Patent ID: 7523795

Claim:
A power lawn mower comprising: first and second drive wheels selectively drivable in opposite directions via first and second respective hydraulic pumps, wherein the hydraulic pumps control the driving speed and direction of the first and second drive wheels; a handle control assembly for allowing an operator to cause each of the first and second drive wheels to be independently controlled for operation in both forward and reverse directions, wherein the handle control assembly includes: a right hand forward control lever for controlling the first pump and the first drive wheel, a right hand reverse control lever for controlling the first pump and the first drive wheel, a left hand forward control lever for controlling the second pump and the second drive wheel, and a left hand reverse control lever for controlling the second pump and the second drive wheel; wherein the right hand forward control lever pivots about a first axis and the left hand forward control lever pivots about a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are not parallel to one another; a rigid handle member located between at least the right hand forward control lever and the right hand reverse control lever as viewed from above; wherein the right hand reverse control lever is of a length substantially less than a length of the right hand forward control lever so as to provide a gap on a forward side of the rigid handle member as viewed from above that allows an operator to rotate his or her hand around the rigid handle member without interference from the right hand reverse control lever.