Reverse mowing prevention device

A device for preventing reverse mowing of a Snapper, rear engine rider lawnmower having an ABS system, by halting rotation of the mower blade when the gear shift lever of the mower is shifted from the forward into the reverse driving position. The reverse mowing prevention device is designed to be mounted on riding mowers having a blade engagement lever for selectively engaging a mower blade in driving configuration and a pivoting lever retaining member for selectively retaining the blade engagement lever in the blade-driving configuration, typically by depression of a blade engagement foot pedal. In a first embodiment the reverse mowing prevention device is characterized by a blade release rod for connecting the lever retaining member to the shift linkage of the mower transmission system. As the gear shift lever is shifted from the forward to the reverse driving position, as desired, the blade release rod disengages the pivoting lever retaining member from the blade engagement lever, which automatically shifts to a blade-disengaging position and halts rotation of the mower blade. In another embodiment the blade release rod is capable of selectively engaging and removing the lever retaining member from the blade engagement lever, or disengaging the lever retaining member as the gear shift lever is shifted into reverse, to permit reverse mowing as desired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 1. Field of the Invention
 This invention relates to safety devices for Snapper, rear engine rider
 lawn mowers and more particularly, to a device for preventing reverse
 mowing of the lawnmower by halting rotation of the mower blade when the
 gear shift lever of the mower is shifted from the forward into the reverse
 driving position. In a preferred embodiment the reverse mowing prevention
 device is designed to be mounted on Snapper riding mowers having an
 automatic blade stop (ABS) system characterized by a manually-operated
 blade engagement lever for selectively engaging a mower blade in driving
 configuration and a pivoting lever retaining member for selectively
 retaining the blade engagement lever in the blade-driving configuration,
 typically by depressing a foot-operated blade engagement pedal. In a first
 embodiment the reverse mowing prevention device is characterized by a
 blade release rod having a front end for engaging the lever retaining
 member and a rear end for engaging the shift linkage of the mower
 transmission system. Forward mowing is accomplished in the conventional
 manner by shifting the blade engagement lever forwardly into the
 blade-driving position, depressing the blade engagement pedal to cause the
 pivoting lever retaining member to engage and retain the blade engagement
 lever in the blade-driving position, and then shifting the gear shift
 lever from neutral into the forward driving position. As the gear shift
 lever is subsequently shifted to the reverse driving position, as desired
 to facilitate driving the mower in reverse, the blade release rod pulls
 and disengages the lever retaining member from the blade engagement lever,
 which automatically shifts to a blade-disengaging position and halts
 rotation of the mower blade. In another embodiment a blade release bolt is
 mounted on the lever retaining member and a blade release loop shaped in
 the front end of the blade release rod engages the blade release bolt
 under spring tension to pull the blade release bolt rearwardly and
 disengage the lever retaining member from the blade engagement lever as
 the gear shift lever is shifted into the reverse driving position. To
 permit reverse mowing, as desired, an override handle provided on the
 blade release rod can be lifted against spring tension to clear the blade
 release loop from the blade release bolt as the gear shift lever is
 shifted into the reverse driving position.
 Although riding lawnmowers are widely used for mowing both business and
 residential lawns, operation of a riding lawnmower can be particularly
 dangerous in residential areas where children frequently play outdoors and
 pets roam. When a riding mower is operated in the reverse direction, it is
 typically difficult for the mower operator to view the area directly
 behind the mower, and consequently, children standing or sitting behind
 riding mowers have on occasion been run over and severely injured or
 killed by the mower blade because the mower operator failed to adequately
 view the area behind the mower prior to mowing in reverse. This has
 resulted in increasing safety requirements being imposed on manufacturers
 to design riding mowers which are safer to operate and which require
 conscious effort on the part of the mower operator to mow m reverse, to
 increase the likelihood that the operator will first deliberately examine
 the area behind the mower for children, animals or other obstructions.
 2. Description of the Prior Art
 One safety mechanism for minimizing inadvertent actuation of a mower
 cutting blade and which is currently in widespread use on riding mowers,
 is the "Safety Control for Riding Lawn Mower" described in U.S. Pat. No.
