Patent ID: 9528309
Filing Date: 2016-12-27
CPC Classification: A01D,B62D,E05D,E05Y

Claim Text:
1. An outdoor power equipment device comprising: a cutting deck operably coupled to a frame and housing at least one blade; an engine operably coupled to the frame and configured to selectively provide for rotation of the at least one blade responsive to operable coupling of rotary power of the engine to the at least one blade, the engine being disposed in an engine compartment covered by a hood; and a hood hinge assembly comprising a fixed bracket operably coupled to the frame and a movable bracket operably coupled to the hood to enable the hood to be moved between an open position and a closed position via rotation of the movable bracket relative to the fixed bracket, wherein the hood hinge assembly defines an axis of rotation for the hood via a first offset pin and a second offset pin that have respective distal ends oriented in the same direction for sequential engagement with respective ones of a first receiving hole and a second receiving hole that are spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than a distance between the respective distal ends of the first and second offset pins, wherein the first and second offset pins are disposed on the fixed bracket, wherein the first and second receiving holes are disposed proximate to a distal end of respective ones of a first pivot arm and a second pivot arm of the movable bracket, and wherein the first and second pivot arms each comprise a cam edge disposed at distal ends thereof, and wherein the cam edge is configured to engage a corresponding surface of a locking cam such that engagement of the locking cam and the cam edge during rotation of the hood to a closed position further seats the first and second receiving holes on the first and second offset pins, respectively.