Patent Publication Number: US-11375660-B2

Title: Pivoting handle assembly

Description:
The present application is a continuation of U. S. patent application Ser. No. 15/727,233, filed Oct. 2, 2017, entitled “Pivoting Handle Assembly”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a pivoting handle assembly for a machine, such as a lawn mower, a snow thrower, a snow blower, a tiller, a floor scrubber, or the like. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a handle assembly that may be pivoted to multiple angular positions. In addition, the handle assembly may be moved from one position to another without requiring that an operator remove the operator&#39;s hands from the handles of the handle assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Machines, such as lawn mowers, are implemented to perform various outdoor operations. These machines are typically walk behind types of machines in which an operator pushes or guides the machine as the machine is moved in a particular direction. Many types of machines are self-propelled, in which a motor drives at least one of the wheels on the machines. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     According to embodiments disclosed herein, a machine may include a base housing and a handle assembly mounted to the base housing and extending at an angle from the base housing along a handle plane. The handle assembly may include a mating component having a plurality of slots arranged at multiple angular positions along a slot plane, the slot plane being parallel to the handle plane. The handle assembly may also include handle segment rotatably mounted to the mating component, the handle segment housing a locking member, in which the handle segment is pivotable along the slot plane relative to the base housing and wherein the locking member is removably insertable into a first slot of the plurality of slots when the handle segment is in a first angular position and is removably inserted into a second slot of the plurality of slots when the handle segment is in a second angular position. 
     According to embodiments disclosed herein, a handle assembly may include an intermediate handle segment, a mating component mounted to the intermediate handle segment, the mating component having a plurality of slots arranged at multiple angular positions along a slot plane, a handle segment pivotally mounted to the mating component, the handle segment extending along a handle plane, wherein the handle plane is parallel to the slot plane, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may include a locking member to be inserted into a slot of the plurality of slots, a locking member actuation device, and a locking member attachment device connected to the locking member actuation member and the locking member, in which actuation of the locking member actuation device withdraws the locking member from a slot of the plurality of slots in which the locking member is inserted. 
     According to embodiments disclosed herein, a lawn mower may include a mower deck, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to the mower deck, and a handle assembly mounted to the mower deck and extending at an angle from the mower deck along a handle plane. The handle assembly may include a mating component having a plurality of slots arranged at multiple angular positions along a slot plane, the slot plane being parallel to the handle plane. The handle assembly may also include a handle segment rotatably mounted to the mating component, the handle segment housing a locking member, in which the handle segment is pivotable along the slot plane relative to the mower deck and in which the locking member is removably insertable into a first slot of the plurality of slots when the handle segment is in a first angular position and is removably inserted into a second slot of the plurality of slots when the handle segment is in a second angular position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limited in the following figure(s), in which like numerals indicate like elements, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a machine according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of a portion of the handle assembly depicted in  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B , respectively, depict enlarged views of the mating component and the locking member depicted in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B , respectively, depict diagrams of the handle segment depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B , respectively, depict enlarged views of an interior of the first handle depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS. 6A-6D , respectively, depict perspective views of an interior of an upper portion of the handle segment depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Disclosed herein are handle assemblies that may be rotated, or equivalently pivoted, to multiple angles with respect to a base housing of a machine. Also disclosed herein are machines that include the handle assemblies. Generally speaking, the handle assemblies disclosed herein may include an intermediate handle portion mounted to the base housing and a handle segment that is rotatably or pivotally mounted to the intermediate handle portion. The handle assemblies may also house a locking mechanism that includes a locking member that may be released from a slot through actuation of a locking member actuation device that may be provided on a handle of a handle assembly. After the locking member is released from the slot, the handle segment may be free to rotate with respect to the intermediate handle portion and upon rotating the handle segment to a desired angle, the locking member may be inserted into another slot to maintain the handle segment in the newly rotated position. 