 4,300,332, dated Nov. 17, 1981, to Harold P. Jackson. The safety control
 automatically halts rotation of a mower cutting blade when the mower
 operator leaves or falls off the mower or raises his or her feet while
 seated on the mower. The control is operated by means of a foot pedal
 which is depressed by the operator's foot to cause the blade to rotate
 during the cutting operation. When the operator raises his or her feet
 from the foot pedal or falls from or dismounts the mower, the control
 activates a mechanism for disengaging the blade drive and applying a brake
 to the cutting blade. While the safety control allows the operator to
 manually disengage the blade drive and apply a brake to the cutting blade
 while the pedal is depressed, the control will not allow the operator to
 re-engage the blade drive while the pedal is depressed.
 An object of this invention is to provide a device for preventing a riding
 mower from mowing in reverse.
 Another object of this invention is to provide a reverse mowing prevention
 device for preventing reverse mowing of a Snapper riding lawnmower by
 halting rotation of the mower blade when the gear shift lever of the mower
 is shifted into the reverse driving position.
 Still another object of this invention is to provide a reverse mowing
 prevention device for selectively preventing reverse mowing of a Snapper
 riding lawnmower and which device is provided with an override mechanism
 for selectively enabling the riding mower to mow in reverse.
 Yet another object of this invention is to provide a reverse mowing
 prevention device for riding mowers having a blade engagement lever for
 selectively engaging a mower blade in driving configuration and a lever
 retaining member for selectively retaining the blade engagement lever in
 the blade-driving configuration, typically by depressing a foot-operated
 blade engagement pedal, which reverse mowing prevention device is
 characterized by a blade release rod for connecting the lever retaining
 member to the shift linkage of the mower transmission system, such that as
 the gear shift lever is shifted from the forward into the reverse driving
 position, as desired, the blade release rod disengages the pivoting lever
 retaining member from the blade engagement lever, and the blade engagement
 lever automatically shifts to a blade-disengaging position and halts
 rotation of the mower blade.
 A still further object of this invention is to provide a reverse mowing
 prevention device for riding mowers having an automatic blade stop (ABS)
 system characterized by a blade engagement lever for selectively engaging
 a mower blade in driving configuration and a lever retaining member for
 selectively retaining the blade engagement lever in the blade-driving
 configuration typically by depressing a foot-operated blade engagement
 pedal, which reverse mowing prevention device is characterized by a blade
 release bolt upward-standing from the lever retaining member and a blade
 release loop shaped in the front end of the blade release rod for engaging
 the blade release bolt under spring tension, wherein the blade release
 loop pulls the blade release bolt rearwardly and disengages the lever
 retaining member from the blade engagement lever as the gear shift lever
 is shifted into the reverse driving position, causing the blade engagement
 lever to automatically shift to a blade-disengaging position; and wherein
 an override handle provided on the blade release rod can be selectively
 lifted against spring tension to clear the blade release loop from the
 blade release bolt as the gear shift lever is shifted into reverse, in
 order to permit mowing in reverse, as desired.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 These and other objects of the invention are provided in a reverse mowing
 prevention device for preventing reverse mowing of a riding-type lawnmower
 by halting rotation of the mower blade when the gear shift lever of the
 mower is shifted from the forward into the reverse driving position. In a
 preferred embodiment the reverse mowing prevention device is designed to
 be mounted on riding mowers having an automatic blade stop (ABS) system
 characterized by a typically manually-operated blade engagement lever for
 selectively engaging a mower blade in driving configuration and a pivoting
 lever retaining member for selectively retaining the blade engagement
 lever in the blade-driving configuration, typically by depression of a
 foot-operated blade engagement pedal. In a first embodiment the reverse
 mowing prevention device is characterized by a blade release rod having a
 front end for engaging the lever retaining member and a rear end for
 engaging the shift linkage of the mower transmission system. Forward
 mowing is accomplished in the conventional manner by shifting the blade
 engagement lever forwardly into the blade-driving configuration,
 depressing the blade engagement pedal to cause the pivoting lever
 retaining member to engage and retain the blade engagement lever in the
 blade-driving position, and shifting the gear shift lever from neutral to
 the forward driving position. As the gear shift lever is subsequently
 shifted from the forward into the reverse driving position, as desired,
 the blade release rod pulls and disengages the lever retaining member from
 the blade engagement lever, which automatically shifts to a
 blade-disengaging position and halts rotation of the mower blade. In
