Ride-on vehicle with operator access assist bar

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9839179-B2
Application number	US-201414302761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2014
Priority date	Feb 27, 2013
Publication date	Dec 12, 2017
Grant date	Dec 12, 2017

Abstract

An assist handle for assisting an operator with climbing on to, or off of, a ground maintenance vehicle such as a mower, and a ground maintenance vehicle incorporating the same. The assist handle includes, in one embodiment, a grip portion movable between a deployed position, wherein the grip portion is positioned at a deployed elevation configured to assist the operator with ingress to, or egress from, a platform such as a seat; and a stowed position, wherein the grip portion is positioned at a stowed elevation lower than the deployed elevation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A zero-turning-radius ground maintenance vehicle adapted to accommodate a ride-on operator, the vehicle comprising:
a frame;
at least one movable, hand-operated control member coupled to the frame and operable to control one or both of a direction and a speed of the vehicle; an operator seat attached to the frame;
a step secured to the frame; and,
an assist handle attached on the step, the assist handle comprising a grip portion adapted to assist the operator with ingress to, or egress from, the seat, wherein the grip portion is located forward of a forwardmost edge of the seat.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the assist handle comprises a tubular member.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the assist handle is positioned lateral to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the grip portion is movable between a deployed position and a stowed position.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control member comprises a lever attached to the frame and adapted to pivot, relative to the frame, about one or more axes.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the one or more axes comprises a transverse axis.

7. A zero-turning-radius riding lawn mower, comprising:
a frame;
an operator seat attached to the frame and adapted to accommodate a mower operator in a sitting position;
two control levers positioned near the seat and accessible by the operator from the seat, each of the levers adapted to pivot, relative to the frame about a first axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the mower, to control direction and speed of the mower, wherein one or both of the levers is further configured to pivot, relative to the frame about a second axis, between an operative position and a seat access position;
a step secured to the frame; and,
an assist handle attached on the step at a location forward of a forwardmost edge of the seat, the assist handle comprising a grip portion adapted to assist the operator with ingress to, or egress from, the seat.

8. The mower of claim 7 , wherein the second axis is normal to the first axis.

9. The mower of claim 7 , wherein the assist handle is operatively attached to the frame such that the grip portion is located at a position that is lateral to the longitudinal axis.

10. The mower of claim 7 , wherein the step is secured to the frame at a location spaced away from the longitudinal axis.

11. The mower of claim 7 , wherein the grip portion is movable between: a deployed position, wherein the grip portion is located at a deployed elevation; and a stowed position, wherein the grip portion is located at a stowed elevation lower than the deployed elevation.

12. The mower of claim 7 , wherein the grip portion is spaced away from the longitudinal axis of the mower.

13. A zero-turning-radius riding lawn mower, comprising:
a frame;
an operator seat attached to the frame and adapted to accommodate a mower operator in a sitting position;
two control levers positioned near the seat and accessible by the operator from the seat, each of the levers adapted to pivot, relative to the frame about a first axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the mower, to control direction and speed of the mower, wherein one or both of the levers is further configured to pivot, relative to the frame about a second axis, between an operative position and a seat access position;
a step secured to the frame; and,
an assist handle attached on the step, the assist handle comprising a grip portion adapted to assist the operator with ingress to, or egress from, the seat, wherein the assist handle has a first tube operatively attached to the frame, and a second tube telescopingly received within the first tube, the second tube comprising the grip portion, the grip portion movable between:
a deployed position, wherein the grip portion is located at a deployed elevation forward of the control levers; and
a stowed position, wherein the grip portion is located at a stowed elevation lower than the deployed elevation.

Assignees

• The Toro Co

Inventors

• Stover Dale A
• Porter Todd A

Classifications

• Y10T16/4713

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y10T16/44

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• A01D34/64 Primary

  mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle (A01D34/695 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T16/473

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y10T16/466

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic