Patent ID: 7347039

Claim:
A mechanism for moving a mower deck from a generally horizontal use position to a generally vertical storage/servicing position, the mechanism comprising: a moving member having first and second ends, the first end coupled with a forward portion of the mower deck and the second end coupled with a rear portion of the mower deck; and a switch assembly mechanically and electrically coupled with the moving member, wherein the switch assembly is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position is a generally horizontal engaged position, wherein the second position is a generally non-horizontal disengaged position; wherein movement of the deck from the use position to the storage/servicing position is prevented when the switch assembly is in a first position and wherein movement of the deck from the use position to the storage/servicing position is permitted when the switch assembly is the second position, and wherein the movement of the deck occurs generally about the rear portion of the mower deck; wherein the moving member is an actuator and wherein the actuator includes: a motor; a series of gears coupled with the motor; a threaded rod coupled to the series of gears; and a carriage coupled to the threaded rod; wherein rotational motion of the motor is translated into rotational movement of the threaded rod via the series of gears thereby causing linear movement of the carriage along the threaded rod which in turn moves the deck from the use position to the storage/servicing position.