 another embodiment a blade release bolt is upward-standing from the lever
 retaining member and a blade release loop shaped in the front end of the
 blade release rod engages the blade release bolt under spring tension, to
 pull the blade release bolt rearwardly and pivot and disengage the lever
 retaining member from the blade engagement lever as the gear shift lever
 is shifted into reverse. To permit reverse mowing, as desired, an override
 handle provided on the blade release rod can be lifted against spring
 tension to clear the blade release loop from the blade release bolt as the
 gear shift lever is shifted into reverse.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 Referring initially to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4-8 of the drawings, in a first
 preferred embodiment, the reverse mowing prevention device of this
 invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral 1. The reverse
 mowing prevention device 1 is designed to be mounted on a riding mower 30,
 and typically a SNAPPER (trademark) riding mower 30, illustrated in
 phantom and fitted with an automatic blade stop (ABS) feature, as
 hereinafter further described. The riding mower 30 is characterized by a
 mower frame 31, made portable by front wheels 38 and rear wheels 39, which
 rear wheels 39 are driven by a gasoline-powered engine 36 mounted on the
 rear of the mower frame 31. A seat 35 is provided on the mower frame 31,
 typically in front of the engine 36, for accommodating a mower operator
 (not illustrated) on the riding mower 30, and a foot platform 37 (FIG. 4)
 is provided on the front of the mower frame 31 for receiving and resting
 the feet of the mower operator. The riding mower 30 is further
 characterized by a steering unit 32, provided on the front of the mower
 frame 31 and which mounts a steering column 33, fitted with a steering
 wheel 34 for steering the front wheels 38. A foot-operated brake pedal 41
 (FIG. 4), provided on the foot platform 37, facilitates selective
 application of brake pressure to the front wheels 38. A pair of frame arms
 24 (one of which is illustrated in FIG. 4) extends rearwardly from the
 foot platform 37, on each side of the steering unit 32, and a blade
 housing 40, which houses the mower cutting blade (not illustrated), is
 attached to the frame arms 24, between the front wheels 38 and rear wheels
 39.
 As further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the riding mower 30 is fitted with
 a gear shift lever 50 for controlling directional movement of the riding
 mower 30. A shift detent bracket 51 is typically mounted on the mower
 frame 31 and includes a gear selector plate 60, provided with an elongated
 lever slot 61, through which the gear shift lever 50 extends, as
 illustrated in FIG. 4. The lever slot 61 is provided with multiple forward
 selector notches 62, each of which receives the gear shift lever 50 to
 engage the riding mower 30 in a selected speed forward driving mode; a
 neutral selector notch 64 for engaging the riding mower in neutral; and a
 rear selector notch 63 for engaging the riding mower 30 in reverse driving
 mode, as desired. Manually-actuated, forward or reverse motion of the gear
 shift lever 50 in the lever slot 61 is transmitted to a shift linkage 54
 (illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5) which, in turn, transmits the motion of the
 gear shift lever 50 to a transmission linkage 58 of the mower transmission
 system (not illustrated), to establish the forward, neutral or reverse
 driving mode of the riding mower 30, as hereinafter described. The bottom
 end of the gear shift lever 50 is connected to a horizontal shift rod 52
 (FIG. 5) of the shift linkage 54, which horizontal shift rod 52 extends
 through an opening in the shift detent bracket 51, and one end of a first
 linkage member 55 is connected to the extending end of the horizontal
 shift rod 52. A spacer spring 53 is typically interposed between the shift
 detent bracket 51 and the first linkage member 55 to maintain the first
 linkage member 55 in spaced-apart relationship with respect to the shift
 detent bracket 51. A second linkage member 56 is pivotally connected at
 one end to the extending end of the first linkage member 55 by means of a
 linkage pin 57 and the opposite end of the second linkage member 56 is
 pivotally connected to the transmission linkage 58. Accordingly, as the
 gear shift lever 50 is shifted rearwardly in the lever slot 61 from one of
 the forward selector notches 62 (provided in the gear selector plate 60)
 or neutral selector notch 64 and into the rear selector notch 63 to
 facilitate driving the riding mower 30 in reverse (FIG. 4), the horizontal
 shift rod 52 rotates in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5 and
 moves the first linkage member 55 and second linkage member 56 of the
 shift linkage 54 rearwardly, which second linkage member 56, in turn,
 moves the transmission linkage 58 rearwardly, and this action shifts the
 riding mower 30 into the reverse driving mode. Conversely, as the gear
 shift lever 50 is shifted forwardly in the lever slot 61 from the rear
 selector notch 63 or neutral selector notch 64 and into a selected one of
 the forward selector notches 62, the horizontal shift rod 52 rotates in
 the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5 and moves the first
 linkage member 55, second linkage member 56 and transmission linkage 58
 forwardly, thereby shifting the riding mower 30 into the forward driving
 mode.
