Patents Examined by Gary S. Hartmann
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Patent number: 11732427Abstract: A holder (1) for fixing a cylindrical spray can (2). The holder (1) comprises a holding unit (3) for fixing the spray can (2) with a first mechanical interface (4) for connecting a GNSS receiver (5) or prism to the holding unit (3). The holding unit (3) is adapted to hold the spray can (2) such that the GNSS receiver (5) or prism and the spray can (2) are arranged coaxially to each other. The holding unit (3) comprises a second mechanical interface (6) for releasably connecting the holder (1) to a frame (7) of a surveying cart (8).Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2018Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Swozi AGInventors: Mario Hutter, Peter James Roberts
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Patent number: 11718979Abstract: A blank for fabricating a wear member for a ground-engaging tool includes a one-piece block having a boss channel and a lock bore each formed therein. The one-piece block includes a peripheral edge that projects upon lateral sides and a front end of the one-piece block, the peripheral edge originating and terminating at a back end of the block, to form a continuous welding interface that is partially perimetric of the one-piece block, for welding to a body of a wear member. The blank can be used to fabricate a variety of different wear members including shrouds, tooth tips, edge protectors, or others.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2019Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Phillip John Kunz, Adam M. Dean
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Patent number: 11716918Abstract: A system for adjusting the lateral positioning of wheel assemblies of agricultural implements includes a toolbar extending in a lateral direction and having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. The system also includes a rail coupled to the toolbar and extending in the lateral direction along a length of the toolbar. Additionally, the system includes a wheel assembly configured to be removably coupled to the toolbar such that the rail is positioned between the toolbar and a portion of the wheel assembly. The wheel assembly includes engagement structure configured to engage the rail when the wheel assembly is installed relative to the toolbar, with the engagement between the rail and the engagement structure being configured to prevent rotation of the wheel assembly about the toolbar.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLCInventors: João Augusto Bello de Carvalho, Monte Lee DeKam, Arun Santosh Seetamsetti, Austin Joseph McLuckie
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Patent number: 11716924Abstract: A closing wheel frame assembly comprising a closing wheel frame, a closing wheel assembly, and a lever arm adjustment assembly. A retaining pin secures a lever arm in a desired position to set an angle or orientation of the closing wheel assembly relative to the frame, seed furrow (trench or trough), or soil surface. Operation of the lever arm changes the angle or orientation of the closing wheel assembly relative to the frame, seed furrow (trench or trough), or soil surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Inventor: Ronald Steve Martin
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Patent number: 11702820Abstract: A retainer sleeve includes an at least partially annular body defining an axis of rotation, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The body may also have a radially inner annular surface defining a radially inner aperture, and a first anti-rotation feature extending radially inwardly from the radially inner annular surface including a sloping ledge having a locking surface that faces at least partially in the circumferential direction and along a direction that is parallel to the axis of rotation, forming an oblique angle with the direction that is parallel to the axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Douglas C. Serrurier, Eric T. Sinn, Jason Grant Jura, Corey Michael Wells
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Patent number: 11702805Abstract: Surrogates for roadside objects, such as concrete curbs, can be used for vehicle testing. A surrogate for a concrete curb can substantially be similar in size and/or shape as the concrete curb that the surrogate is mimicking. The surrogate can be configured to exhibit substantially the same characteristics as their actual counterpart concrete curb when sensed by one or more vehicle sensors (e.g., cameras, radar sensors, and/or LIDAR sensors). Such surrogates can be used to test automated vehicles, one or more vehicle sensors, a vehicle sensor system, and/or one or more vehicle system (e.g., a road departure mitigation system). The surrogates can be configured to withstand being impacted by a test vehicle without being damaged and without damaging the test vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., The Trustees of Indiana UniversityInventors: Rini Sherony, Stanley Yung-Ping Chien, Seeta Ram Pandey, Wensen Niu, Yaobin Chen
