Snow thrower with chute control mechanism

A snow thrower comprising a frame, a handle coupled to the frame, a chute coupled to the frame and rotatable between a plurality of positions about a chute axis, and a chute control assembly. The chute control assembly comprises an actuator assembly including an actuator movable between a plurality of positions, a rotatable flexible cable having first and second ends, and a gear assembly comprising at least one gear. The first end is coupled to the actuator assembly in a manner that causes the cable to rotate when the actuator is moved between the plurality of positions. The gear is coupled to the second end in a manner that causes the gear to rotate when the cable rotates. The chute is coupled to the gear in a manner that causes the chute to rotate about the chute axis when the gear rotates.

FIELD

The present invention relates to snow throwers and, more particularly, to snow throwers having chute control mechanisms.

BACKGROUND

Snow throwers typically include a frame, wheels rotatably attached to the frame, a handle attached to the frame for pushing and directing the snow thrower, a chute coupled to the frame, an auger rotatably attached to the frame for directing snow to the chute, and an engine supported by the frame for driving the auger. The chute receives snow from the auger and directs (i.e., “throws”) the snow in a predetermined direction relative to the frame. Some snow throwers include chutes that are moveable between various positions relative to the frame, where in each position the chute throws snow received from the auger in a different predetermined direction relative to the frame.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, this disclosure provides a snow thrower comprising a frame, a handle coupled to the frame, a chute coupled to the frame and rotatable between a plurality of positions about a chute axis, and a chute control assembly. The chute control assembly comprises an actuator assembly including an actuator movable between a plurality of positions, a rotatable flexible cable having first and second ends, and a gear assembly comprising at least one gear. The first end of the cable is coupled to the actuator assembly in a manner that causes the cable to rotate when the actuator is moved between the plurality of positions. The gear is coupled to the second end of the cable in a manner that causes the gear to rotate when the cable rotates. The chute is coupled to the gear in a manner that causes the chute to rotate about the chute axis when the gear rotates.

In another aspect, this disclosure provides a snow thrower comprising a frame, a handle coupled to the frame, a chute coupled to the frame and rotatable about a chute axis, and a chute control assembly. The chute control assembly comprises a shaft rotatable about a shaft axis and having a non-linear groove, an actuator slidably mounted on the shaft and including a projection that extends into the groove, the projection translating through the groove when the actuator slides along the shaft, thereby rotating the shaft about the shaft axis, and a coupling assembly adapted to cause the chute to rotate about the chute axis upon rotation of the shaft about the shaft axis.

In yet another aspect, this disclosure provides a snow thrower comprising a frame, a handle coupled to the frame, an actuator movable between a plurality of positions, and a chute coupled to the frame and rotatable about a chute axis. The chute is coupled to the actuator by a coupling assembly comprising a rotatable flexible cable. Moving the actuator between the plurality of positions causes the cable to rotate thereby causing the chute to rotate about the chute axis.

Other independent aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any independent embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other independent embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Ordinal indicators, such as first, second, and third, as used in the description and the claims to refer to various structures, are not meant to be construed to indicate any specific structures, or any particular order or configuration to such structures. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate aspects of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification, and no structures shown in the drawings, should be construed as indicating that any non-claimed element is essential to the practice of the invention.

FIG. 1generally illustrates an exemplary snow thrower10according to aspects of the present disclosure. The snow thrower includes a frame12, wheels14rotatably attached to the frame for rolling the snow thrower along the ground, a handle16attached to the frame for pushing and directing the snow thrower, a chute18coupled to the frame and rotatable between a plurality of positions relative to the frame about a chute axis X, a chute control assembly20for selectively controlling the position of the chute relative to the frame, an auger22rotatably connected to the frame for directing snow to the chute, and an engine24supported by the frame for driving the auger. The chute is configured to throw snow received from the auger away from the frame. Specifically, for each position of the chute relative to the frame, the chute is configured to throw snow received from the auger in a discrete direction relative to the frame.

The handle16may include one or more parts consistent with its function of providing a means for pushing and directing the snow thrower. For example, the handle may include one or more rearwardly and upwardly extending members26and one or more transversely or horizontally extending members28that function together to provide an upright user with a means for controlling the position of the snow thrower. The rearwardly and transversely extending members26and28may be integral with one another or may be formed of multiple components that enable a user to collapse or expand the handle between stowed or operational configurations, respectively. The handle also may include one or more fasteners for securing the handle to the frame, according to known or hereinafter devised methods. Finally, the handle may provide a purchase for securing one or more components of the chute control assembly, as is illustrated inFIG. 1and described below.