 As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6-8 of the drawings, the riding mower 30
 is also typically fitted with an automatic blade stop (ABS) feature which
 automatically halts rotation of the rotating mower cutting blade, should
 the mower operator dismount, lift his or her feet or inadvertently fall
 from the riding mower 30. Accordingly, a manually-operated blade
 engagement lever 70 is typically provided on the riding mower 30 for
 selectively engaging the mower cutting blade driving mechanism (not
 illustrated), as hereinafter described. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8,
 the blade engagement lever 70 extends through an elongated, substantially
 L-shaped lever slot 80, provided in the bracket plate 82 of a blade lever
 bracket 74, which is mounted on a blade housing bracket 43,
 upward-standing from the blade housing 40 of the riding mower 30, as
 illustrated in FIG. 4. The lever slot 80 includes an enlarged portion 84,
 through which the blade engagement lever 70 extends when in the forward,
 blade-driving position, and an elongated, more narrow portion 85, through
 which the blade engagement lever 70 extends when shifted into the rear,
 blade-disengaging position, as hereinafter further described. The bottom
 end of the blade engagement lever 70 is connected to a blade drive
 engaging and disengaging mechanism (not illustrated), as detailed in U.S.
 Pat. No. 4,300,332, and the blade engagement lever 70 is manually shifted
 forwardly from the elongated portion 85 and into the enlarged portion 84
 of the lever slot 80 to engage the blade-driving mechanism and cause
 rotation of the mower cutting blade (not illustrated) during operation of
 the engine 36. As further illustrated in FIG. 6, a roller bolt opening 75
 extends through the bracket plate 82, between the enlarged portion 84 and
 elongated portion 85 of the lever slot 80, and a shift roller (not
 illustrated) is rotatably mounted on a roller bolt (also not illustrated),
 which extends through the roller bolt opening 75. The shift roller
 normally causes the blade engagement lever 70 to automatically shift from
 the blade drive engaging position in the enlarged portion 84, into the
 blade drive disengaging position in the elongated portion 85 of the lever
 slot 80, when the operator of the riding mower 30 releases the blade
 engagement lever 70. Accordingly, the blade engagement lever 70 remains in
 the elongated, narrow portion 85 and the mower blade thus remains
 disengaged from the blade drive mechanism, unless the blade engagement
 lever 70 is retained in the enlarged portion 84 of the lever slot 80, as
 hereinafter further described. As further illustrated in FIG. 6, a
 substantially L-shaped lever retaining member 90 is pivotally mounted on
 the bracket plate 82, by means of a pivot bolt (not illustrated) which
 extends through a bracket aperture 93 and through a registering retainer
 mount aperture 94, provided in the lever retaining member 90. Accordingly,
 the retaining member 90 is moveable between a lever retaining position
 illustrated in FIG. 8, in which it engages and retains the blade
 engagement lever 70 in the enlarged portion 84 of the lever slot 80, and a
 lever release position illustrated in FIG. 7, in which the retaining
 member 90 disengages and enables the blade engagement lever 70 to
 automatically shift from the enlarged portion 84 to the elongated narrow
 portion 85 of the lever slot 80, by operation of the shift roller (not
 illustrated). The retaining member 90 is pivoted on the bracket plate 82
 between the lever retaining position and the lever release position
 typically by operation of a foot bar 100, fitted with foot pedals 101 (one
 of which is illustrated in FIG. 4). One end of a pedal tension spring 110
 extends through a tension spring opening 91 (FIG. 8) and connects to the
 lever retaining member 90, and the other end of the pedal tension spring
 110 is connected to the foot bar 100, and operates to pivot the lever
 retaining member 90 from the lever release position illustrated in FIG. 7,
 to the lever retaining position as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8, when the
 operator of the riding mower 30 depresses the blade engagement pedal 101.