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Patent number: 11697923Abstract: A work tool or a wear member includes a working portion or a wear portion, a hollow portion that further defines a lock receiving aperture defining an axis of rotation, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction. The axis of rotation is transverse to the direction of assembly of work tool or wear member as the member is slid over a nose portion of a tool adaptor or the like. The axis of rotation is spaced away from the direction the pin receiving thru-hole extends a predetermined distance measured along the direction of assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Nathan R. Bjerke
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Patent number: 11686073Abstract: A power locking device has a body including a blind bore with an electroactive polymer disposed in the blind bore, and a sliding lock member that is disposed in the blind bore and that contacts the electroactive polymer. A current source is in electrical communication with the electroactive polymer.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventor: Douglas C. Serrurier
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Patent number: 11686072Abstract: An adapter includes a first leg, a second leg, and a throat portion at least partially define a slot that defines a projection at the closed end of the slot that includes a flat middle portion straddled laterally by a first arcuate portion and a second arcuate portion, defining a lateral middle portion width. A projection protruding distance is measured along the direction of assembly from the closed end of the slot to the flat middle portion. The projection protruding distance ranges from 0.8 to 1.2 multiplied by the lateral middle portion width.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Eric T. Sinn, Douglas C. Serrurier, Rammagy Yoeu
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Patent number: 11674274Abstract: A traffic director includes a distal end and a proximal end, two or more sides extending upward from the proximal end at an angle toward the distal end, a proximal notch disposed near the proximal end between two adjacent sides, and the proximal notch forms a first flexion point of the traffic director. The traffic director can further include one or more recessed channels formed in at least one of the two or more sides. The one or more recessed channels forms a second flexion point of the traffic director. The traffic director can further include a removable indicator sleeve having an advertisement or directional indicator printed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: SEEMEES, LLCInventor: Jack Keller
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Patent number: 11665988Abstract: A stand-on aerator including a chassis, a pair of first wheels coupled to the chassis, wherein the first wheels are operable as drive wheels, a pair of second wheels coupled to the chassis, and an operator platform extending from a rear portion of the chassis. The stand-on aerator also has an aerator assembly coupled to the chassis, wherein the aerator assembly includes a plurality of reciprocating tines capable of extending from and retracting into the aerator assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Kyle Harvey, Thomas Burkard, Peter Lucier, Stephen Longmeyer
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Patent number: 11661727Abstract: A wear member for earth working equipment and a wear assembly including a plurality of such wear members. The wear member defines a longitudinal axis and comprises: a body defining a rearward opening cavity dimensioned to receive a base; first and second lateral portions extending from opposing sides of the body and defining a front edge for engaging earth. The first lateral portion defines a complementary formation to the second lateral formation to enable axial insertion and removal of a wear member mounted between adjacent wear members due to the open removal path defined by the complementary formations. The complementary formations also resist rotational movement of the wear member about the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: ESCO GROUP LLCInventors: Jared R. Ames, Nicholas A. Albers, Joseph E. Dengel, Michael D. Crowe
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Patent number: 11661726Abstract: A tooth attachment structure for a bucket includes a tooth, a pin member, and a lock member. The tooth includes a guide groove provided on an inner surface of the tooth and a pin hole provided in the guide groove. The pin member is disposed in the pin hole. The lock member is disposed in the guide groove. The lock member locks the pin member. The lock member engages the pin member by sliding toward the pin member.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.Inventors: Takanori Nagata, Daijirou Tanaka, Yudai Furudate, Tatsuo Aira, Monta Kondou
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Patent number: 11653584Abstract: A multipurpose agro-farming and gardening machine for earth pit digging, tilling, raking, soil bed preparation on plain terrains, as well as in sloppy terrains in hilly areas, weeding, manuring and seeding, with augers, raking rods, compost or manure and seed drop attachments for use in small farms and home gardening. Machine of the proposed invention comprises three rotary soil excavating augers (7) and a linear actuator (2) for driving the assembly of augers to dig into the soil for making pits or for making trenches with adjoining raised beds. Attachments enable adopt double digging practices for preparation of soil beds, manuring and seeding comprising [i] raking rods with spikes for deep digging and [ii] attachments for compost or manure drop and seed drop.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Inventor: Jayakumar Karuppusamy