The chute control assembly20may include an actuator assembly30and a coupling assembly32that collectively enable a user to selectively control the position of the chute18relative to the frame12. The actuator assembly includes an actuator34selectively moveable between a plurality positions. As is described in more detail below with reference to the various specific embodiments, the actuator assembly also may include other components for mechanically converting the motion of the actuator into forces that subsequently are used to rotate the chute about the chute axis.

The coupling assembly32includes various components for coupling the actuator assembly30to the chute18, such that moving the actuator34between the plurality of positions causes the chute to rotate about the chute axis X. For example, some coupling assemblies may include a rotatable flexible cable36having a first end38coupled to the actuator assembly and a second end40coupled to the chute. The first end may be coupled to the actuator assembly in a manner that causes the cable to rotate when the actuator is moved between the plurality of actuator positions. The second end, in turn, may be coupled to the chute in a manner that causes the chute to rotate about the chute axis when the cable rotates. The first and second ends of the rotatable flexible cable may be coupled to the actuator assembly and the chute according to any known or hereinafter devised method, and may include the use of various other components, assemblies, fasteners, and the like. For example, some coupling assemblies may include a gear assembly42having at least one gear, where the gear assembly is coupled to the second end of the cable in a manner that causes the gear to rotate when the cable rotates, and where the chute is coupled to the gear assembly in a manner that causes the chute to rotate about the chute axis when the gear rotates. More specific means for coupling the first and second ends of the cable to the actuator and chute, respectively, will become apparent with reference to the various embodiments discussed below. Also as will become apparent, using a flexible rotatable cable to couple the actuator to the chute enables for positioning the actuator in any convenient location on the snow thrower10, thus providing a significant improvement over known chute control assemblies.

FIG. 2shows an exemplary gear assembly42for coupling the second end40of a rotatable flexible cable36to the chute18. As indicated above, the gear assembly generally may include at least one gear coupled to the second end of the cable and to the chute, such that rotating the cable (e.g., by moving the actuator) causes the gear to rotate, thereby causing the chute to rotate about chute axis X. For example, the gear may be a spoked gear44that has a plurality of spokes46and is fastened to the second end of the cable (e.g., by any suitable fastening means currently known or hereinafter devised), and the gear assembly further may include a slotted member48that has a plurality of slots50, is attached to the chute and circumferentially surrounds the chute axis X. The spoked gear and slotted member may be positioned relative to one another such that the spokes progressively engage the slots when the spoked gear is rotated, thereby rotating the slotted member and the chute about the chute axis. For example, the spoked gear may be positioned within a gear housing52mounted on the frame12proximate the chute and the slotted member, such that both the second end of the cable and the spoked gear freely rotate relative to the housing, but so that the housing prevents or inhibits the spoked gear from moving translationally relative to the housing and the frame.

FIGS. 3-5show an exemplary actuator assembly130coupled to a coupling assembly32, such as to the first end38of a rotatable flexible cable36. The actuator assembly may include one or more of an actuator134, a shaft154rotatable about a shaft axis Y and having a non-linear groove156, and mounting members158for mounting the actuator assembly to a desired portion of the snow thrower. The actuator may include a handgrip160that enables a user to easily grasp and move the actuator. The actuator may be slidably mounted on the shaft and may include a projection162(seeFIG. 5) that extends into the non-linear groove of the shaft. When the actuator slides along the shaft, the projection may translate through the groove, thereby causing the shaft to rotate about the shaft axis. For example, the actuator may include a pair of housing members164,166(seeFIG. 4) fastened together by one or more fasteners168and defining an aperture170having an internal shape and size (e.g., diameter) corresponding to the outer shape and size of the shaft along its length, such that the aperture freely slides along the length of the shaft. In some embodiments, the projection160may extend into the aperture defined by the housing members. Some actuators further may include an internal component172, such as a substantially rectangular element174, positioned between the housing members and defining an aperture176having an internal shape and size corresponding the outer shape and size of the shaft (seeFIG. 4), where the projection extends into the aperture defined in the internal component.

As indicated above, the shaft154may be rotatable about a shaft axis Y and may include a non-linear groove156. In some embodiments, the groove may form a spiral, such as a helix, that winds about the shaft axis Y. The shaft may include a first end178and a second end180, and may be mounted to the snow thrower10by mounting members158. For example, a first mounting bracket182may be configured to receive and rotatably support the first end of the shaft (e.g., via bushings184supported within mounting bracket182), and a second mounting bracket186may be configured to receive and rotatably support the second end of the shaft (e.g., via bushings188supported within mounting bracket186). The second end of the shaft may be coupled to the first end38of the rotatable flexible cable36in a manner that causes the cable to rotate when the shaft rotates. For example, the cable and shaft may be directly fastened to one another, such as by any suitable fasteners (e.g., fasteners189) currently known or hereinafter devised.