 By manually shifting the blade engagement lever 70 from the elongated
 portion 85 into the enlarged portion 84 of the lever slot 80 and then
 depressing the blade engagement pedal 101 using his or her feet during
 operation of the engine 36, the mower operator retains the blade
 engagement lever 70 in the enlarged portion 84 of the lever slot 80 and
 maintains the mower cutting blade (not illustrated) in rotating,
 grass-cutting configuration. When the mower operator releases the blade
 engagement pedal 101, the lever retaining member 90 pivots to the lever
 release position illustrated in FIG. 7 and the blade engagement lever 70
 automatically shifts from the enlarged portion 84 to the elongated, narrow
 portion 85 of the lever slot 80 by operation of the shift roller (not
 illustrated) and disengages the blade drive mechanism from the mower
 cutting blade. A brake system (not illustrated) is simultaneously applied
 to the cutting blade shaft (not illustrated), to halt rotation of the
 cutting blade upon release of the blade engagement pedal 101. Accordingly,
 the ABS safety mechanism of the prior art riding mower 30 imparted by the
 lever retaining member 90, blade engagement pedal 101, pedal tension
 spring 110 and blade brake mechanism (not illustrated) is designed to halt
 rotation of the mower cutting blade, should the mower operator dismount or
 inadvertently fall from the riding mower 30 or raise his or her foot from
 the blade engagement pedal 101.
 Referring next to FIGS. 2 and 2A of the drawings, in a first preferred
 embodiment the reverse mowing prevention device of this invention is
 generally illustrated by reference numeral 1. The reverse mowing
 prevention device 1 is characterized by an elongated blade release rod 2,
 typically constructed from stainless steel and including an elongated
 straight rod segment 3, terminated on the end thereof by a retaining
 member segment 9, which is inserted in a blade release rod opening 96
 provided in the lever retaining member 90 (FIG. 8) of the riding mower 30,
 as hereinafter described. A shift loop 4 is shaped in the opposite end of
 the straight rod segment 2 and includes a rod bend 5, continuous with the
 straight rod segment 3 and a short rod segment 6, continuous with the rod
 bend 5 and substantially parallel to the straight rod segment 3. A
 substantially perpendicular rod angle 7 is shaped in the short rod segment
 6, and terminates in a rod hook 8, for removably engaging the straight rod
 segment 3 of the blade release rod 2, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and
 hereinafter further described.
 Referring again to FIGS. 2, 2A, 4, 5, 7 and 8 of the drawings, in
 application of the first preferred embodiment of the reverse mowing
 prevention device 1, the shift loop 4 of the blade release rod 2 (located
 at the rear end of the straight rod segment 3 as illustrated in FIG. 2) is
 initially attached to the shift linkage 54 of the riding mower 30 as
 illustrated in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the shift loop 4 is first opened as
 illustrated in FIG. 2A by removing the rod hook 8 from the straight rod
 segment 3 and is extended around the linkage pin 57 of the shift linkage
 54. The shift loop 4 is then closed around the linkage pin 57 by
 re-engaging the rod hook 8 with the straight rod segment 3. The retaining
 member segment 9 (located at the front end of the straight rod segment 3)
 is next inserted through the blade release rod opening 96 (provided in the
 lever retaining member 90 adjacent to the tension spring opening 91, as
 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8). Accordingly, the blade release rod 2 of the
 reverse mowing prevention device 1 now connects the lever retaining member
 90 to the shift linkage 54 of the riding mower 30. Conventional operation
 of the riding mower 30 is commenced by starting the engine 36 while the
 gear shift lever 50 is located in the neutral selector notch 64 of the
 gear selector plate 60, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and mowing is begun by
 shifting the blade engagement lever 70 forwardly from the elongated,
 narrow portion 85 into the enlarged portion 84 of the lever slot 80, to
 engage the drive mechanism of the mower cutting blade (not illustrated).
