Patent ID: 6658829
Filing Date: 2003-12-09
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
An electric lawn mower comprising:a machine body section; an electric motor mounted in the machine body section for driving a cutter blade; a handle extending rearward from the machine body section; and a switch operation mechanism provided on the handle for performing ON/OFF control of the electric motor, the switch operation mechanism comprising a handling lever pivotally connected to a portion of the handle to undergo pivotal movement about a pivot axis; a generally fan-shaped actuating member pivotally connected to the handle in such a manner that the actuating member is pivotable about the pivot axis in response to operation of the handling lever; a noncontact reed switch for turning on or off the electric motor in accordance with an ON/OFF state of the noncontact reed switch, the ON/OFF state of the noncontact reed switch being determined in accordance with pivoting movement, toward or away from the noncontact reed switch, of the actuating member responsive to the operation of the handling lever; and a clutch mechanism provided between the handling lever and the actuating member for bringing the handling lever and the actuating member into or out of engagement with each other in response to the operation of the handling lever, the clutch mechanism including a lever member pivotally connected to the handle to undergo pivotal movement about the pivot axis; an engaging pin provided on the actuating member; a hook member pivotally connected to the lever member for hooking engagement with the engaging pin, the hook member being pivotally movable between a first position in which the hook member is disengaged from the engaging pin, and a second position in which the hook member is engaged with the engaging pin, the hook member being normally disposed in the first position; a hook driving rod having one end pivotally connected to the hook member and the other end slidably coupled to a distal end of the lever member and being manually operated to move the hook member into the second position; a first tension spring for urging the hook member toward the first position; and a second tension spring for urging the actuating member toward the noncontact reed switch to maintain the noncontact switch in the OFF state when the handling lever is out of engagement with the actuating member.