Patent ID: 7472500

Claim:
An improved snowthrower of the type having a chute rotatable about a substantially vertical axis for directing a snow stream, a deflector carried on the chute with the deflector being pivotal relative to the chute for adjusting the trajectory of the snow stream, and a control on the snowthrower for operating the deflector, wherein the improvement relates to the control which comprises: (a) a handle on the deflector to allow an operator to grip the handle to pivot the deflector; (b) a movable latch carried on the deflector, the latch being movable on the deflector between an engaged position in which the deflector is locked against being pivoted at least upwardly and a disengaged position in which the deflector is free to be pivoted upwardly, wherein the latch is T-shared having a head and a stem projecting from one side of the head with the stem of the latch being narrower than the head of the latch; (c) a toothed rack fixed on the chute, wherein the toothed rack extends through a slot in the stem of the latch, and wherein the stem cooperates with the toothed rack to hold the deflector in place on the chute when the latch is in the engaged position; and (d) wherein the latch is configured and oriented relative to the handle such that the latch is moved between the engaged and disengaged positions thereof when the operator grips both the head of the latch and the handle with one hand and the operator squeezes the fingers of the gripping hand closed on the handle.