Handle height adjuster for a walk-behind lawn mower

Abstract

A lawn mower (10) can include a blade housing (12), an engine (14) at least partially supported by the blade housing (12), a handle assembly (18) operably coupled to the blade housing (12), and a handle height adjustment assembly (30) that can include a foot-operated actuator (35) operably coupled to at least one handle member (20). The foot-operated actuator (35) can be operably coupled to the at least one handle member (20) and spaced apart from a pivot point about which the handle assembly (18) pivots relative to the blade housing (12). The handle height adjustment assembly (30) can be configured such that the at least one handle member (20) can be fixed at least in a first operating position or a second operating position that defines different handle heights for the at least one handle member (20). The handle height adjustment assembly (30) can also be configured such that the at least one handle member (20) can be rotated between the first operating position, the second operating position, and a folded position (60).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The exemplary implementation generally relates to outdoor power equipment, and more specifically, to a push lawn mower with an adjustable handle. Background Technology

[0002] Garden maintenance tasks are typically performed using a variety of tools and / or machines configured to perform specific tasks. Some tasks, such as mowing, are typically performed by lawn mowers. Lawn mowers themselves may come in a variety of different configurations to meet consumer needs and budgets. Push lawn mowers are generally relatively compact, with relatively small engines and are relatively inexpensive. On the other hand, ride-on lawn mowers (such as lawn tractors) can be quite large. In addition to the mowing components, ride-on lawn mowers can sometimes be equipped with various functional accessories (e.g., trailers, tillers, etc.). Ride-on lawn mowers can also be rugged and durable, with sufficient power, traction, and maneuverability to allow the operator to mow on rough terrain (if needed).

[0003] When mowing smaller plots or narrower areas, push mowers are typically used. Some relatively simple push mowers may move only in response to pushing force provided by the operator. However, other models may power the wheels to assist the operator in providing mobility. In either case, the operator typically controls and / or pushes the mower via a handle assembly that extends rearward and upward to allow the operator to use the handle assembly while walking behind the mower.

[0004] It has long been recognized that handle height adjustment can significantly improve operator comfort, thereby enhancing the mowing experience. Consequently, numerous solutions offering handle height adjustment have been developed over the years. However, further advancements in this field are expected with improvements in materials and technology. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Some exemplary embodiments may provide a lawn mower. The lawn mower may include: a blade housing configured to house at least one blade; a motor, at least partially supported by the blade housing, for selectively rotating the at least one blade; a handle assembly operatively coupled to the blade housing; and a handle height adjustment assembly (HHAA) that may include a foot-operated actuator operatively coupled to at least one handle member. The handle assembly may include at least one handle member for guiding operation of the lawn mower by an operator walking substantially behind the lawn mower. The foot-operated actuator may be operatively coupled to at least one handle member at a portion spaced from a pivot point around which the handle assembly pivots relative to the blade housing. The HHAA may be configured such that at least one handle member is fixed in at least a first operating position or a second operating position in response to the HHAA being locked, each operating position defining a different handle height for the at least one handle member. The HHAA may also be configured such that at least one handle member is operatively rotated between the first operating position, the second operating position, and a folded position in response to the HHAA being unlocked.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, a handle height adjustment assembly (HHAA) may be provided for adjusting the height of at least one handle member of a push lawn mower. The HHAA may include a foot-operated actuator operatively coupled to at least one handle member. The foot-operated actuator may be operatively coupled to at least one handle member at a portion spaced from a pivot point around which the handle member pivots relative to the blade housing. The HHAA may be configured such that at least one handle member is fixed in at least a first operating position or a second operating position in response to the HHAA being locked, each operating position defining a different handle height for the at least one handle member. The HHAA may also be configured such that at least one handle member is operatively rotated between the first operating position, the second operating position, and a folded position in response to the HHAA being unlocked. Attached Figure Description

[0007] The present invention has been generally described above. Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in the drawings:

[0008] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a push lawn mower with a handle height adjustment assembly according to an exemplary embodiment is shown.

