Patent ID: 7686108

Claim:
In a riding mower having a pair of independent drive wheels controlled by a corresponding pair of operator-manipulated drive levers said levers being movable independently of one another along parallel, fore-and-aft paths of travel between forward, neutral, and reverse drive modes and being movable outwardly away from one another to widespread positions when in the neutral mode, the improvement comprising: at least one retaining mechanism operable when actuated to prevent rotation of at least one of said wheels; and an electrical control circuit connected with said retaining mechanism in a manner to cause actuation of the retaining mechanism in response to the movement of at least one of the drive levers to said widespread position, said retaining mechanism including a member movable toward and away from an actuated position and a spring yieldably biasing the member toward said actuated position, said electrical control circuit including an electrically powered control device operable when energized to overcome the bias of said spring and release the retaining mechanism.