     Through implementation of the pivoting handle assembly disclosed herein, the handle of a machine may be moved to different positions to, for instance, adjust where an operator may stand with respect to the machine during use of the machine. In one regard, by varying the position where an operator stands with respect to the machine, the operator may more easily navigate around obstacles. For instance, an operator may position the machine next to an obstacle, such as a fence, a tree, or the like, without having to rub against the barrier. In addition, an operator may vary the position of the handle assembly while the machine is turned on and during use. For instance, an operator may vary the position of the handle assembly on the fly, e.g., without having to stop operation of the machine. That is, an operator may vary the position of the handle assembly without releasing the operator&#39;s grip on the handles of the handle assembly. 
     Before continuing, it is noted that as used herein, the terms “includes” and “including” mean, but are not limited to, “includes” or “including” and “includes at least” or “including at least.” The term “based on” means, but is not limited to, “based on” and “based at least in part on.” 
     With reference first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a machine  100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the machine  100  depicted in  FIG. 1  may include additional components and that some of the components described herein may be removed and/or modified without departing from a scope of the machine  100  disclosed herein. For instance, although the machine  100  is depicted in  FIG. 1  as being a lawn mower, it should be understood that the machine  100  may be other types of machines, such as snow throwers, snow blowers, tillers, floor scrubbers, or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the machine  100  includes a base housing  102  and a handle assembly  104 . The base housing  102  may also equivalently be termed a mower deck. Although not shown, the base housing  102  may house a motor, a transmission, working implements (such as a cutting tool), and the like. In addition, the base housing  102  includes a set of wheels  106  upon which the machine  100  may be supported. The wheels  106  may be freely rotating or at least one of the wheels  106  may be driven by a motor such that the machine  100  may be self-propelled. The base housing  102  may also include a receptacle  108  mounted to the base housing  102 . The receptacle  108  may be removably mounted to the base housing  102  and may collect debris thrown by a working implement housed in the housing  102 . For instance, the receptacle  108  may collect grass clippings as the machine  100  is implemented to cut grass. The receptacle  108  may also include a bin handle  110  that an operator may grasp to, for instance, detach the receptacle  108  from the base housing  102 , carry the receptacle  108 , and to attach the receptacle  108  to the base housing  102 . Similarly, the base housing  102  may include a base housing handle  112  that an operator may grasp to, for instance, carry the base housing  102 . 
     The handle assembly  104  may be mounted to the base housing  102  at mounting locations  114 ,  116  such that the handle assembly  104  extends at an angle with respect to the base housing  102 . For instance, the handle assembly  104  may be considered as extending along a handle plane, which may be defined as a plane that extends across a major surface of the handle assembly  104 . In some examples, the handle assembly  104  may be fixedly mounted to the base housing  102  at the mounting locations  114 ,  116  such that the angle between the handle assembly  104  and the base housing  102  remains fixed. In other examples, the handle assembly  104  may be movably mounted to the base housing  102  at the mounting locations  114 ,  116  such that the angle between the handle assembly  104  and the base housing  102  may be varied. The angle may be varied, for instance, to collapse the handle assembly  104  and thus reduce the space of occupied by the machine  100  as may be useful when storing the machine  100 . 
