Patent ID: 6983583

Claim:
A riding lawnmower comprising: a frame; an engine supported by the frame; a mower deck supported by the frame; a rotating cutting blade disposed below the mower deck; a PTO coupling the engine and the rotating cutting blade to rotationally drive the cutting blade; a drive system connected to the frame and coupled to the engine for driving the lawnmower; a tilt sensor for sensing a tilt angle representing the orientation of the lawnmower with respect to a horizontal level plane, the PTO being disengaging from the engine to stop rotation of the cutting blade when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined limit angle, the drive system remaining operable to drive the lawnmower when the PTO is disengaged to stop rotation of the cutting blade; a CPU coupled to the tilt sensor, the tilt sensor providing a check signal to the CPU when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined check angle, the tilt sensor providing a limit signal to the CPU when the tilt angle exceeds the limit angle, the limit angle being greater than the check angle; and a signal indicator providing a notice signal being at least one of an audible signal and a visual signal in response to the CPU receiving the check signal.