A walk power mower having a cutting deck supported upon the ground by front and rear wheels. The mower includes a biased handle that permits the handle to be pivotally displaced downwardly, against an upward bias force, during operation. The bias force may be provided by a resilient member that compresses as the handle is displaced downwardly. The compression of the resilient member allows downward movement of the handle without initially producing corresponding upward movement of the front wheels of the mower during rearward pulling of the handle.

A walk power mower having a cutting deck supported upon the ground by a front and rear wheel(s). The mower includes a traction drive system incorporating a bidirectional transmission adapted to propel the mower alternatively in both forward and reverse directions. In some embodiments, the mower may include a single bidirectional transmission (e.g., powering only rear wheel(s) or only front wheel(s) of the mower), while in other embodiments, two bidirectional transmissions may be provided to power both the front and the rear wheel(s). In other embodiments, the mower may include a bidirectional transmission powering the rear wheel(s), while the front wheel(s) may be attached to the deck via a caster assembly.

A grounds maintenance apparatus such as a lawn mower adapted for movement from a horizontal operating orientation to a vertical storage orientation. Embodiments of the apparatus provide supplemental storage wheels adapted to permit rolling of the apparatus over a ground surface while in the vertical storage orientation.

A hand-pushed power tool includes a tool body including a working assembly, a control unit for controlling running of the working assembly, and a handle device. The handle device includes an operation member and a connecting rod assembly including a first connecting rod connected to the tool body. The first connecting rod includes a first lower rod portion and a first upper rod portion. The first upper rod portion is slidable relative to the first lower rod portion to a retracted position and an expanded position. The handle device further includes a detection device including a first detection element for detecting a telescopic state of the handle device, and a control device mounted to the operation member and electrically or communicatively connected to the first detection element. The control device is configured to control the control unit according to detection information from the first detection element.

In a control apparatus of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor, a rechargeable battery connected to the electric motor, a motor driver circuit to adjust supply of operating electric power to the electric motor, ON/OFF of a first switching element disposed in a current path connecting the battery and the electric motor and a second switching element interposed in the current path in series with a braking resistor to allow charge current from the electric motor to the braking resistor, wherein operation of the first and second switching elements are controlled based on detected battery temperature and internal voltage of the motor driver circuit.

In a control apparatus of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor, a rechargeable battery connected to the electric motor, a motor driver circuit to adjust supply of operating electric power to the electric motor, ON/OFF of a first switching element disposed in a current path connecting the battery and the electric motor and a second switching element interposed in the current path in series with a braking resistor to allow charge current from the electric motor to the braking resistor, wherein operation of the first and second switching elements are controlled based on detected battery temperature and internal voltage of the motor driver circuit.

An apparatus for controlling operation of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor and a rechargeable battery mounted connected to the electric motor and a motor driver circuit. In the apparatus, when an instruction to stop the electric motor is inputted, the operation of the motor driver circuit is controlled to output regenerative electric current from three-phase coils of the electric motor. At that time, it is determined whether a rotational speed of the electric motor is equal to or less than a switching rotational speed and when it is, the motor driver circuit is controlled to switch from the regenerative braking to short-circuit braking that short-circuits the three-phase coils of the electric motor.

An apparatus for controlling operation of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor and a rechargeable battery mounted connected to the electric motor and a motor driver circuit. In the apparatus, when an instruction to stop the electric motor is inputted, the operation of the motor driver circuit is controlled to output regenerative electric current from three-phase coils of the electric motor. At that time, it is determined whether a rotational speed of the electric motor is equal to or less than a switching rotational speed and when it is, the motor driver circuit is controlled to switch from the regenerative braking to short-circuit braking that short-circuits the three-phase coils of the electric motor.

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.

A device for extracting auxiliary power from a power source installed on or associated with an implement, and supplying the auxiliary power to an auxiliary tool associated with the implement. The invention is preferably employed in the context of an auxiliary tool, e.g., in the form of a rotary trimmer, edger or the like, associated with another power implement, such as a lawnmower, wherein the power is preferably extracted from a driven member of the implement. Advantageously, the device is easy to attach/detach, is universally locatable and/or orientable on the implement, and is easily retrofittable to practically any existing implement, such as a lawnmower deck.