[0009] Figure 2 A rear perspective view of a lawn mower and handle height adjustment assembly according to an exemplary embodiment is shown.

[0010] Figure 3A side view of a lawn mower and handle height adjustment assembly according to an exemplary embodiment is shown;

[0011] Figure 4 A close-up side view of a handle height adjustment assembly in a first operable position according to an exemplary embodiment is shown;

[0012] Figure 5 A close-up perspective view of a handle height adjustment assembly according to an exemplary embodiment is shown;

[0013] Figure 6 A close-up perspective view of a handle height adjustment assembly according to an exemplary embodiment is shown;

[0014] Figure 7 A close-up side view of the channel of a handle height adjustment assembly according to an exemplary embodiment is shown;

[0015] Figure 8 A separate perspective view of a handle assembly and a handle height adjustment assembly according to an exemplary embodiment is shown;

[0016] Figure 9 A separate top view of a handle assembly and a handle height adjustment assembly according to an exemplary embodiment is shown; and

[0017] Figure 10 A close-up view of a positioning guide according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Some exemplary embodiments will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some, but not all, of the exemplary embodiments. In fact, the examples described and depicted herein should not be construed as limiting the scope, applicability, or configuration of this disclosure. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Throughout, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “OR” should be interpreted as a logical operator whose result is true when one or more operands are true. As used herein, “operably interconnected” should be understood to refer to either direct or indirect connections, in both cases, enabling functional interconnection in which the various components are operably interconnected with each other.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a push lawnmower 10 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The operator can be located in an operator position behind the lawnmower 10. Figure 1The lawnmower 10 includes a blade housing 12 that houses a rotatable cutting blade (not shown). The cutting blade may be suspended above the ground at the end of a rotatable shaft (e.g., a drive shaft, also not shown), which may rotate in response to the operation of an engine 14 (such as a gasoline-powered engine or an electric motor). The engine 14 can be started by an operator pulling a recoil starter handle. However, in other embodiments, the engine 14 may alternatively be started via a key, switch, electronic ignition, or other similar means.

[0020] The lawn mower 10 may include a moving assembly on which most of the weight of the lawn mower 10 may fall when the lawn mower 10 is stationary. The moving assembly may also be configured to move the lawn mower 10. In some cases, the moving assembly may be driven by power from the engine 14, which may selectively be supplied to the ground engagement wheels 16 that constitute the moving assembly.

[0021] In some instances, the height of each of the ground engagement wheels 16 can be adjustable. Horizontal cutting and / or adjustment of the cutting blade height can be provided by adjusting the height of the front and / or rear wheels. In some embodiments, local wheel height adjusters can be provided at the front and / or rear wheels. However, in other embodiments, remote wheel height adjustment can also be performed, or alternatively.

[0022] In exemplary embodiments, the blade housing 12 and / or other portions of the forming frame or structural platform of the lawnmower 10 (on which the various components of the lawnmower 10 are assembled) may be stamped, molded, welded, fixed, or otherwise assembled together to define a robust and durable structure. The blade housing 12 may be a single structure or an integral structure, or various additional parts or components may be attached thereto. Thus, the blade housing 12 may typically be the main body of the lawnmower 10, to which various other structural and functional components may be mounted.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, the lawnmower 10 may further include a handle assembly 18. The handle assembly 18 may include at least one handle member 20 that extends generally rearward and upward from a rear portion of the blade housing 12 (or body portion). In some cases, the handle assembly 18 may include two handle members 20. In this case, the handle members 20 may be substantially parallel to each other and may be connected to each other at their distal ends via a crossbar. The crossbar may be located at the distal end 22 of the handle member 20. The proximal end 24 of the handle member 20 may be engaged or otherwise operably coupled to the lawnmower 10 (e.g., engaged or otherwise operably coupled to the blade housing 12). Therefore, the terms "distal end" and "proximal end" should be understood as being used with reference to the blade housing 12 or the motor 14 of the lawnmower 10.

[0024] The height of the handle assembly 20 can be adjustable or foldable to reduce the space occupied by the lawn mower 10 during storage or transport by operating the handle height adjustment assembly (HHAA) 30. Figure 1As shown, the HHAA 30 may be located at the rear portion of the blade housing 12 (e.g., near the rear wheels). The foot-operated actuator 35 may be located between (or near one or the other of the rear wheels) and may be pivotally and operably coupled to the handle assembly 18. In some cases, the HHAA 30 may also include a position retainer 36, a channel, and a positioning guide 38. In some embodiments, the foot-operated actuator 35 may be operably coupled to the blade housing 12 via a channel, which may also be located at the rear portion of the blade housing 12. In this respect, the HHAA 30 may be located near the operator, and the operator may easily apply force to the foot-operated actuator 35 in the forward and / or downward direction indicated by arrow 40. This force may resist the biasing force provided by the position retainer 36, which may be directed backward and / or upward as indicated by arrow 45, and may keep the foot-operated actuator 35 in a locked state within the channel. In response to a force applied by the operator in the direction of arrow 40, the HHAA 30 can enter an unlocked state, in which the handle assembly 18 can move freely up and down in the direction indicated by arrow 50, or rotate to a folded position 60 in the direction of arrow 55 when the force applied in the direction of arrow 40 exceeds the biasing force applied by the position retainer 36 in the direction of arrow 45. In response to the rotation of the handle assembly 18 to the folded position 60 in the direction of arrow 55, the foot-operated actuator 35 can disengage from the channel and thus rest on the positioning guide 38. Conversely, in response to the rotation of the handle assembly 18 from the folded position 60 toward the rear of the lawnmower 10, the positioning guide 38 ensures that the foot-operated actuator 35 can properly re-enter the channel. Further details regarding the HHAA 30 and its components will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] Figure 2 A lawn mower 100 according to an exemplary embodiment is described. Figure 2 The lawnmower 100 depicted in the image can be... Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of the lawn mower 10 depicted herein. As described above, the lawn mower 100 may include a blade housing 110, a motor (not shown), wheels 120, a handle assembly 130, and a handle height adjustment assembly (HHAA) 140. The HHAA 140 is operable to allow an operator to select one of at least two different operating positions of the handle assembly 130. Each different operating position may correspond to a different handle height of the handle assembly 130. The handle assembly 130 may include at least one handle member 132, and in some cases, such as Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the handle assembly may include two handle members 132. Figures 2 to 6In the diagram, HHAA 140 and therefore the handle assembly 130 is shown in a first operating position (e.g., with the handle at a higher height) of at least two different optional operating positions. However, a second operating position with a lower handle height may also be present. Furthermore, in the folded position 60, the handle assembly 130 can be folded completely forward to minimize the amount of space occupied by the lawnmower 100 during storage or transport. It should be understood that other positions may also be defined in some alternative exemplary embodiments.

