Patent ID: 7275615

Claim:
A walk-behind self-propelled apparatus comprising: a mobile structure; a handle assembly coupled to said mobile structure, said handle assembly having a pair of grip portions; a ground engaging traction member rotatably coupled to said mobile structure, said ground engaging traction member imparting traction movement to said mobile structure for movement on the ground; a power source outputting drive power; a drive system operably coupled between said power source and said ground engaging traction member, said drive system selectively transmitting said drive power to said ground engaging traction member; and a speed control actuation system operably coupled to said drive system, said speed control actuation system having a control member pivotable about an axis by thumbs of an operator without removal of hands of the operator from said pair of grip portions, said axis being generally parallel to a plane extending between said pair of grip portions of said handle assembly; wherein said control member of said speed control actuation system is coupled to a shaft extending through said handle assembly, said speed control actuation system further including a pulley member fixed for rotation with said shaft, said pulley member engaging said drive system to provide control input to said drive system in response to actuation of said control member by an operator.