US 12,284,938 B2
Walk reel mower with adjustable handle assembly
Gerald E. Goman, Spring Valley, WI (US); and Nicholas J. Sirek, Elko, MN (US)
Assigned to The Toro Company, Bloomington, MN (US)
Filed by The Toro Company, Bloomington, MN (US)
Filed on May 31, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/680,838.
Application 17/360,913 is a division of application No. 16/234,118, filed on Dec. 27, 2018, granted, now 11,051,450, issued on Jul. 6, 2021.
Application 18/680,838 is a continuation of application No. 17/360,913, filed on Jun. 28, 2021, granted, now 12,016,266.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/758,304, filed on Nov. 9, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0315166 A1, Sep. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. A01D 34/62 (2006.01); A01D 34/47 (2006.01); A01B 45/00 (2006.01); A01D 34/43 (2006.01); A01D 34/44 (2006.01); A01D 34/53 (2006.01); A01D 42/08 (2006.01); A01D 75/30 (2006.01); A01D 101/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 34/62 (2013.01) [A01D 34/47 (2013.01); A01B 45/00 (2013.01); A01D 34/43 (2013.01); A01D 34/44 (2013.01); A01D 34/53 (2013.01); A01D 42/08 (2013.01); A01D 75/306 (2013.01); A01D 2101/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A walk reel mower, which comprises:
a) a traction frame carrying at least one ground engaging drive member that is operatively powered to self-propel the traction frame over the ground;
b) a rotatable cutting reel that rotates about a substantially horizontal axis and that is operatively powered for pushing grass against a bedknife for cutting the grass;
c) a handle assembly that extends rearwardly and upwardly from the traction frame, wherein the handle assembly comprises a lower support that is operatively coupled to the traction frame and an upper mount that carries a handle which is gripped by a user during operation of the mower to guide and manipulate the mower, and wherein the upper mount is slidingly movable relative to the lower support to raise or lower the handle relative to the ground to adjust the height of the handle above the ground to suit users of different heights who walk on the ground behind the traction frame while operating the mower; and
d) a latch carried on the handle assembly and that engages between the lower support and the upper mount in one of a plurality of positions, wherein the latch pivots about a pivot axis and is biased such that the lower support maintains the one of the plurality of positions relative to the upper mount, wherein the latch comprises a latching portion and a handle portion, wherein the handle portion is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the latching portion restricts movement between the upper mount and the lower support when the handle portion is in the first position, and wherein the latching portion allows movement between the upper mount and the lower support when the handle portion is in the second position.