[0026] As briefly described above, the HHAA 140 may include a foot-operated actuator 141, at least one positioning guide 142, at least one channel 143, and at least one position holder 144. In some embodiments, such as Figures 2 to 10 In the embodiment depicted, the foot-operated actuator 141 can be a lever assembly. In this respect, the foot-operated actuator 141 can be a single lever made of metal or any other suitable material capable of maintaining its shape while receiving and transmitting applied forces. The lever assembly can be bent or otherwise shaped into a "U" shape with a substantially horizontal bottom. Figure 5 and Figure 9As best shown, at the center of the horizontal bottom of the "U" shape, the foot-operated actuator 141 may include a protrusion 147 that allows access to the foot-operated actuator 141 from an operator position behind the lawnmower 100. In this respect, the protrusion 147 may extend beyond the blade housing 110 or body portion behind the lawnmower 100 and extend towards the operator. Each upper end of the "U" shape of the foot-operated actuator 141 may be pivotally and operably coupled to a corresponding handle member in the handle member 132 via a positioning guide 142. In this respect, each positioning guide 142 is operably coupled to the handle member 132 and may also include an aperture that is pivotally and operably coupled to a lever assembly. Therefore, the foot-operated actuator 141 is pivotable relative to the handle member 132 operably coupled thereto via the positioning guide 142. Furthermore, the positioning guide 142 limits the range of pivoting of the foot actuator 141 relative to the handle assembly 132, allowing the foot actuator 141 to remain substantially aligned with the channel 143 after it has been removed from the channel 143 for forward folding. By limiting the range of motion of the foot actuator 141 in this way, the positioning guide 142 helps the foot actuator 141 re-enter the channel 143 when the handle assembly 130 is rotated out of the folded position 60 (in which the handle assembly 130 is fully folded forward). In this respect, the foot actuator 141 can be automatically aligned with the channel 143 due to the positioning guide 142, making reinstallation of the HHAA 140 easier and preventing the foot actuator 141 from moving arbitrarily during rotation of the handle assembly 130. Further details regarding the positioning guide 142 will be discussed below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As depicted, at least one channel 143 may be formed in the blade housing 110 (or a structure operatively connected thereto) at a location near the foot-operated actuator 141, which is limited by the positioning guide 142, extending downward from the handle member 132. Figure 2 and Figure 3The embodiments depicted may include two channels 143, wherein corresponding channels of channels 143 are arranged near the rear end corner of the blade housing 110, and in this example, also near the rear wheel 120. In some cases, channels 143 may be identical to each other (e.g., mirror images of each other with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the lawnmower 100) to enhance the ease of operation of the foot-operated actuator 141. In an exemplary embodiment, channels 143 may include a first slot 150 and a second slot 152 (and in some cases may include other slots). The first slot 150 and the second slot 152 may correspond to a first operating position and a second operating position of the handle assembly 130, respectively. In this regard, when locked, the foot-operated actuator 141 may be held in either the first slot 150 or the second slot 152. For example, in response to the foot-operated actuator 141 being held in the first slot 150, the handle assembly 130 may be in a first operating position, which may correspond to a higher operating position of the handle assembly 130. Conversely, in response to the foot-operated actuator 141 being held in the second slot 152, the handle assembly 130 can be in a second operating position, which may correspond to a lower operating position of the handle assembly 130. In the case of other slots, each slot corresponds to a different operating position or handle height.

[0028] At each possible handle position, HHAA 140 is operable to switch between an unlocked and a locked state. In the unlocked state, handle assembly 132 is rotatable relative to blade housing 110; in the locked state, handle assembly 132 is held in the corresponding desired position. In some embodiments, HHAA 140 may be designed such that when HHAA 140 is in the locked state, foot-operated actuator 141 can only be held in either the first slot 150 or the second slot 152. However, HHAA 140 must be in the unlocked state to switch between the first slot 150 and the second slot 152. Furthermore, HHAA 140 must be in the unlocked state to switch from either the first slot 150 or the second slot 152 to the folded position. Additionally, in some cases (e.g., using the spring force applied by position retainer 144), HHAA 140 can be biased toward the locked state such that handle assembly 130 remains fixed when lawnmower 100 is in use.

[0029] Figure 3 A partial cross-sectional side view of the lawn mower 100 is shown. Figure 4 It shows Figure 3A close-up view of the position retainer 144. The position retainer 144 can apply a biasing force to the foot-operated actuator 141, which can hold the foot-operated actuator 141 in a locked state in either the first slot 150 or the second slot 152. The position retainer 144 may include at least one biasing member 145 and a retaining member 146. In an exemplary embodiment, the retaining member 146 may be pushed by the biasing member 145 to act on the foot-operated actuator 141 in a first direction, thereby biasing the foot-operated actuator 141 into a locked state in either the first slot 150 or the second slot 152. As previously mentioned... Figure 1 As mentioned, the bias force of the position retainer 144 can act backward and upward, or in other words, substantially orthogonal to the extension direction of the channel 143. Therefore, the force applied by the operator to move the foot-operated actuator 141 to the unlocked state can resist the bias force of the position retainer 144 (i.e., forward and downward).

