Adjustable handle assembly for a walk-behind mower
A handle adjustment assembly is attached to a walk-behind lawn mower, wherein the handle adjustment assembly is rotatably adjustable relative to a deck of the mower to allow the handle to be adjusted to multiple different heights relative to the ground at distinct operative positions. The handle adjustment assembly is also rotatable to allow the handle to be adjusted to a stored position adjacent to the deck, wherein the mower can be stored in a substantially vertical orientation.
1. A handle adjustment assembly of a walk-behind lawn mower for selectively adjusting an orientation of a handle of said mower, said mower having a deck, a plurality of ground engaging members connected to said deck, and a power supply connected to said deck for driving a cutting system, said handle adjustment assembly comprising:
a pair of indexing mechanisms, wherein each of said indexing mechanisms comprises:
a first indexing member attached to said deck or to a support member connected to said deck, said first indexing member having a plurality of annularly positioned first teeth, and a first indexing gap located within said plurality of first teeth of said first indexing member;
a second indexing member selectively engageable with said first indexing member, said second indexing member having a plurality of annularly positioned second teeth, and a first indexing lug located within said plurality of second teeth of said second indexing member; and
a clasp assembly connected to said first and second indexing members, wherein said clasp assembly is actuatable between a locked position and an unlocked position; and
a handle having a pair of opposing legs connected by a cross-bar, each of said legs having an end, and each end being attached to one of said indexing members of said adjustable handle assembly;
wherein said clasp assembly of each indexing mechanism is actuatable between a locked position in which said second indexing member is engaged with said first indexing member wherein said first indexing lug is located within said first indexing gap and said first teeth being in meshing engagement with said second teeth and an unlocked position in which said second indexing member is disengage from said first indexing member;
wherein said second indexing member is rotatable relative to said first indexing member to selectively adjust said first indexing lug to one of a plurality of operative positions provided by said first indexing member, and said height of said handle relative to said ground is adjusted in response to said first indexing members being rotatably adjusted relative to said second indexing members to provide a plurality of operative positions of said handle;
wherein the indexing mechanisms are each independently adjustable between the locked position of each and the unlocked position of each; and
wherein the first indexing member is dissimilar from the second indexing member.
2. The handle adjustment assembly of claim 1 , wherein said support member is attached to a rear end of said deck, said support member having a pair of feet that contact the ground for stabilizing said mower when said mower is oriented in a vertical orientation.