Importance

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Abstract

A power-driven lawn mower including a push-pull cable having a core connecting a bail arm pivotally supported on the handle and a clutch mechanism which engages and disengages the drive system. A control case is secured to the handle between the bail arm and the clutch assembly and has a side wall which forms a longitudinally extending groove with an open outer side. The handle engages the control case adjacent the outward side of the groove. A self-adjusting mechanism for the cable includes a slider longitudinally movable within the groove of the control case, a spring element, and a lock pin. The slider engages a rear end of a conduit of the cable and has a rack of longitudinally spaced ratchet teeth thereon. The spring element forwardly urges the slider toward the rear end of the conduit. The lock pin is secured within the control case and is engagable with the ratchet teeth of the slider for allowing forward movement of the slider relative to the control case and preventing rearward movement of the slider relative to the control case to automatically adjust tension of the cable. A preferred embodiment is disclosed wherein the slider has a opening and a screw selectively extends through the opening to prevent forward movement of the slider when the slider is in a rearward most position so that the self-adjusting mechanism can be pre-assembled in a fully pre-loaded condition.

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First Claim