[0030] Figure 4 Different views are shown in which the movement of the position retainer 144 can be observed. In this respect, the position retainer 144 is depicted as holding the HHAA 140 in a locked state in the first slot 150 by applying a biasing force in the direction of arrow 160 by the biasing member 145. Therefore, to bring the HHAA 140 into the unlocked state, the operator can apply a force to the foot-operated actuator 141 in the direction of arrow 170. In response to the force in the direction of arrow 170 overcoming the force in the direction of arrow 160, the HHAA 140 can enter the unlocked state. While maintaining the force applied to the foot-operated actuator 141 in the direction of arrow 170, the handle assembly 130 can be lowered so that the foot-operated actuator 141 is aligned with the second slot 152, or the handle assembly 130 can be rotated forward to a storage position so that the foot-operated actuator 141 moves upward away from the channel 143. When the handle assembly 130 is lowered into the second slot 152, the operator only needs to stop applying force in the direction of arrow 170, and the position retainer 144 can bias the foot-operated actuator 141 into the second slot 152, thereby returning to the locked state. In some embodiments, the retaining member 146 of the position retainer 144 may also be substantially "U"-shaped. In this regard, the retaining member 146 may include a flat surface located at the base of the "U," the length of which is approximately equal to the depth of the channel 143. At each end of the flat surface, the flat surface may be bent rearward away from the channel 143 and substantially perpendicular to the flat surface, forming a straight portion of the "U." These vertical portions of the flat surface help hold the retaining member 146 in place and can be slidably and operably coupled to the blade housing 110. Furthermore, in Figure 4In one embodiment, the retaining member 146 may also be operatively coupled to two biasing members 145. The biasing members 145 may be located in corresponding holes formed within the blade housing 110, these holes being tilted to determine the direction of the biasing force applied by the position retainer 144. In some cases, the biasing member 145 may be a spring.

[0031] Figure 5 and Figure 6 A close-up 3D view of the rear section of the lawnmower 100 is depicted, and Figure 7 A close-up side view of channel 143 is depicted. These figures help to further illustrate the shapes of both channel 143 and foot-operated actuator 141 in detail. Foot-operated actuator 141 can be shaped such that the vertical portion of foot-operated actuator 141 intersects with the horizontal bottom portion of foot-operated actuator 141 on the outside of channel 143 and blade housing 110. In this respect, the horizontal bottom portion of foot-operated actuator 141 can be the portion of foot-operated actuator 141 that interacts with channel 143 and thus with the first slot 150 and the second slot 152. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The retaining member 146 is also shown, illustrating how the flat surface bends vertically away from the channel 143 and into the blade housing 110. This, together with the biasing member 145, allows the retaining member 146 to maintain the correct orientation within the channel 143. Furthermore, Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 The entrance passage of channel 143 is shown. While channel 143 itself may be substantially rectangular, the entrance passage of channel 143 may include one or more angled or skewed surfaces 148 such that the angled or skewed surfaces 148 lead into channel 143. Thus, for example, when the handle assembly 130 is folded back toward the rear of lawnmower 100, one or more angled or skewed surfaces 148 tend to guide the foot-operated actuator 141 into channel 143. This, together with positioning guide 142, helps ensure that the foot-operated actuator 141 can easily re-enter channel after being removed from channel 143 (which may be due to the handle assembly 130 being folded forward to folded position 60).

