Patent ID: 7003935
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
1. A lawn mower device comprising: a drive configured to rotate a shaft in a first and a second direction; a drive pulley coupled to the shaft; a driven wheel coupled to the drive pulley by a drive belt; a control arm; a tensioning system coupled to the drive belt, the tensioning system having a first idler plate configured to bias a first idler pulley against the drive belt when the drive is rotating the shaft in the first direction and a second idler plate configured to bias a second idler pulley against the drive belt when the drive is rotating the shaft in the second direction, the first and second idler plates are directly coupled together by a linkage such that rotation of the first idler plate causes direct rotation of the second idler plate by forces through the linkage; a brake mechanism coupled to the tensioning system, said brake mechanism configured to resist the rotation of the driven wheel; and wherein the control arm is configured to apply forces to the first idler plate to rotate the first idler plate and wherein the linkage applies forces from the first idler plate to the second idler plate.