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Patent number: 11649121Abstract: Seal apparatus for dock levelers are disclosed. An example loading dock includes a dock leveler movable between a standard loading position, a cross-traffic position and a below-deck loading position. The dock leveler has deck and lip movably coupled to the deck. A seal assembly is coupled to the loading dock adjacent a forward edge of the dock leveler. The seal assembly sealingly engages a front surface of a lip of the dock leveler and a rear surface of the lip when the dock leveler is positioned in a cross-traffic position or a below-dock position.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding CorporationInventors: Collin Thole, Timothy J. Schmidt, Gary Borgerding, Frank Heim, Mary Blaser
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Patent number: 11649599Abstract: A snow and ice evaporating device that is an untethered device easily usable by an individual. The device has elements that resemble a traditional snow blower as well as a lawn mower, but that includes a salt hopper and a propane tank. The snow blower end operates much like a traditional snow blower with augers that break up snow and ice that are then expelled through a blower end. On the top of the device is a propane tank that provides flames to the bottom of the device, protected by a shroud that heat the surface being treated to melt both ice and snow. A salt hopper is situated on the back of the device which provides a means for applying salt to the treated surface to prevent refreezing. All portions of the device are easily controlled by and extended handle that the user uses to control these functions. The extended handle operates much like a lawn mower in that it allows the user to easily push the device which rolls on wheels and includes a kill switch to turn off the device in an emergency situation.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Inventor: Alfredo Fuentes
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Patent number: 11643825Abstract: A mounting adapter including a bearing for rotatably mounting a surface processing tool to a tool holder body. The bearing has a rotatable hub including an attachment in an upper portion thereof for non-rotatable attachment to the tool holder body. The mounting adapter includes a rubber flex pad having a periphery and a first aperture. The mounting adapter includes an element supporting the periphery of the rubber flex pad, the element having a second aperture in vertical registry with and beneath the first aperture. The mounting adapter includes an end plug within the second aperture for closing the first aperture. The end plug supports the flex pad from beneath the second aperture.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Wagman Metal Products, Inc.Inventors: George F. Wagman, III, Gary G. Hostetter, Jr.
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Patent number: 11639588Abstract: A snowbank deconstructing system includes a dulled motorized instrument configured to make repetitive, low-impact contact with accumulated snow. The dulled motorized instrument is configured to be safe to human touch during the repetitive, low-impact contact with the accumulated snow.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Klondike Robotics CorporationInventors: Edward Harvey, Alex Whittemore, Anthony M. Duys
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Patent number: 11639589Abstract: An autonomous snowbank deconstructing system includes an autonomous vehicle, one or more boom arms coupled to the autonomous vehicle, and a dulled shovel component coupled to the one or more boom arms. The autonomous vehicle is configured to autonomously gather loose debris to form one or more debris piles with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the loose debris, and autonomously deconstruct accumulated debris with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the accumulated debris.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2021Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Klondike Robotics CorporationInventors: Edward Harvey, Alex Whittemore, Anthony M. Duys
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Patent number: 11634916Abstract: A stair step jig assembly for smoothing treads on concrete steps includes a jig that is elongated to a predetermined length to extend along a full length of a tread on a concrete step for smoothing the tread before the concrete has cured. A riser adjustment is hingedly coupled to the jig and the riser adjustment unit abuts a concrete form that is positioned against the riser of the step adjacent to the tread upon which the jig is positioned. A leg is hingedly coupled to the jig and the leg slidably engages the riser adjustment such that each of the leg, the riser adjustment and the jig forms a triangle. The leg has engages a top of the riser of the step adjacent to tread upon which the jig is positioned for keeping the jig at a fixed angle on the tread.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Inventors: Guy Alvetro, Crystal Alvetro