 While holding the blade engagement lever 70 in the enlarged portion 84 of
 the lever slot 80, the mower operator (not illustrated) depresses the
 blade engagement pedal 101, and this action pulls the pedal tension spring
 110 forwardly and pivots the lever retaining member 90 from the lever
 release position illustrated in FIG. 7 to the lever retaining position
 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8. Consequently, the mower operator can remove
 his or her hand from the blade engagement lever 70 and sustain rotation of
 the mower cutting blade as long as he or she maintains the blade
 engagement pedal 101 in the depressed position, since the tension spring
 110 maintains the lever retaining member 90 in the lever-engaging and
 retaining position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8. Furthermore, as the blade
 engagement pedal 101 is depressed, the lever retaining member 90 draws the
 blade release rod 2 forwardly until the rod bend 5 portion of the shift
 loop 4 engages the linkage pin 57. The mower operator drives the riding
 mower 30 forwardly by grasping the gear shift lever 50, removing it from
 the neutral selector notch 64, pushing it forwardly and placing it in a
 selected one of the forward selector notches 62, depending on the desired
 forward drive speed of the riding mower 30. As long as the blade
 engagement pedal 101 remains in the depressed configuration and the gear
 shift lever 50 remains in one of the forward selector notches 62, the
 riding mower 30 continues to mow in the forward direction. When it is
 desired to drive the riding mower 30 in the reverse direction, the mower
 operator grasps the gear shift lever 50, removes the gear shift lever 50
 from the forward selector notch 62 and positions the gear shift lever 50
 in the rear selector notch 63. Accordingly, as the mower operator moves
 the gear shift lever 50 rearwardly in the lever slot 61, the gear shift
 lever 50 rotates the horizontal shift rod 52 of the shift linkage 54 in
 the clockwise direction in FIG. 5, and this action moves the first linkage
 member 55 and second linkage member 56 of the shift linkage 54,
 rearwardly. The shift linkage 54 in turn pivots the transmission linkage
 58 rearwardly, thus shifting the mower transmission (not illustrated) into
 the reverse driving mode. Because the rod bend 5 portion of the shift loop
 4 of the blade release rod 2 is engaged by the linkage pin 57 of the shift
 linkage 54 when the blade engagement pedal 101 is depressed and the gear
 shift lever 50 is located in the neutral selector notch 64, rearward
 movement of the gear shift lever 50 beyond the neutral selector notch 64
 to the rear selector notch 63 draws the blade release rod 2 rearwardly.
 This reverse movement of the blade release rod 2 causes the blade release
 rod 2 to pivot the lever retaining member 90 rearwardly on the bracket
 plate 82, thereby disengaging the lever retaining member 90 from the blade
 engagement lever 70 and causing the blade engagement lever 70 to
 automatically shift from the enlarged portion 84 to the elongated, narrow
 portion 85 of the lever slot 80, by operation of the shift roller (not
 illustrated). As the blade engagement lever 70 shifts rearwardly in the
 lever slot 80, the drive mechanism of the mower cutting blade is
 automatically disengaged from the rotating blade and a conventional brake
 mechanism is automatically applied to the blade to halt rotation of the
 blade.
 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the blade release
 rod 2 operates in the foregoing manner to release or disengage the blade
 driving mechanism of the riding mower 30 from the mower cutting blade even
 as the blade engagement pedal 101 remains depressed during reverse driving
 of the riding mower 30, since the blade release rod 2 pivots the lever
 retaining member 90 rearwardly against the forward bias exerted by the
 pedal tension spring 110 as the gear shift lever 50 is shifted rearwardly
 beyond the neutral selector notch 64. As the gear shift lever 50 of the
 riding mower 30 is subsequently moved from the rear selector notch 63 to
 the neutral selector notch 64, or to a selected forward selector notch 62
 in order to again drive the riding mower 30 in the forward direction, as
 desired, the horizontal shift rod 52 of the shift linkage 54 is rotated in
 the counterclockwise direction illustrated in FIG. 5. Simultaneously, the
 linkage pin 57 of the shift linkage 54 travels in the shift loop 4 of the
 blade release rod 2, from the rod bend 5 toward the rod angle 7 of the
 shift loop 4. This movement of the linkage pin 57 creates a gap between
 the rod bend 5 and the linkage pin 57, enabling the lever retaining member
 90 to pivot forwardly to the lever retaining position illustrated in FIG.