The mounting members158may be configured to mount the actuator assembly130to any desired portion of the snow thrower10. For example, the mounting brackets182and186may be configured to mount the actuator assembly to a portion of the handle16, where the actuator134is readily accessible to an operator of the snow thrower. Specifically, the mounting brackets182and186may be secured to the handle using fasteners or may function as clamps having multiple components that clamp onto the handle. It should be appreciated that alternative mounting members may be used, according to known methods, to rotatably mount a shaft to any desired portion of the snow thrower.

In some embodiments, the actuator assembly may be configured so that the actuator does not rotate about the shaft axis Y when the actuator slides along the shaft. For example, the actuator assembly130may include an actuator guide member190that prevents or inhibits the actuator134from rotating about the shaft axis Y when the actuator slides along the shaft154. More specifically, the actuator guide member may include an elongate member having a longitudinal axis L substantially parallel to the shaft axis Y (seeFIG. 3), where the actuator slidably engages the elongate member as it slides along the shaft. In some embodiments, the actuator may include an aperture, notch, groove, detent or other similar feature, such as groove192(seeFIG. 3), which slidably engages the actuator guide member as the actuator slides along the shaft. In some embodiments, the actuator guide member may include a portion of the handle16.

FIGS. 6-8show another exemplary embodiment of an actuator assembly230for a snow thrower coupled to a coupling assembly32, such as to the first end38of a rotatable flexible cable36. Similar to the actuator assembly130ofFIGS. 3-5, the actuator assembly230ofFIGS. 6-8may include one or more of an actuator234, a shaft254rotatable about a shaft axis Y and having a non-linear groove256, and mounting members258for mounting the actuator assembly to a selected portion of the snow thrower. As illustrated in the drawings, the actuator assembly230may include many substantially similar structures to those described with respect to the actuator assembly130, including, but not limited to, a handgrip260, a projection262for engaging the non-linear groove (seeFIG. 8), housing portions264and266, fasteners268, an aperture270, first and second shaft ends278and280, mounting brackets282and286, bushings284, fasteners289, and/or an actuator guide member290. In contrast to actuator assembly130, actuator assembly230may be configured to mount to the handle16with the shaft254positioned substantially horizontally relative to the ground when the snow thrower is positioned in a substantially upright position. Specifically, the mounting members258may be configured to mount to opposing rearwardly extending handle members26, thereby causing the actuator assembly230to span the space between the handle members. Alternatively, the actuator assembly230may be configured to mount to a transversely or horizontally extending handle member28(not shown). It should be noted that the actuator guide member290—which may be engaged by a notch292or other similar structure on the actuator234to prevent or inhibit the actuator from rotating about the shaft axis Y when the actuator is slid along the shaft254—may be a portion of the handle, or may be a separate member mounted between the mounting brackets258, as is shown inFIGS. 6-8.

FIGS. 9-11show yet another exemplary embodiment of an actuator assembly330for a snow thrower coupled to a coupling assembly32, such as to the first end38of a rotatable flexible cable36. Similar to the actuator assemblies130and230discussed above, the actuator assembly330may include an actuator334, and one or more mounting members358for mounting the actuator assembly to a selected portion of the snow thrower. However, rather than having an actuator that is slidably mounted to a rotatable shaft, the actuator334may include a crank rotatably mounted to the mounting member, where the first end of the cable is coupled to the crank in a manner that causes the cable to rotate when the crank is rotated.

FIGS. 12-14show yet another exemplary embodiment of an actuator assembly430for a snow thrower coupled to a coupling assembly32, such as to the first end38of a rotatable flexible cable36. Similar to the actuator assemblies130,230and330discussed above, the actuator assembly430may include an actuator434, and one or more mounting members458for mounting the actuator assembly to a selected portion of the snow thrower. The actuator434may be configured to pivot between a plurality of positions about a pivot axis P, and may include a rack494. The actuator assembly further may include a pinion gear496coupled to the first end of the cable. The rack and pinion gear may be positioned adjacent to one another, such that pivoting the actuator between the plurality of positions causes the rack to rotate the pinion gear, thereby rotating the cable.

Other independent aspects of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following claims.