[0032] Figure 8 and Figure 9The HHAA 140 and handle assembly 130, separate from the blade housing 110, are depicted. In this respect, these figures provide a more intuitive sense of the dimensions of the HHAA 140 and handle assembly 130, respectively. The foot actuator 141 can be operatively coupled to the handle assembly 130 at a position approximately equal to the height of the foot actuator 141, around which the handle assembly 130 pivots relative to the blade housing 110. In other words, with the handle assembly 130 and foot actuator 141 positioned vertically to form a right angle with the blade housing 110, the horizontal bottom portion of the foot actuator 141 can be correspondingly positioned at the pivot point 131 around which the handle assembly 130 and blade housing 110 pivot. However, in some embodiments, the positioning guide 142 can prevent the foot actuator 141 from forming a right angle with the blade housing 110. The protrusion 147 of the foot actuator 141... Figure 9 This is further evident in the text. As mentioned above, through methods such as... Figures 3 to 5 The foot-operated actuator 141, as depicted, extends beyond the end of the blade housing 110. This protrusion of the foot-operated actuator 141 can improve the ease of access for the operator of the lawn mower 100 to the HHAA 140.

[0033] Figure 10 A close-up view of the positioning guide 142 is shown. As mentioned above, the positioning guide 142 operably connects the foot-operated actuator 141 to the handle assembly 130 at a distance from the pivot point 131 that is approximately equal to the height of the foot-operated actuator 141. The positioning guide 142 can be fastened onto the handle assembly 132 and may include an aperture for pivotally connecting with the foot-operated actuator 141. In this respect, the foot-operated actuator 141 can pivot relative to the handle assembly 132 within a predetermined range of motion defined by the positioning guide 142. Therefore, in some cases, the positioning guide 142 also includes a flat surface that can form an angle relative to the rest of the positioning guide 142. This flat surface can be used to support the foot-operated actuator 141 when the handle assembly 130 is folded forward, causing the foot-operated actuator 141 to exit the channel 143 (e.g., when the handle assembly 130 is folded to a storage position). In this configuration, the flat surface of the positioning guide 142 can support the foot-operated actuator 141 in the appropriate orientation to re-enter the channel 143 in response to the handle assembly 130 folding back to either the first or second operating position.

[0034] Some exemplary embodiments may provide a lawnmower. The lawnmower may include: a blade housing configured to house at least one blade; a motor, at least partially supported by the blade housing, for selectively rotating the at least one blade; a handle assembly operatively coupled to the blade housing; and a handle height adjustment assembly (HHAA) that may include a foot-operated actuator operatively coupled to at least one handle member. The handle assembly may include at least one handle member for guiding operation of the lawnmower by an operator walking substantially behind the lawnmower. The foot-operated actuator may be operatively coupled to at least one handle member at a portion spaced from a pivot point around which the handle assembly pivots relative to the blade housing. The HHAA may be configured such that at least one handle member is at least fixed in a first operating position or a second operating position, each defining a different handle height for the at least one handle member, in response to the HHAA being locked. The HHAA may also be configured such that at least one handle member is operatively rotated between a first operating position, a second operating position, and a folded position in response to the HHAA being unlocked.

[0035] Some embodiments of the lawnmower may include additional features, modifications, enhancements, etc., to achieve other objectives or enhance the performance of the lawnmower. Additional features, modifications, enhancements, etc., can be added in any combination of each other. Below is a list of various additional features, modifications, and enhancements that can be added individually or in any combination of each other. For example, the HHAA may also include a channel formed in or operatively coupled to the rear portion of the blade housing. In an exemplary embodiment, the channel may have multiple slots arranged in the channel at correspondingly different locations, these different locations corresponding to different handle heights. In some cases, the HHAA may also include a position retainer arranged proximal to the channel to retain a foot-operated actuator in one of the multiple slots. In an exemplary embodiment, the position retainer may include a biasing member and a retaining member. In some cases, the retaining member may be pushed by the biasing member to act on the foot-operated actuator in a first direction orthogonal to the extension direction of the channel. In an exemplary embodiment, the first direction may be generally a rear-upward direction relative to the front of the lawnmower. In some cases, the operator can apply a force generally in a forward-downward direction to the foot actuator to overcome the biasing member, thereby transitioning from a locked state to an unlocked state. In an exemplary embodiment, the channel may further include at least one inclined surface that forms an entrance passage for the channel, allowing the foot actuator to enter the channel in response to rotation of at least one handle member from a folded position to either a first or a second operating position. In some cases, the foot actuator may be a lever assembly pivotally and operatively coupled to at least one handle member. In an exemplary embodiment, the HHAA may further include a positioning guide operatively coupled to at least one handle member and the lever assembly, which may restrict movement of the lever assembly to a range of positions that allow the lever assembly to align with at least one inclined surface at the entrance passage of the channel. In some cases, the handle member may be spaced apart from a pivot point around which the handle assembly pivots relative to the blade housing by a distance that may be approximately equal to the length of the lever assembly extending away from at least one handle member. In an exemplary embodiment, the lever assembly may be located in the channel when at least one handle member is in a first or second operating position. In some cases, the lever assembly may be located outside the channel when at least one handle component can be in a folded position.