     As shown, the handle assembly  104  may include a handle base  120  that is mounted to the base housing  102  at the mounting locations  114 ,  116 . The handle base  120  may be a substantially U-shaped component having arms that may removably be mounted to the base housing  102  at the mounting locations  114 ,  116 , for instance, via mechanical fasteners. The handle assembly  104  may also include an intermediate handle portion  122  that may be connected to the handle base  120  via fasteners  124 ,  126  and a handle segment  128  that may be mounted to the intermediate handle portion  122 . The fasteners  124 ,  126  may include respective knobs to facilitate turning of the fasteners  124 ,  126  to tighten or loosen the fasteners  124 ,  126 . The handle segment  128  may be composed of a first component  130  and a second component  132 , in which the second component  132  may be attached to the first component  130 , for instance, through mechanical fasteners, such as screws, through frictionally mating elements, or the like. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 2  shows a front view of a portion of the handle assembly  104  depicted in  FIG. 1  with the first component  130  of the handle segment  128  removed such that an interior of the handle segment  128  is visible. Also shown is an X, Y, Z coordinate system to facilitate the description of the features shown in  FIG. 2 . It should be understood that the coordinate system shown in  FIG. 2  is for purposes of illustration and should not be construed as limiting the handle assembly  104  to any particular coordinate system. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the second component  132  may be rotatably mounted to a mating component  134  that is mounted to the intermediate handle portion  122  via fasteners  135 . As also shown, the second component  132  (as well as the first component  130 ) may include an interior space  200  in which a locking member  202  may be movable in the Y-direction. That is, for instance, the locking member  202  may be held in a pocket  204  of the interior space  200  that may substantially restrict movement of the locking member  202  in the X-direction and the Z-direction, while enabling the locking member  202  to be movable in Y-direction. In addition, a spring  206  may be provided in the interior space  200  and may abut a surface  208  of the pocket  204  to bias the locking member  202  downward along the Y-direction toward the curved member  130 . The locking member  202  may be shaped, for instance, as an elongated pin and may be formed of metal, plastic, or the like. 
     As also shown in  FIG. 2 , the mating component  134  may include a plurality of slots  210  arranged at multiple angular positions along a slot plane that is parallel to the X-Y plane. As such, the slots  210  are aligned along the same plane as the handle plane in which the handle assembly  204  extends and are at different angles with respect to each other. The slots  210  may be formed along a periphery of the mating component  134  and the locking member  202  may removably be inserted into one of the slots  210  at a time. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking member  202  is inserted into a central slot  210  and thus, the handle segment  128  may extend at a first angle with respect to the intermediate handle portion  122 . 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B .  FIGS. 3A and 3B  depict enlarged views of the mating component  134  and the locking member  202 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3A , the locking member  202  may be inserted into the central slot  210 . In addition, the spring  206  may be in an expanded state, which may be a normal state of the spring  206 . As such, the spring  206  may force and maintain the locking member  202  in an inserted position in the centrally located slot  210 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , the locking member  202  may be removed from the slot  210  through application of force to compress the spring  206 . Force to compress the spring  206  may be delivered as discussed in detail elsewhere herein. Once the locking member  202  is removed from the slot  210 , the handle segment  128  may be rotated (or equivalently, pivoted) with respect to the mating component  134 . That is, a portion of the handle segment  128  that is rotatably mounted to the mating component  134  may rotate on or with respect to the mating component  134 . In addition, following rotation of the handle segment  128  to a desired position, the locking member  202  may be inserted into another one of the slots  210  corresponding to the new position. 
     Examples of the handle segment  128  in two different rotated positions with respect to the intermediate handle portion  122  are shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . In  FIG. 4A , the locking member  202  may be inserted into the right-most slot  210  of the mating component  134  and in  FIG. 4B , the locking member  202  may be inserted into the left-most slot  210  of the mating component  134 . In one regard, the handle segment  128  may be rotated and held in the rotated position with respect to the intermediate handle portion  122  through insertion of the locking member  202  into different ones of the slots  210 . Although three slots  210  are depicted in  FIGS. 2, 3A, and 3B  as being provided in the mating component  134 , it should be understood that the mating component  134  may include any number of slots  210  to thus enable the handle segment  128  to be positioned and held at, a fewer or a larger number of positions than as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4A, and 4B . 
     With reference back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a locking member attachment device  212  may be connected to the locking member  202 . As shown, the locking member attachment device  212  may include a cable, wire, string, or the like, and the locking member  202  may include an opening  214  through which the locking member attachment device  212  may be inserted. By way of particular example, the locking member attachment device  212  may include a cable formed of a metal, such as steel. The locking member attachment device  212  may also extend through the handle segment  128  and to a first locking member actuation device  136  and a second locking member actuation device  138 . In the example shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the first locking member actuation device  136  and the second locking member actuation device  138  are depressible devices provided on distal ends of the first and second handles  140  and  142 . 