 8 and draw the blade release rod 2 forwardly as the mower operator again
 depresses the blade engagement pedal 101, after the blade engagement lever
 70 is again shifted into the enlarged portion 84 of the lever slot 80 to
 mow in the forward direction.
 Referring next to FIGS. 3, 3A and 9-11 of the drawings, in a second
 embodiment, the reverse mowing prevention device of this invention is
 generally illustrated by reference numeral 12. As illustrated in FIGS. 3
 and 3A, a portion of the straight rod segment 3 which is located in
 spaced-apart relationship with respect to the shift loop 4 of the blade
 release rod 2, is shaped into a blade release loop 13, having a loop bend
 10 and a substantially perpendicular loop angle 11. As illustrated in FIG.
 3, the blade release loop 13 is typically disposed in substantially
 perpendicular relationship with respect to the plane of the shift loop 4.
 That portion of the blade release rod 2 which is located beyond the blade
 release loop 13, opposite the shift loop 4 is wrapped around the straight
 rod segment 3 at a pair of rod loops 16, to define an override handle 14,
 extending through a handle bracket 31a (FIG. 9), attached to the mower
 frame 31. The override handle 14 is typically terminated by a finger loop
 15. A front attachment spring 19, terminated by a spring loop 19a, is
 provided on the blade release loop 13 at the loop bend 10, and typically
 connects to the blade-engaging pedal 101 (FIG. 9), while a rear attachment
 spring 20 is provided on the blade release loop 13 at the loop angle 11,
 which rear attachment spring 20 is typically fixed at the opposite end to
 a belt guide screw or bolt 26, seated on a belt guide 25, extending from
 the mower frame 31. It will be appreciated that both springs facilitate
 attachment of the blade release rod 2 under tension to the riding mower
 30, as hereinafter described.
 As illustrated in FIGS. 9-11, in application of the reverse mowing
 prevention device 12 as hereinafter further described, the shift loop 4 is
 attached to the shift linkage 54 (FIG. 5) of the riding mower 30 as
 heretofore described with respect to the first embodiment illustrated in
 FIG. 3. The blade release loop 13 of the blade release rod 2 is extended
 around a blade release bolt 17, which projects upwardly from the lever
 retaining member 90, through a blade release rod opening 96 provided in
 the lever retaining member 90 (FIGS. 7 and 8) and is biased in place by
 the front attachment spring 19. Accordingly, reverse movement of the gear
 shift lever 50 from one of the forward selector notches 62 or neutral
 selector notch 64 and into the rear selector notch 63, causes the blade
 release loop 13 of the blade release rod 2 to pull the blade release bolt
 17 rearwardly and pivot the lever retaining member 90 from the
 lever-retaining configuration illustrated in FIG. 8, to the
 lever-releasing configuration illustrated in FIG. 7, thereby disengaging
 the mower cutting blade from the blade-driving configuration. By grasping
 the finger loop 15 and operation of the override handle 14, the blade
 release loop 13 can be selectively lifted from the blade release bolt 17
 against the tension in the front attachment spring 19, to rest on an
 override flange 18, provided on the blade release bolt 17, by the tension
 in the rear attachment spring 20, under circumstances in which it is
 desired to mow as the riding mower 30 is driven in the reverse direction,
 as hereinafter further described.
 Referring again to FIGS. 3-5, 7, 8 and to FIGS. 9-11 of the drawings, in
 application of the reverse mowing prevention device 12, the shift loop 4
 of the blade release rod 2 is initially attached to the shift linkage 54
 of the riding mower 30, as illustrated in FIG. 5 and described above with
 respect to the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2. The spring loop 19a
 of the front attachment spring 19 is typically attached to the blade
 engagement pedal 101 (FIG. 9) and the spring loop 20a of the rear
 attachment spring 20 is typically attached to the belt guide, screw or
 bolt 26, mounted on the belt guide 25, which extends upwardly from the top
 surface of the blade housing 40, behind the blade engagement lever 70, as
 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 9. As further illustrated in FIG. 9, the
 upwardly-extending override handle 14 of the reverse mowing prevention
 device 12 typically extends through a handle bracket 31a, attached to the
 mower frame 31, and the blade release loop 13 is normally positioned
 around the blade release bolt 17 as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10.