[0036] Benefiting from the teachings given in the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will conceive of many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that these modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, although exemplary embodiments have been described in the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be understood that alternative embodiments may provide different combinations of elements and / or functions without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, combinations different from those explicitly described above, such as those set forth in some of the appended claims, are also contemplated. Where advantages, benefits, or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be understood that these advantages, benefits, and / or solutions may apply to some exemplary embodiments but not necessarily to all exemplary embodiments. Therefore, any advantages, benefits, or solutions described herein should not be considered critical, necessary, or indispensable to all embodiments or the embodiments claimed herein. Although specific terminology is used herein, it is used only in a general and illustrative sense and is not intended to be limiting.

Claims

1. A lawn mower (100), comprising: The blade housing (110) is configured to accommodate at least one blade; The engine (14), at least partially supported by the blade housing (110), selectively rotates at least one of the blades; A handle assembly (130) is operatively coupled to the blade housing (110), the handle assembly (130) including at least one handle member (132) for guiding the operation of the lawn mower (100) by an operator walking behind the lawn mower (100); The handle height adjustment assembly (140) includes a foot-operated actuator (141) operably coupled to a portion of the at least one handle member (132) spaced from a pivot point (131) around which the handle assembly (130) pivots relative to the blade housing (110). The handle height adjustment assembly (140) is configured such that the at least one handle member (132) can be fixed at least in a first operating position or a second operating position that defines different handle heights for the at least one handle member (132) in response to the handle height adjustment assembly (140) being in a locked state. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) is further configured such that the at least one handle member (132) can rotate between the first operating position, the second operating position, and the folded position (60) in response to the handle height adjustment assembly (140) being in the unlocked state. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) further includes a channel (143) formed in or operably connected to the rear portion of the blade housing (110), the channel (143) having a plurality of slots (150, 152) arranged in the channel (143) at corresponding different positions corresponding to the different handle heights.

2. The lawn mower (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The handle height adjustment assembly (140) also includes a position retainer (144) arranged close to the channel (143) to keep the foot-operated actuator (141) operatively connected to one of the plurality of slots (150, 152).

3. The lawn mower (100) according to claim 2, wherein, The position holder (144) includes a biasing member (145) and a retaining member (146), the retaining member (146) being pushed by the biasing member (145) to act on the foot-operated actuator (141) in a first direction orthogonal to the extension direction of the channel (143).

4. The lawn mower (100) according to claim 3, wherein, The first direction is generally a rear-upward direction relative to the front of the lawn mower (100), and wherein the operator applies force to the foot-operated actuator (141) generally in a forward-downward direction to overcome the bias member (145), thereby achieving a transition from the locked state to the unlocked state.

5. The lawn mower (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The channel (143) further includes at least one inclined surface (148) that forms an entrance passage for the channel, so that the foot-operated actuator (141) can enter the channel (143) in response to the at least one handle member (132) rotating from the folded position (60) to either the first operating position or the second operating position.

