US 11,913,183 B2
Chute control assembly for a snow thrower
Adam Hiller, Jeromesville, OH (US); Michael Wright, Wadsworth, OH (US); Keith Fortlage, Medina, OH (US); and Alan Dumitrescu, West Salem, OH (US)
Assigned to MTD PRODUCTS INC, Valley City, OH (US)
Filed by MTD PRODUCTS INC, Valley City, OH (US)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/850,733.
Application 17/850,733 is a continuation of application No. 16/413,667, filed on May 16, 2019, granted, now 11,371,199.
Application 16/413,667 is a continuation of application No. 15/672,493, filed on Aug. 9, 2017, granted, now 10,428,477, issued on Oct. 1, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0082595 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E01H 5/04 (2006.01); E01H 5/09 (2006.01)
CPC E01H 5/045 (2013.01) [E01H 5/098 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A chute control assembly for a snow thrower, said snow thrower having a housing, a handle operatively connected to said housing, a pair of wheels operatively connected to said housing, and a chute operatively connected to said housing, said chute control comprising:
a control mechanism attached to said handle, said control mechanism includes a casing, a spool assembly positioned within said casing, and a selectively rotatable actuator mechanism attached to said spool assembly, said spool assembly includes a core, a central portion extending radially from a core, and a pair of grooves formed on an outer circumferential surface of said central portion, said central portion has a first circumferential distance;
a guide mechanism operatively connecting said chute to said housing, wherein said guide mechanism rotates said chute relative to said housing in response to rotation of said actuator mechanism, wherein said guide mechanism includes a chute adapter rotatably connecting said chute to said housing, said chute adapter having a second circumferential distance; and
a connecting mechanism operatively connecting said control mechanism to said guide mechanism, wherein said connecting mechanism transfers rotation of said actuator mechanism to said guide mechanism to cause said chute to rotate relative to said housing, said connecting mechanism includes a pair of cables, and rotation of said spool assembly causes rotation of said chute adapter;
wherein said guide mechanism includes a scalloped surface that provides an indexing engagement between said guide mechanism and said housing,
wherein said central portion includes an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, and one end of one of said cables is attached to said upper surface of said central portion and one end of the other of said cables is attached to said lower surface of said central portion.