Patent ID: 6868658
Filing Date: 2005-03-22
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A power mower including a deck lift system, wherein the deck lift system for raising and lowering at least a cutting deck of the mower, the deck lift system comprising: a deck lift lever for selectively raising and lowering the cutting deck; a pivoting latch for selectively engaging a first projection or bolt in order to maintain the cutting deck at a height; a spring coupled to the pivoting latch in a manner such that the spring biases the pivoting latch in a first rotational direction toward the first projection or bolt when a longitudinal axis of said spring is on a first side of a pivot axis of the latch, and the spring biases the pivoting latch in a second rotational direction, opposite said first rotational direction, away from the first projection or bolt when the longitudinal axis of the spring is at least partially on a second side of the pivot axis of the latch; and wherein the longitudinal axis of the spring is switched from the first side of the pivot axis of the latch to the second side of the pivot axis of the latch during raising of the cutting deck as the deck lift lever is moved so that as the deck lift lever is moved the latch is first biased by the spring in the first rotational direction toward the first projection or bolt and is thereafter biased by the spring in the second rotational direction away from the first projection or bolt when the longitudinal axis of the spring is switched to the second side of the pivot axis of the latch.