Patent Publication Number: US-2006017273-A1

Title: Steering control handle bars

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      No copending non provisional applications known.  
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT  
      Not applicable  
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING  
      Not applicable  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention is an unique operator controlled matched set of handle bars which are incorporated into the steering control levers of a zero turn lawnmower enhancing the operators ease of operation, comfort and leverage for steering control.  
      Left and right steering control levers have become the common method of controlling the steering on zero turn lawnmowers. Each steering control lever, depending on its forward position, independently controls the speed of rotation and the direction of rotation of a drive wheel. Together the left and right steering control levers can be used to move the lawnmower in a straight path direction forward or reverse at a range of speeds or make varying diameter left and right turns at a range of speeds. The operator accomplishes these vehicle motions by changing the relative forward position of the two levers. These steering control levers often have dampeners and springs to increase the required effort to move each lever when changing the wheel rotational speed or the wheel direction of rotation to give the controls better operator feel and control. These dampeners can cause lever forces which are too high for many operators and cause operator fatigue over time. The two steering control levers are moved laterally apart from each other when the vehicle is placed in the park condition and laterally together with their ends adjacent when in the vehicle operating position.  
      The two new handle bars connect onto the ends of the two existing steering control levers. Each handle bar has an elongated protrusion which extends radially outward from the end of each steering control lever. The two protrusions of the left and the right handle bars, attached to the left and the right steering control levers respectively, are adjacent and aligned to each other when in straight travel vehicle motion allowing both handle bars to be gripped together with one hand of the operator. Additional leverage is obtained by the operator when the protrusions are positioned above the ends of the steering control levers. All prior hand grip locations on the steering control levers remain available for use by the operator if desired. The additional hand grip position of the handle bars allows the operator to change his arm position reducing fatigue and repetative motion injuries. In addition the use of one hand to operate the vehicle frees up the other hand to do other functions of the machine or to drink a refreshment.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A matched set of steering control handle bars incorporated into the steering control levers of a zero turn lawnmower which gives the operator a means of making steering and speed changes with one or both hands and can give increased leverage to the operator for moving the motion control levers. The hand grip locations of the existing steering control levers are maintained.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a rear view of one handle bar.  
       FIG. 2  is a rear view of the handle bars installed on the steering control levers.  
       FIG. 3  is a rear view of the handle bars continuous with the steering control levers.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , the first handle bar  1  of two matched handle bars is shown with an elongated fastening tube  7  attached to an elongated first handle  4  and an optional elongated second handle  8  attached to first handle  4 . A threaded set screw  3  extends through a threaded hole  15  in the tubing wall of fastening tube  7 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the two steering control levers  10  and  11  for a zero turn lawnmower are shown in the operational position as viewed by the operator sitting behind said steering control levers  10  and  11 . First handle bar  1  and second handle bar  2  are shown installed onto steering control levers  10  and  11  respectively. Elongated fastening tube  7  of first handle bar  1  is inserted onto ending straight protrusion  14  of steering control lever  10 . Second handle bar  2  is shown installed onto ending straight protrusion  12  of steering control lever  11  in the same manner as first handle bar  1 . Handle  4  of first handle bar  1  is shown disposed in a substantially adjacent parallel position to handle  5  of second handle bar  2 . First handle bar  1  can be rotated about or moved laterally on ending straight protrusion  14  of steering control lever  10  to all possible positions around the circumference and length of ending straight protrusion  14 . Set screw  3  can be tightened to hold the fastening tube  7  of first handle bar  1  onto ending straight protrusion  14  at an operator selectable position. In the same manner second handle bar  2  can be positioned and held on ending straight protrusion  12 . The selected position of first and second handle bars  1  and  2  above the steering control levers  10  and  11  gives increased leverage to the operator when hand forces are applied to elongated handles  4  and  5  or optional elongated handles  8  and  9  when compared to hand forces applied to steering control levers  10  and  11  without handle bars  1  and  2 . The handle bars  1  and  2  can be positioned with the elongated handles  4  and  5  directed in varying degrees forward or rearward to suit the operators arm length and most comfortable arm position. The elongated handles  4  and  5  can be gripped together with either the right or left hand for one hand movement forward and rearward of both steering control levers  10  and  11  to change vehicle speed. The palm of the right hand can be placed on elongated handle  4  and the thumb of that hand can be used to push the elongated handle  5  forward with respect to elongated handle  4  for right turns and similarly the fingers of the right hand can be used to push the elongated handle  5  rearward with respect to elongated handle  4  for left turns. The left hand can be used to steer and change speed of the vehicle in a similar manner mirroring the motions of the above described right hand. Consequently one hand operation by the operator can be used to steer left or right and change vehicle speed leaving the operators second hand available for other functions or a handicapped operator with the use of only one hand can operate the vehicle.  
       FIG. 3  indicates the two steering control levers  10  and  11  of a zero turn lawnmower with handle bars  1  and  2  formed as one continuous part in a permanent position extending from ending straight protrusions  14  and  12  respectively. Although the adjustability of the handle bars in  FIG. 3  is compromised compared to the handle bars of  FIG. 2 , the design of  FIG. 3  has a clean smooth appearance, has fewer parts and would likely be less costly to manufacture. It should be noted that other permanent positions of the handle bars  1  and  2  on the steering control levers  10  and  11  are possible in the same manner as the other possible adjustable positions of the handle bars on the steering control levers  10  and  11  of  FIG. 2 . It should be noted that the elongated optional handle  8  can be positioned either perpendicularly to handle  4  or at a disposed angle to handle  4  or be absent from handle  4 . One possible disposed angle of optional handle  8  to handle  4  is indicated in  FIG. 3 . In general the greatest operator comfort occurs when optional handle  8  is disposed at an angle downward from handle  4  and forward from ending straight protrusion  14 . Optional handle  9  can be positioned in the same way as described above for optional handle  4 .