6. The lawn mower (100) according to claim 5, wherein, The foot-operated actuator (141) is a lever assembly that is pivotally and operably coupled to the at least one handle member (132).

7. The lawn mower (100) according to claim 6, wherein, The handle height adjustment assembly (140) further includes a positioning guide (142) that operatively connects the at least one handle member (132) to the rod assembly, wherein the positioning guide (142) restricts the movement of the rod assembly within a range of positions that align the rod assembly with the at least one inclined surface (148) at the entrance passage of the channel (143).

8. The lawn mower (100) according to claim 6, wherein, The connection point of the at least one handle member (132) and the rod assembly is spaced apart from the pivot point (131) around which the handle assembly (130) pivots relative to the blade housing (110) by a distance that is approximately equal to the length of the rod assembly extending away from the at least one handle member (132).

9. The lawn mower (100) according to claim 6, wherein, When the at least one handle member (132) is in the first operating position and the second operating position, the rod assembly is located in the channel (143), and when the at least one handle member (132) is in the folded position (60), the rod assembly is located outside the channel (143).

10. A handle height adjustment assembly (140) for adjusting the height of at least one handle member (132) of a push lawn mower (100), the handle height adjustment assembly (140) comprising: A foot-operated actuator (141) is operatively coupled to a portion of the at least one handle member (132), the portion being spaced apart from a pivot point (131) around which the at least one handle member (132) pivots relative to the blade housing (110) of the lawnmower. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) is configured such that the at least one handle member (132) can be fixed at least in a first operating position or a second operating position that defines different handle heights for the at least one handle member (132) in response to the handle height adjustment assembly (140) being in a locked state. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) is further configured such that the at least one handle member (132) can rotate between the first operating position, the second operating position, and the folded position (60) in response to the handle height adjustment assembly (140) being in the unlocked state. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) further includes a channel (143) formed in or operatively connected to the rear portion of the blade housing (110), the channel having a plurality of slots (150, 152) arranged in the channel (143) at corresponding different positions corresponding to the different handle heights.

11. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) of claim 10 further includes a position retainer (144) arranged adjacent to the channel (143) to retain the foot-operated actuator (141) in one of the plurality of slots (150, 152).

12. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) according to claim 11, wherein, The position holder (144) includes a biasing member (145) and a retaining member (146), the retaining member (146) being pushed by the biasing member (145) to act on the foot-operated actuator (141) in a first direction orthogonal to the extension direction of the channel (143).

13. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) according to claim 12, wherein, The first direction is generally a rear-upward direction relative to the front of the lawn mower (100), and wherein the operator applies force to the foot-operated actuator (141) generally in a forward-downward direction to overcome the bias member (145), thereby achieving a transition from the locked state to the unlocked state.

14. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) according to claim 10, wherein, The channel (143) further includes at least one inclined surface (148) that forms an entrance passage for the channel, so that the foot-operated actuator (141) can enter the channel (143) in response to the at least one handle member (132) rotating from the folded position (60) to either the first operating position or the second operating position.

15. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) according to claim 14, wherein, The foot-operated actuator (141) is a lever assembly that is pivotally and operably coupled to the at least one handle member (132).

16. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) according to claim 15, further comprising a positioning guide (142) operably connecting the at least one handle member (132) to the rod assembly, wherein, The positioning guide (142) restricts the movement of the rod assembly to a position range that aligns the rod assembly with at least one inclined surface (148) at the entrance passage of the channel (143).

17. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) according to claim 15, wherein, The connection point of the at least one handle member (132) and the rod assembly is spaced apart from the pivot point (131) around which the handle assembly (130) including the at least one handle member (132) pivots relative to the blade housing (110), the distance being approximately equal to the length of the rod assembly extending away from the at least one handle member (132).

18. The handle height adjustment assembly (140) according to claim 15, wherein, When the at least one handle member (132) is in the first operating position and the second operating position, the rod assembly is located in the channel (143), and when the at least one handle member (132) is in the folded position (60), the rod assembly is located outside the channel (143).

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