US 12,457,922 B2
Lawn care vehicle with heads up mower controls
Frank Peters, Concord, NC (US); Christopher Van Buren, Charlotte, NC (US); Adam Schoonmaker, Monroe, NC (US); and Sean Dwyer, Gastonia, NC (US)
Assigned to HUSQVARNA AB, Huskvarna (SE)
Appl. No. 17/613,878
Filed by Husqvarna AB, Huskvarna (SE)
PCT Filed Nov. 8, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/059619
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 23, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/090050, PCT Pub. Date May 14, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0232762 A1, Jul. 28, 2022
Int. Cl. A01D 34/00 (2006.01); A01D 34/64 (2006.01); A01D 34/82 (2006.01); A01D 69/00 (2006.01); A01D 34/74 (2006.01); A01D 101/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 34/006 (2013.01) [A01D 34/64 (2013.01); A01D 34/824 (2013.01); A01D 34/74 (2013.01); A01D 2101/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A riding lawn care vehicle comprising:
a frame to which at least a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel of the riding lawn care vehicle are attachable;
an engine operably coupled to the frame and the first and second drive wheels to provide power to the first and second drive wheels;
a steering assembly comprising a first steering lever and a second steering lever, wherein the first and second steering levers are operably coupled to the first and second drive wheels respectively to facilitate turning of the riding lawn care vehicle based on drive speed control of the first and second drive wheels responsive to positioning of the first and second steering levers; and
a work assembly operably coupled to the engine to perform a work function responsive to power received from the engine,
wherein each of the first and second steering levers includes a grip portion,
wherein at least one of the first steering lever or the second steering lever is operably coupled to a control module disposed proximate to and separate from the grip portion, the control module being externally mounted on the first steering lever or the second steering lever,
wherein the control module comprises a control operator configured to control operation of the engine or the work assembly,
wherein the first and second steering levers are independently pivotable into and out of a neutral position in a forward direction and a rearward direction, both the forward direction and the rearward direction are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the riding lawn care vehicle,
wherein responsive to both the first and second steering levers being in the neutral position, the control module is incapable of being longitudinally misaligned with the grip portion of the first steering lever or the second steering lever, and
wherein responsive to the first and second steering levers being out of the neutral position, the control module is capable of being longitudinally misaligned with the grip portion of the first steering lever or the second steering lever.