Patent ID: 7712292

Claim:
A control system for a component of an outdoor power equipment unit, the outdoor power equipment unit having a handle that includes a crossbar, which comprises: (a) a control member movably mounted to the handle, the control member being movable back and forth on the handle in a predetermined path of motion, wherein the control member is movable away from the crossbar into a disengaged position in which the control member is spaced from the crossbar and is movable towards the crossbar into an engaged position in which the control member is adjacent the crossbar; (b) a housing movably mounted to the handle, the housing being separate from the control member such that the control member is capable of being moved back and forth on the handle while the housing remains stationary on the handle, the housing being operatively linked to the component to engage the component when the housing is moved towards the crossbar; (c) a push member movably carried on the housing for sideward motion from a first lateral position on the housing to a second lateral position on the housing, the first and second lateral positions being laterally displaced from one another on the housing; and (d) a blocking member carried on the push member, wherein the blocking member is laterally clear of the path of motion of the control member when the push member is in the first lateral position thereof, wherein the blocking member extends laterally into the path of motion of the control member when the push member is in the second lateral position thereof, and wherein the push member links the control member to the separate housing through the blocking member such that motion of the control member towards the crossbar also moves the separate housing towards the crossbar only when the push member is first pushed to the side between the lateral first and second positions thereof before the control member is moved between its disengaged and engaged positions, the separate housing otherwise remaining stationary on the handle during movement of the control member whenever the push member is not first pushed to the side before the control member is moved between its disengaged and engaged positions.