     That is, the handle segment  128  may include a first handle  140  and a second handle  142  located distally from the intermediate handle portion  122  and extending at an angle that is perpendicular to or nearly perpendicular to an angle at which the handle segment  128  extends. For instance, the first handle  140  and the second handle  142  may extend from the handle segment  128  in manners that may be similar to handles extending from a bicycle frame. An operator may maneuver the machine  100  by grasping and applying force onto the first handle  140  and the second handle  142 . In addition, in a first example, an operator may release the locking member  202  from a slot  210  through depression of one of the first locking member actuation device  136  or the second locking member actuation device  138 . In a second example, an operator may release the locking member  202  from a slot  210  through depression of both of the first locking member actuation device  136  and the second locking member actuation device  138 . As used herein, the locking member  202 , the spring  206 , the locking member attachment device  212 , and the first and second locking member actuation devices  136 ,  138  may together be termed a locking mechanism of the handle assembly  104 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , there are shown enlarged views of an interior of the first handle  140  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the first handle  140  may include an opening  220  into which the first locking member actuation device  136  may movably be supported. In addition, the first locking member actuation device  136  may be connected to a support  222  that may move with the first locking member actuation device  136 . Moreover, a portion of the locking member attachment device  212  may be attached to the support  222  such that the locking member attachment device  212  also moves with the first locking member actuation device  136 . In particular, the locking member attachment device  212  may be formed of a relatively pliable or flexible material and a portion  224  of the locking member attachment device  212  adjacent to the portion that is attached to the support  222  may be curved around an axle structure  226 . 
     In operation, when the first locking member actuation device  136  is depressed as shown in  FIG. 5B , the portion  224  of the locking member attachment device  212  may be pulled downward, which may cause the remaining portion of the locking member attachment device  212  to be pulled toward the first locking member actuation device  136 . In this regard, the locking member attachment device  212  may be supported in the handle segment  128  to be movable. In addition, as the first locking member actuation device  136  is attached to the locking member  202 , movement of the first locking member actuation device  136  causes the locking member  202  to also be pulled away from the intermediate handle portion  122  as shown in  FIG. 3B . Once the locking member  202  has been removed from a slot  210 , the handle segment  128  may be rotated as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
     Although not explicitly shown in  FIG. 5A , a spring may bias the first locking member actuation device  136  into the position shown in that figure. As such, following rotation of the handle segment  128 , the first locking member actuation device  136  may be released, which may cause the first locking member actuation device  136  to return to the position shown in  FIG. 5A . In addition, the spring  206  may pull the locking member attachment device  212  away from the first locking member actuation device  136  and may push the locking member  202  into another one of the slots  210  corresponding to the angle at which the handle segment  128  has been rotated. In some examples, the first locking member actuation device  136  may not be attached to a separate spring and instead, application of force by the spring  206  may be sufficient to bias the first locking member actuation device  136  back to a normal position, e.g., the position shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the locking member attachment device  212  may be split such that a first section  230  of the locking member attachment device  212  is attached to the first locking member actuation device  136  and that a second section  232  of the locking member attachment device  212  is attached to the second locking member actuation device  138  in the second handle  142 . The second section  232  may be attached to the second locking member actuation device  138  in a similar or the same manner as shown in  FIG. 5A  with respect to the first locking member actuation device  138 . As discussed herein, in some examples, both the first and the second locking member actuation devices  136 ,  138  are depressed to release the locking member  202  from a slot  210 . And, in other examples, one of the first or the second locking member actuation devices  136 ,  138  is depressed to release the locking member  202  from a slot  210 . The locking member attachment device  212  may be a single device, e.g., cable, or may include a plurality of devices, e.g., cables, that may be connected to each device via attachment mechanisms. 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 6A-6D .  FIGS. 6A-6D , respectively, depict perspective views of an interior of an upper portion of the handle segment  128 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Particularly,  FIGS. 6A-6D  depict two stages of operation of a power switch  240  through manipulation of a first trigger  144  and a second trigger  146 . As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 6A, and 6B , the first trigger  144  may be provided at a trigger location on the first handle  140  and the second trigger  146  may be provided at a trigger location on the second handle  142 . That is, the first trigger  144  and the second trigger  146  may respectively be provided at locations on the first handle  140  and the second handle  142  at which an operator may depress the first trigger  144  and the second trigger  146  as the operator grips the first handle  140  and the second handle  142 . In one regard, the placements of the first and the second locking member actuation devices  136 ,  138  and the first and the second triggers  144 ,  146  may enable an operator to simultaneously depress the actuation devices  136 ,  138  and the triggers  144 ,  146  without having to release either of the first or the second handles  140 ,  142 . As such, an operator may vary the rotational position of the handle segment  128  while the machine  100  continues to operate. 
