Abstract:
A U-shaped handle is physically attached to the back of a deflector atop a snow directing chute on a snowthrower. The deflector pivots atop the chute to adjust the trajectory of a stream of snow being thrown by the snowthrower. The handle is gripped and moved up and down to effect a pivotal adjustment of the deflector. A pivotal latch is carried on the handle which latch protrudes into the open interior hand grip space of the handle. The latch is spring biased so that a detent on the latch engages with a toothed rack with the interengagement between the detent and the rack holding the deflector in an adjusted position. When the operator grips the handle and squeezes the fingers of the gripping hand closed, the latch is pivoted to remove the detent from the rack and thereby permit pivotal adjustment of the deflector.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to snowthrowers having a rotatable chute for adjusting the direction of a snow stream thrown by the snowthrower. More particularly, this invention relates to a pivotal deflector atop the chute for further adjusting the angle of trajectory of the snow stream. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Snowthrowers are known having upright chutes through which a snow stream is thrown. Such chutes are rotatable about a vertical axis to vary the direction of the snow stream being thrown through the chute relative to the snowthrower. If the chute points forwardly, then the snow stream will be thrown forwardly in front of the snowthrower. However, if the chute is rotated to one side or the other, then the snow stream will be thrown laterally to the side to which the chute is directed. The chute can be left in intermediate rotated positions where the snow stream is thrown both partially forwardly and partially to one side. 
   Most snowthrowers having rotatable chutes usually have a pivotal deflector atop the chute. The angle of inclination of the deflector on the chute controls the trajectory of the snow stream. The deflector is usually formed with an integral handle. The user can grab the handle to manually move the deflector to an adjusted position. The friction between the deflector and the chute retains the deflector in an adjusted position. 
   While the use of friction to hold the deflector in place is effective, the friction between the deflector and the chute must be quite strong in order to do this. Thus, the deflector often feels very stiff when the operator grabs the handle to adjust the deflector. The operator must sometimes apply a great deal of force to pivotally adjust the deflector. This can be difficult for some operators to do. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,333, which is owned by the assignee of this invention, discloses a deflector that is remotely operated by a pivotal control handle carried on the rearwardly and upwardly extending handle assembly of the snowthrower, rather than by a handle physically attached to the deflector. The control handle is coupled by a mechanical linkage to the deflector. A positive latch is provided in the linkage to lock the position of the deflector in place. Thus, the friction between the deflector and the chute can be lessened since a latch takes the place of the friction. 
   However, the approach disclosed in the 333 patent, namely the use of a remotely located control handle and a mechanical connecting linkage, is more complex and costly. It is not well suited from an expense standpoint for use on smaller, less expensive snowthrowers. The use of a simple handle directly and physically attached to the deflector is far less expensive and is the simplest way of physically pivoting the deflector. However, there is a need in the snowthrower art to be able to more easily move such a deflector but to have the deflector securely remain in any adjusted position. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One aspect of this invention relates to a snowthrower of the type having a chute rotatable about a substantially vertical axis for directing a snow stream, a deflector carried on the chute with the deflector being pivotal relative to the chute for adjusting the trajectory of the snow stream, and a control on the snowthrower for operating the deflector. The improvement relates to the control which comprises a handle on the deflector to allow an operator to grip the handle to pivot the deflector. A movable latch is carried on the deflector, the latch being movable on the deflector between an engaged position in which the deflector is locked against being pivoted and a disengaged position in which the deflector is free to be pivoted. The latch is configured and oriented relative to the handle such that the latch is moved between the engaged and disengaged positions thereof when the operator grips both a portion of the latch and the handle with one hand and the operator squeezes the fingers of the gripping hand closed on the handle. 
   Another aspect of this invention relates to a snowthrower of the type having a chute rotatable about a substantially vertical axis for directing a snow stream, a deflector carried on the chute with the deflector being pivotal relative to the chute for adjusting the trajectory of the snow stream, and a control on the snowthrower for operating the deflector. The improvement relates to the control which comprises a U-shaped handle on the deflector with the handle comprising a pair of spaced side walls and a rear wall with the rear wall being spaced behind a back wall of the deflector and with the side walls of the handle joining the rear wall of the handle to the back wall of the deflector. A locking member is fixed to a back of the chute with the locking member extending through the handle between the side walls thereof and in front of the rear wall of the handle such that the handle traverses back and forth over the locking member as the deflector is adjusted. A movable latch is carried on the handle. The latch is configured to interengage with the locking member to hold the deflector in place when the latch is moved into an engaged position, the latch being selectively movable by the operator into a disengaged position in which the interengagement between the latch and the locking member is broken to thereby permit the deflector to be adjusted. 
   Yet another aspect of this invention relates to a snowthrower which comprises a frame. Snow removal components are provided on the frame for gathering snow from the ground and for throwing the gathered snow in a snow stream away from the snowthrower. A rotatable chute on the frame directs the snow stream in different directions depending on the rotational position of the chute. A pivotal deflector atop the chute adjusts an angle of trajectory of the snow stream. A handle assembly on the snowthrower has at least one upwardly and rearwardly extending handle tube connected to the frame. A U-shaped handle is fixed to a back wall of the deflector. A pivotal latch is carried on the handle. A toothed rack is carried on a back wall of the chute. A spring biases the latch such that a detent on the latch normally engages with the rack with the interengagement between the detent and the rack holding the deflector in an adjusted position. The latch is selectively pivoted to remove the detent from the rack and thereby permit pivotal adjustment of the deflector whenever the operator grips the handle and squeezes the fingers of the gripping hand closed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     This invention will be described hereafter in the Detailed Description, taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements or parts throughout. 
       FIG. 1  is a front plan view of a snowthrower having a deflector control according to this invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view from above and to the front of the deflector control of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 2 , but from behind and below the deflector control of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view through the deflector control of this invention, particularly illustrating the deflector latch in an engaged position; and 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing the deflector latch in a disengaged position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   One embodiment of a snowthrower chute control according to this invention is illustrated generally as  2  in  FIGS. 1-8 . A typical snowthrower of the type with which control  2  may be used is illustrated generally as  4 . Snowthrower  4  may be any snowthrower incorporating suitable snow removal components for gathering snow from the ground and for throwing the gathered snow in a snow stream away from the snowthrower. Thus, snowthrower  4  may be either a single stage snowthrower having a single snow gathering and throwing impeller  5 . Alternatively, snowthrower  4  could be a two stage snowthrower having an auger for gathering snow as well as an impeller for throwing the snow gathered by the auger. 
   Snowthrower  4  is also of the type having a generally upright or vertically extending chute  6  through which the snow stream is thrown. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , chute  6  is generally U-shaped having spaced, parallel side walls  8  connected together by a back wall  10 . The bottom or base of chute  6  is fixed to a ring (not shown) that serves to rotatably mount chute  6  on snowthrower  4  for rotation about a generally vertical axis y. See  FIG. 1 . Rotation of chute  6  about vertical axis y adjusts the direction of the snow stream relative to snowthrower  4  as will be described more fully hereafter. 
   The top of chute  6  carries a pivotal deflector  14 . Deflector  14  is also U-shaped but is slightly larger than the top of chute  6  such that the top of chute  6  nests within the bottom of deflector  14 . Deflector  14  pivots on the top of chute  6  about a generally horizontal axis x 1 . See  FIG. 2 . Pivoting of deflector  14  about generally horizontal axis x 1  adjusts the trajectory of the snow stream being thrown by chute  6 . However, pivotal deflector  14  forms no part of this invention and could be deleted from chute  6  if so desired. 
   Rotatable chute  6  and pivotal deflector  14  as disclosed herein are of the type commonly found on snowthrowers. There is nothing novel about chute  6  and deflector  14  per se. Rather, this invention relates to a control  2  for pivoting deflector  14  about horizontal axis x 1 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 2-5 , deflector control  2  of this invention includes a U-shaped handle  16  that is fixed to the back wall  18  of deflector  14 . Handle  16  includes left and right side walls  20  that are joined together by a rear wall  22 . Rear wall  22  of handle  16  is spaced behind back wall  18  of deflector  14  by the length of side walls  20  of handle  16 . The space between side walls  20  of handle  16  and between rear wall  22  of handle  16  and back wall  18  of deflector  14  provides an open hand grip space  24 . The user can place his or her hand atop rear wall  22  of handle  16  and curl his or her fingers down into hand grip space  24  in order to grasp handle  16  to pivot deflector  14  about the horizontal pivot axis x 1 . 
   A deflector latch  26  is mounted within hand grip space  24  for pivoting about a second horizontal pivotal axis denoted generally as x 2 . Latch  26  is T-shaped having a relatively wide head  28  and a narrower stem  30  that projects downwardly from one side of head  28 . Head  28  of latch  26  is approximately as wide as the width of handle  16  such that the sides of head  28  overlie side walls  20  of handle  16 . Stem  30  of latch  26  is narrow enough to fit down into hand grip space  24 . 
   Stem  30  of latch  26  has a bent or compound shape relative to head  28  of latch  26 . Stem  30  first extends forwardly towards back wall  18  of the chute and then bends fairly sharply downwardly with the remainder of stem  30  extending vertically down into hand grip space  24  between side walls  20  of handle  16 . A slot  32  is provided in stem  30  of latch  26  to allow passage of a toothed rack  34 . The very lower edge of stem  30  underlying slot  32  is provided with at least one, and preferably two, detents  36  whose shape correspond generally to the shape of teeth  35  in rack  34 . See  FIG. 4  which shows detents  36  on latch  26  in engagement with some of the grooves between adjacent teeth  35  in rack  34 . 
   Rack  34  is fixed to back wall  10  of chute  6  by a post or column  38  that is integrally molded to back wall  10  of chute  6 . Rack  34  is integrally molded to post or column  38 . Rack  34  itself extends over an arcuate sector of about 90° and is formed as a curved finger pointing forwardly towards back wall  18  of deflector  14 . Rack  34  extends through slot  32  in latch  26  and teeth  35  of rack  34  are carried on the underside of rack  34  facing detents  36  on the lower edge of stem  30  of latch  26 . See  FIG. 4 . 
   Latch  26  is spring biased into the engaged position shown in  FIG. 4 . This is accomplished by a pair of biasing springs  40  that are received around pegs  42  on the underside of head  28  of latch  26 . See  FIG. 4 . The other ends of springs  40  are captured and retained in any suitable manner in cavities or recesses  44  on some portion of handle  16 . See  FIG. 2 . Thus, springs  40  exert a biasing force on head  28  of latch  26  which rotates latch  26  about the horizontal pivot axis x 2  in the direction of the arrow A in  FIG. 4 . This rotation continues until detents  36  on latch  26  engage with teeth  35  on the underside of rack  34 . 
   The operator can selectively pivot latch  26  into the disengaged position shown in  FIG. 5 . This is done simply by placing the operator&#39;s hand atop handle  16  with the operator&#39;s fingers overlying and curling around head  28  of latch  26 . If the operator then simply squeezes his or her hand closed by curling the fingers of his or her hand more tightly towards the palm of his or her hand, head  28  of latch  26  will be depressed until it abuts the top of rear wall  22  of handle  16 . This rotates or pivots latch  26  in the direction shown by the arrow B in  FIG. 5  until detents  36  have disengaged teeth  35  of rack  34 . Rotation in the direction of the arrow B is stopped out by the abutment of head  28  of latch  26  on rear wall  22 . 
   The shape of head  28  of latch  26  is designed to complement the shape of rear wall  22  of handle  16 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , when latch  26  is disengaged and head  28  of latch  26  abuts with the top of rear wall  22  of handle  16 , head  28  of latch  26  has a compound shape that generally matches the compound shape on the underside of rear wall  22  of handle  16 . Thus, head  28  of latch  26  and rear wall  22  of handle  16  form a unitary hand grip when latch  26  is disengaged that feels much the same to the operator on both the top and the bottom when the operator is holding it. Head  28  of latch  26  may have a plurality of lateral knurls or ribs  46  to provide a gripping surface for the operator&#39;s hand to better prevent the operator&#39;s hand from slipping on latch  26 . 
   In any event, with latch  26  in the disengaged position and head  28  of latch  26  abutted against the top of rear wall  22  of handle  16 , the operator can use handle  16  to pivot deflector  14  up or down to a new desired position to thereby adjust the trajectory of the snow stream being thrown by chute  6 . Obviously, if deflector  14  is already at the end of its range of motion as shown in the full up position of  FIG. 5 , deflector  14  can only be pivoted downwardly. If deflector  14  is in an intermediate position between its full up or full down positions, deflector  14  can be pivoted immediately in either direction. This happens because detents  36  on latch  26  are manually held out of engagement with teeth  35  on rack  34  when the operator has depressed or squeezed head  28  of latch  26  against the top of rear wall  22  of handle  16 . 
   Once deflector  14  is pivoted to a desired adjusted position, the operator need only release handle  16 . This releases latch  26  which resets to its engaged position by virtue of the biasing force of springs  40 . Detents  36  on latch  26  reengage with different teeth  35  on the underside of rack  34 . This reengagement latches or locks deflector  14  in place in its adjusted position. Thus, deflector  14  will stay where it is even though the force of the snow acting against deflector  14  might otherwise try and raise or push deflector  14  up to its full up position. 
   Latch  26  preferably locks deflector  14  against movement in only one direction, namely upward movement of deflector  14  about horizontal axis x 1  in a direction raising the trajectory of the snow stream. Positive locking by latch  26  is required in this direction since the force of the snow stream acting against deflector  14  tends to naturally pivot deflector  14  upwardly. Detents  36  are shaped relative to teeth  35  on rack  34  to provide such a positive lock. Upward pivoting motion of deflector  14  causes detents  36  to be forced more firmly into engagement with the grooves between adjacent teeth. 
   However, the user can pivot deflector  14  downwardly about horizontal axis x 1  to lower the trajectory of the snow stream without needing to disengage latch  26 , though obviously the user can still pivot latch  26  to disengage detents  36  prior to lowering deflector  14 . But, even without disengaging latch  26 , the user can still push forwardly on handle  16  to lower the trajectory of the snow stream. Detents  36  are shaped to simply ratchet over teeth  35  on rack  34  when deflector  14  is being pivoted downwardly about horizontal axis x 1 . However, if so desired, detents  36  could be shaped relative to teeth  35  to provide a positive lock against movement of deflector  14  in both upward and downward directions rather than a lock against only upward movement of deflector  14 . 
   Deflector control  2  of this invention retains the simplicity of a simple handle physically attached to back wall  18  of deflector  14 . In fact, handle  16  itself is integrally molded to back wall  18  of deflector  14 . But, a positive latch  26  is now provided that is able to positively lock deflector  14  in the adjusted position. This allows deflector  14  to be substantially friction free relative to chute  6  so that the operator can very easily move or pivot deflector  14  up or down. Latch  26  is a simple pivotal latch contained in hand grip space  24  of handle  16  with latch  26  being released whenever the operator grips rear wall  22  of handle  16  and squeezes the fingers of his or her hand closed. Thus, latch  26  is simple and foolproof in operation. 
   Various modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, this invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.