 Accordingly, after the engine 36 is started, mowing is begun by shifting
 the blade engagement lever 70 forwardly from the elongated portion 85 into
 the enlarged portion 84 of the lever slot 80, to engage the driving
 mechanism of the mower cutting blade (not illustrated) as heretofore
 described. While holding the blade engagement lever 70 in the enlarged
 portion 84 of the lever slot 80, the mower operator (not illustrated)
 depresses the blade engagement pedal 101, to pull the pedal tension spring
 110 (FIG. 4) forwardly and pivot the lever retaining member 90 from the
 lever release position illustrated in FIG. 7, to the lever retaining
 position illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 8. To begin forward mowing, as
 heretofore described the operator removes the gear shift lever 50 from the
 neutral selector notch 64, pushes the gear shift lever 50 forwardly in the
 lever slot 80 and places the gear shift lever 50 in a selected one of the
 forward selector notches 62, depending on the desired drive speed of the
 riding mower 30. As the mower operator subsequently removes the gear shift
 lever 50 from the forward selector notch 62 to the rear selector notch 63,
 as desired to drive the riding mower 30 in reverse, as heretofore
 described, the gear shift lever 50 moves the shift linkage 54 rearwardly,
 causing the linkage pin 57 of the shift linkage 54 to draw the shift loop
 4 of the blade release rod 2 rearwardly as the gear shift lever 50 is
 shifted rearwardly beyond the neutral selector notch 64. Consequently, the
 blade release loop 13, arched around the blade release bolt 17, pulls the
 blade release bolt 17 rearwardly as the gear shift lever 50 is shifted
 rearwardly beyond the neutral selector notch 64. This action pivots the
 lever retaining member 90 from the lever-retaining position illustrated in
 FIG. 8 to the blade-release position illustrated in FIG. 7, causing the
 blade engagement lever 70 to automatically shift from the enlarged portion
 84 to the elongated portion 85 of the lever slot 80 and disengage the
 mower cutting blade from the blade-driving mechanism. As illustrated in
 FIG. 11, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the blade
 release loop 13 can be removed or cleared from the blade release bolt 17
 to facilitate mowing in reverse, as desired. This is accomplished by
 grasping the finger loop 15 and lifting the override handle 14 extending
 through the handle bracket 31a against the tension in the front attachment
 spring 19, thus clearing the blade release loop 13 from the blade release
 bolt 17, and resting the blade release loop 13 on the override flange 18
 by operation of the rear attachment spring 20, as the gear shift lever 50
 is shifted rearwardly beyond the neutral selector notch 64 into the rear
 selector notch 63. Accordingly, the lever retaining member 90 remains in
 the lever retaining position illustrated in FIG. 8, and the blade
 engagement lever 70 maintains the mower cutting blade in driving
 configuration as long as the blade engagement pedal 101 remains depressed.
 The mower operator can again mow in the forward direction, as desired, by
 shifting the gear shift lever 50 from the rear selector notch 63 to the
 forward selector notch 62, while maintaining the mower cutting blade in
 driving configuration by maintaining the blade engagement pedal 101 in the
 depressed configuration.
 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the reverse mowing
 prevention devices of this invention provide a simple and yet effective
 mechanism for preventing inadvertent mowing in reverse of riding mowers.
 The reverse mowing prevention devices are capable of easy installation on
 existing mowers having an automatic blade stop (ABS) feature characterized
 by a manually-operated blade engagement lever for selectively engaging a
 mower blade in driving configuration, a pivoting lever retaining member
 for selectively retaining the blade engagement lever in the blade-driving
 configuration, typically by depressing a foot-operated blade engagement
 pedal, and a brake mechanism for stopping blade rotation upon release of
 the blade engagement pedal. It will be further appreciated by those
 skilled in the art that while the reverse mowing prevention device 12
 illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings enables the mower operator to
 selectively mow in reverse as desired, in order to do so the operator must
 exercise conscious effort, increasing the likelihood that the operator
 will first deliberately examine the area behind the mower for children,
 animals or other obstructions.
 While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above,
 it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be
 made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all
 such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the
 invention.