     As also shown in  FIGS. 6A-6D , the first trigger  144  may be connected to a first arm  242  and the second trigger  146  may be connected to a second arm  244 . In this regard, when the first trigger  144  is depressed, the first arm  242  may be manipulated and when the second trigger  146  is depressed, and the second arm  244  may be manipulated. 
     In comparing  FIGS. 6A and 6B  with each other, it may be seen that the first arm  242  may pivot about a pivot location  246  as the first trigger  144  is depressed. The pivot location  246  may include, for instance, a slot into which a pin from the second component  132  may be inserted. In addition, movement of the first arm  242  may cause a first end  248  of the first arm  242  to move toward the power switch  240 . As shown in  FIGS. 6C and 6D , the first end  248  may contact and depress an activation device  250  of the power switch  240 . The second arm  244  may similarly be configured to the first arm  242  and depression of the second trigger  146  may result in an end of the second arm  244  pushing the activation device  250 . 
     In examples, depression of the activation device  250  may cause electrical energy to be delivered through an electrical connection (not shown) to a motor in the base housing  102 . For instance, depression of the first trigger  144  and/or the second trigger  146  may cause a motor to be activated and cause a work implement, such as a cutting blade to be rotated. In addition, or in other examples, depression of the first trigger  144  and/or the second trigger  146  may cause at least one of the wheels  106  to be driven. In any regard, an operator may control an operation and/or multiple operations of the machine  100  by pressing or releasing the first trigger  144  and/or the second trigger  146 . Although not shown, a wire connected to the power switch  240  may extend through a tube  148  that is provided externally to the handle segment  128  such that the wire may be connected to the motor. 
     According to examples, the first trigger  144  and the second trigger  146  may normally be maintained in the positions depicted in  FIGS. 6A and 6C , for instance, via springs and/or other mechanisms. In addition, or in other examples, a lock out member  260  may be provided to prevent unintended depression of the activation device  250 . That is, a tab  262  may be attached to the lock out member  260  in which the tab  262  may block the first end  248  of the first arm  242  and the end of the second arm  244  when the lock out member  260  is in a normal position. The lock out member  260  may be maintained in the normal position via a spring (not shown). In order to depress the activation device  250 , the lock out member  260  may be depressed, which may move the tab  262  out of the way of the path of travel of the ends of the first arm  242  and the second arm  244  as shown in  FIG. 6D . As such, for instance, the lock out member  260  may prevent unintentional depression of the first trigger  144  or the second trigger  146 , which may prevent unintentional movement of the machine  100 . 
     Although described specifically throughout the entirety of the instant disclosure, representative examples of the present disclosure have utility over a wide range of applications, and the above discussion is not intended and should not be construed to be limiting, but is offered as an illustrative discussion of aspects of the disclosure. 
     What has been described and illustrated herein is an example of the disclosure along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the disclosure, which is intended to be defined by the following claims—and their equivalents—in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated.