Patent Publication Number: US-2019183044-A1

Title: Adjustable machine handle assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     In order to cut large swathes of grass in a short period of time, riding lawn mowers have risen in popularity and use in recent years. Riding lawn mowers, and more recently zero-turn (herein “ZT”) mowers have given users the ability to rapidly cut grass with uniformity and precision. On a ZT mower, the user is traditionally seated above the cutting blades and in front of the mower&#39;s engine. Typically, a pair of handles extends from the mower&#39;s frame which the user operates in conjunction to control the movement and turning of the ZT mower. 
     The amount of continuous time that a ZT mower may be used is determined in part by the comfort of the handles. In traditional ZT mower handles, the handles are provided without adjustability for user customization. In other ZT mower handles, some handles are provided with the ability to adjust in two degrees of freedom. However, a tool kit is required to loosen the appropriate hardware to allow the handle to adjust. Such adjustments are not capable of being done quickly in the field while the mower is being used. Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a multi-axis adjustable machine handle for a ZT mower which is adjustable in three degrees of freedom without the need for tools to facilitate the adjustment. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An adjustable machine handle assembly, comprising a handle assembly; and a handle mounting assembly configured to receive the handle assembly and to permit positional adjustment of the handle assembly in three degrees of freedom, wherein the handle mounting assembly is configured to selectively permit and to selectively prevent adjustment of the handle assembly position according to all three degrees of freedom by using a human hand, without the use of a tool. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For purposes of illustration, there are shown in the drawings various aspects of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a front and top perspective view of the adjustable machine handle assembly according to various aspects of this disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the adjustable machine handle assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a right side elevational view of the adjustable machine handle assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the adjustable machine handle assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional right side elevational view of the adjustable machine handle assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional top plan view of the adjustable machine handle assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to aspects of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The terminology used in the description herein is for the purpose of describing the various aspects of this disclosure only and is not intended to limit the invention. 
     As used in this disclosure, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The words “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The words “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence of addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     It should also be understood that the terms “about,” “approximately,” “generally,” “substantially” and like terms, used herein when referring to a dimension or characteristic of a component of the invention, indicate that the described dimension/characteristic is not a strict boundary or parameter and does not exclude minor variations therefrom that are functionally similar. At a minimum, such references that include a numerical parameter would include variations that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit. 
     The words “right,” left,” “lower,” “upper,” “front” and “rear” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the handle assembly, and designated parts thereof. The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     Although the words first, second, etc., are used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these words. These words are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first side could be termed a second side, and vice versa. 
     Referring to the drawings in detail, where like numerals indicate like elements throughout, in  FIGS. 1-6 , an adjustable machine handle assembly according to various aspects of the present disclosure, designated  10 , is shown. The handle  10  may comprise a handle assembly  12  and a handle mounting assembly  13 . The handle mounting assembly  13  may comprise a clamping assembly  15 , a locking assembly  20 , and a support brace  20 . The clamping assembly  15  may comprise an elongate clamp  14 , a first cup-shaped member  16 , and a second cup-shaped member  18 . The handle assembly  12  may include a handle pole  24  and a handle-bar  26  that may be fixedly attached to and may extend upward from the handle  24 . According to one aspect, the handle-bar  26  may include one or more bends in order to improve the ergonomics of the multi-axis adjustable machine handle  10 . Additionally, according to another aspect, the handle-bar  26  may be covered with a rubber, polymeric, elastomeric, or any other suitable material that is well known in the art for ergonomic comfort of the ZT mower user. The handle pole  24  defines a longitudinal axis  28  along its length (see  FIG. 5 ). The handle assembly  12  may be constructed of a metallic material, but could be made from any suitable material well-known in the art. 
     The elongate clamp  14  of the clamping assembly  15  may include a first side  30  and a second side  32 , which may be releasably engaged with the first side  30 . Each of the first and second sides  30 ,  32  may include a head section  30   a,    32   a  and a neck section  30   b,    32   b  extending from the head section  30   a,    32   a.  The neck sections  30   b,    32   b  may have an outer dimension that is smaller than an outer dimension of the head sections  30   a,    32   a.  The first side  30  and the second side  32  may be configured to receive at least a portion of the handle assembly  12 . The first and second sides  30 ,  32  of the elongate clamp  14  may receive the handle pole  24  of the handle assembly  12  in rotatable engagement. The elongate clamp  14  may further include a slot  34  extending through the first side  30  and the second side  32  (see  FIG. 5 ). The slot  34  may extend through the neck portions  30   b,    32   b  of the first and second sides  30 ,  32 . The elongate clamp  14  may be constructed of a metallic material, but may also be constructed of any suitable material that is well known in the art. 
     The handle  10  may further include a first cup-shaped member  16  and a second cup-shaped member  18 . The first and second cup-shaped members  16 ,  18  may be configured to slidably receive at least a portion of the elongate clamp  14  therebetween. Specifically, the first cup-shaped member  16  may be configured to engage the first side  30  of the elongate clamp  14 , and the second cup-shaped member  18  may be configured to engage the second side  32  of the elongate clamp  14 . The first and second cup-shaped members  16 ,  18  may be configured such that a user can selectively translate the elongate clamp  14  relative to the first and second cup-shaped members  16 ,  18  in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis  28  of the handle pole  24  of the handle assembly  12 . The second cup-shaped member  18  may include a plurality of serrated teeth  36  disposed in a direction opposite a direction facing the first cup-shaped member  16 . The first and second cup-shaped members  16 ,  18  may be constructed of a metallic material, but may also be constructed of any suitable material well known in the art. 
     The handle  10  may further include a locking assembly  20 . The locking assembly  20  may extend through the first cup-shaped member  16 , the slot  34  of the elongate clamp  14 , and the second cup shaped member  18  (see  FIG. 6 ). The locking assembly  20  may include a shaft  38  and a fastener  40  disposed on the shaft  38 . The shaft  38  may be a threaded shaft  38 . According to an aspect of this disclosure, the fastener  40  may be a hand nut; but it may alternatively be any other suitable fastener well known in the art, for example, a latch, a screw, or a nail. The locking assembly  20  may have a first end  42  disposed proximate the first cup-shaped member  16  and a second end  44  disposed proximate the second cup-shaped member  18 . The locking assembly  20  may be constructed of a metallic material, but may also be constructed of any other suitable material well known in the art. 
     The handle  10  may further include a support brace  22  attached to the second end  44  of the locking assembly  20  proximate the second cup-shaped member  18 . The support brace  22  may include a plurality of teeth  46  configured to engage the plurality of serrated teeth  36  of the second cup-shaped member  18 . When the plurality of serrated teeth  36  and the plurality of teeth  46  are engaged, relative translational movement between the second cup-shaped member  18  and the support brace  22  in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis  28  is prevented. Optionally, the support brace  22  may be secured to a mounting bracket  48  for attachment to a ZT mower. The support brace  22  may be constructed of a metallic material, but may be constructed of any other suitable material well known in the art. 
     In operation, the handle pole  24  of the handle assembly  12  may be slidably inserted between the first and second sides  30 ,  32 , of the elongate clamp  14 . The handle assembly  12  and the elongate clamp  14  together may be slidably inserted between the first and second cup-shaped members  16 ,  18 . The shaft  38  of the locking assembly  20  may be inserted through the first cup-shaped member  16 , the slot  34  of the elongate clamp  14 , and the second cup-shaped member  18 . The fastener  40  may be disposed on the first end  42  of the shaft  38 . The support brace  22  may be engaged with the second end  44  of the shaft  38 . When the fastener  42  is tightened, the locking assembly  20  may then secure the pieces of the handle  10  together, and relative movement of the pieces may be substantially prevented. When the fastener  40  is loosened, which may be performed by hand, without the need for tools, the handle  10  is capable of being adjusted in three degrees of freedom. Namely, the handle assembly  12  can be rotated about the longitudinal axis  24 , the elongate clamp  14  can be translated along the longitudinal axis  24 , and the handle and clamping assemblies  12 ,  15  can be translated together in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis  28 . When the fastener  40  is re-tightened, which, again, may be done by hand, without the need for tools, the relative movement of the pieces may be substantially arrested and prevented. 
     Various aspects of the disclosure have been presented above. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific aspects presented above, which have been presented for purposes of illustration. Rather, the invention extends to functional equivalents as would be within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may make numerous modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its various aspects.