Patent ID: 7891161

Claim:
An apparatus for controlling a walk-behind mowing machine, the apparatus comprising: a handle including a first leg and a second leg attached to the walk-behind mowing machine; and a two-step bail attached to the handle of the walk-behind mowing machine, the bail comprising: a base member having an elongated interior space, the base member pivotably attached to the first leg of the handle of the walk-behind mowing machine and being movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position to actuate a cutting blade; a control member comprising a substantially elongated rod shaped structure extending toward the second leg of the handle of the walk-behind mowing machine, a portion of the control member being located within the interior space, the entire control member being moveable in a linear direction with respect to the interior space between a first extended position and a second retracted position from the interior space, where in the second retracted position the control member is coupled with the base member such that the portion of the control member slides within the interior space to move the base member in a substantially arcuate direction to the engaged position.