such as operator presence control (OPC) levers may also be included.

Claims

1. An operator control system for a self-propelled vehicle, the control system comprising:

a handle assembly comprising a first hand grip having a first grip axis and a second hand grip having a second grip axis, wherein the first grip axis and the second grip axis extend upwardly and toward one another when the vehicle is in an operating configuration;

a first control lever associated with the first hand grip, the first control lever pivotable about a first pivot axis, wherein the first pivot axis is substantially parallel to the first grip axis of the first hand grip; and

a latching device associated with the first control lever, the latching device adapted to latch the first control lever in two or more positions.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the two or more positions comprise a first position of the first control lever corresponding to a neutral configuration of a drive wheel of the self-propelled vehicle, and a second position of the first control lever corresponding to a park configuration of the drive wheel.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the latching device comprises a pivoting latch member coupled to an end of the first hand grip.

4. The control system of claim 3, wherein the pivoting latch member is pivotable about a latch pivot axis that is substantially parallel to the first grip axis.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the latch pivot axis is substantially coaxial with the first grip axis.

6. The control system of claim 3, wherein the pivoting latch member comprises one or more tabs to assist in the manipulation of the pivoting latch member.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the latching device further comprises identifying indicia corresponding to at least one of the two or more positions.

8. An operator control system for a self-propelled vehicle, the control system comprising:

a handle assembly comprising a first hand grip having a first grip axis and a second hand grip having a second grip axis, wherein the first grip axis and the second grip axis extend upwardly, forwardly, and toward one another when the vehicle is in an operating configuration;

a first control lever associated with the first hand grip, the first control lever pivotable about a first pivot axis, wherein the first pivot axis is substantially parallel to the first grip axis of the first hand grip; and

a latching device associated with the first control lever, the latching device operable to latch the first control lever in two or more positions.

9. The control system of claim 8, wherein the first grip axis and the second grip axis lie substantially in the same plane.

10. The control system of claim 8, wherein the first hand grip and the second hand grip form ends of the handle assembly.

11. The control system of claim 8, wherein the latching device comprises a generally hook-shaped member, the hook-shaped member comprising lever seating surfaces to assist in latching the first control lever in the two or more positions.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the hook-shaped member comprises a friction-reducing member operable to facilitate engagement with the first control lever.

13. The control system of claim 12, wherein the friction-reducing member is a roller.

14. The control system of claim 8, wherein the latching device is operable to permit latching of the first control lever in a first position corresponding to a neutral configuration of a first drive wheel of the self-propelled vehicle, and a second position corresponding to a park configuration of the first drive wheel.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

manipulating the first control lever to the second position with the operator'"'"'s first hand; and

manipulating the first latching device to latch the first control lever in the second position.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first position of the first control lever corresponds to a neutral configuration of a first drive wheel of the self-propelled vehicle, and the second position of the first control lever corresponds to a park configuration of the first drive wheel.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising manipulating the first latching device to a disengaged position to allow substantially unimpeded movement of the first control lever.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein manipulating the first latching device comprises manipulating the first latching device with a finger of the operator'"'"'s first hand.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a second control lever associated with the second hand grip, the second control lever pivotable about a second pivot axis, wherein the second pivot axis is substantially parallel to the second grip axis of the second hand grip;

providing a second latching device associated with the second control lever; and

selectively manipulating the second latching device between at least a first position and a second position.

15. A method for controlling a self-propelled vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an operator control system comprising;

a handle assembly comprising a first hand grip having a first grip axis and a second hand grip having a second grip axis, wherein the first grip axis and the second grip axis extend upwardly and toward one another when the vehicle is in an operating configuration;

a first control lever associated with the first hand grip, the first control lever pivotable about a first pivot axis, wherein the first pivot axis is substantially parallel to the first grip axis of the first hand grip; and

a first latching device associated with the first control lever, the first latching device operable to latch the first control lever in at least a first position and a second position;

grasping the first control lever with an operator'"'"'s first hand;

manipulating the first control lever to the first position with the operator'"'"'s first hand; and

manipulating the first latching device to latch the first control lever in the first position.

21. An operator control system for a self-propelled power mower, the control system comprising:

a handle assembly comprising a first hand grip having a first grip axis and a second hand grip having a second grip axis, wherein the first grip axis and the second grip axis are substantially coplanar and extend upwardly, forwardly, and toward one another when the mower is in an operating configuration;

a first control lever associated with the first hand grip, the first control lever pivotable about a first pivot axis, wherein the first pivot axis is substantially parallel to the first grip axis of the first hand grip; and

a first latching device comprising a generally hook-shaped member pivotally coupled to the first hand grip and operable to pivot about an axis generally coaxial with the first grip axis, the first latching device adapted to latch the first control lever in at least a first position and a second position.

22. The control system of claim 21, wherein the hook-shaped member comprises a first lever seating surface to assist in latching the first control lever in the first position and a second lever seating surface to assist in latching the first control lever in the second position.

23. The control system of claim 22, further comprising first indicia associated with the first lever seating surface and second indicia associated with the second lever seating surface.

24. The control system of claim 21, wherein the first position of the first control lever corresponds to a neutral configuration of a first drive wheel of the mower, and the second position of the first control lever corresponds to a park configuration of the first drive wheel.

25. The control system of claim 21, further comprising:

a second control lever associated with the second hand grip, the second control lever pivotable about a second pivot axis, wherein the second pivot axis is substantially parallel to the second grip axis of the second hand grip; and

a second latching device comprising a generally hook-shaped member pivotally coupled to the second hand grip and operable to pivot about an axis generally coaxial with the second grip axis, the second latching device adapted to latch the second control lever in at least a first position and a second position.

26. The control system of claim 25, wherein the first position of the second control lever corresponds to a neutral configuration of a second drive wheel of the mower, and the second position of the second control lever corresponds to a park configuration of the second drive wheel.

27. A self-propelled, walk-behind or ride-behind lawn mower, comprising:

a frame;

a cutting deck attached to the frame;

one or more drive wheels operable to support the frame in rolling engagement with a ground surface;

a prime mover adapted to provide power to the one or more drive wheels and the cutting deck; and

an operator control system operatively coupled to the frame, the control system comprising;

a handle assembly comprising a first hand grip and a second hand grip, wherein the first hand grip and the second hand grip extend generally upwardly and inwardly towards one another, and further wherein the first hand grip and the second hand grip are forwardly inclined relative to a vertical plane passing through a lowermost portion of one or both of the first hand grip and the second hand grip;

a first control lever associated with the first hand grip, the first control lever pivotable about a first pivot axis;

a second control lever associated with the second hand grip, the second control lever pivotable about a second pivot axis, wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis extend generally upwardly and inwardly towards one another, and further wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are forwardly inclined relative to the vertical plane passing through the lowermost portion of one or both of the first hand grip and the second hand grip; and

a latching device associated with at least the first control lever, the latching device adapted to latch the at least first control lever in two or more positions.