Patents by Inventor Chad J. Gartzke

Chad J. Gartzke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20160252052
    Abstract: An engine includes a fuel tank including a fuel tank body defining an internal fuel tank volume for containing a fuel, an air cleaner system including an air cleaner housing defining an internal air cleaner volume, a vent conduit integrally formed with the fuel tank body, the vent conduit extending between an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, wherein the inlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal fuel tank volume and the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal air cleaner volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Chad J. Gartzke, Jacob Schmalz, Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Paul A. Leech, Kenneth Breitenstein
  • Patent number: 9341148
    Abstract: An engine includes a fuel tank with a fuel tank body defining an internal fuel tank volume for containing a fuel, a vent conduit integrally formed with the fuel tank body, and an air cleaner system including an air cleaner housing defining an internal air cleaner volume. The vent conduit extends between an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. The inlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal fuel tank volume. An opening is formed in the air cleaner housing and the vent conduit extends through the opening. The outlet aperture of the vent conduit is positioned within the internal air cleaner volume and the vent conduit provides fluid communication between the internal fuel tank volume and the internal air cleaner volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Chad J. Gartzke, Jacob Schmalz, Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Paul A. Leech, Kenneth Breitenstein
  • Publication number: 20140216424
    Abstract: An engine includes a fuel tank with a fuel tank body defining an internal fuel tank volume for containing a fuel, a vent conduit integrally formed with the fuel tank body, and an air cleaner system including an air cleaner housing defining an internal air cleaner volume. The vent conduit extends between an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. The inlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal fuel tank volume. An opening is formed in the air cleaner housing and the vent conduit extends through the opening. The outlet aperture of the vent conduit is positioned within the internal air cleaner volume and the vent conduit provides fluid communication between the internal fuel tank volume and the internal air cleaner volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Chad J. Gartzke, Jacob Schmalz, Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Paul A. Leech, Kenneth Breitenstein
  • Patent number: 8746207
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. A choke valve is configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor and a thermally responsive element is coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element. A thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler and extending through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler, and a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element. The thermally conductive member is configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
  • Patent number: 8720392
    Abstract: A blower system for an engine includes a base of a blower scroll coupled to an engine crankcase. The base has a bottom wall with an opening sized to accommodate an end of a crankshaft. The base also has a sidewall extending away from the crankcase. The blower system further includes a blower housing fastened to the base, without the use of threaded fasteners. Together the blower housing and the base form a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. Also, the blower system includes a fan within the chamber. The fan is driven by the crankshaft and is designed to direct a flow of air through the outlet of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Benjamin R. Miller, Chad J. Gartzke, John R. Schneiker, Greg Hupfer, David W. Branski
  • Patent number: 8656883
    Abstract: An engine includes an engine cover, a blower fan, and a recoil starter having a cover. The engine cover includes an inlet aperture and is configured to house working components of the engine. The blower fan is configured to disperse air received through the inlet aperture to cool the working components of the engine. The recoil starter cover has an opening for air to pass through and is fastened to the underside of the engine cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jason J. Raasch, Gregory L. Hupfer, Chad J. Gartzke, Carl Tiefenthaler
  • Publication number: 20130291845
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. A choke valve is configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor and a thermally responsive element is coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element. A thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler and extending through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler, and a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element. The thermally conductive member is configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
  • Patent number: 8495995
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise, a choke valve configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor, a thermally responsive element coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element, and a thermally conductive member. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. The thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler in direct contact with the exhaust gases and extends through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler. The thermally conductive member also has a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element, the thermally conductive member configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
  • Patent number: 8424498
    Abstract: A blower system for an engine includes a base of a blower scroll coupled to an engine crankcase. The base has a bottom wall with an opening sized to accommodate an end of a crankshaft. The base also has a sidewall extending away from the crankcase. The blower system further includes a blower housing fastened to the base, without the use of threaded fasteners. Together the blower housing and the base form a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. Also, the blower system includes a fan within the chamber. The fan is driven by the crankshaft and is designed to direct a flow of air through the outlet of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Benjamin R. Miller, Chad J. Gartzke, John R. Schneiker, Greg Hupfer, David W. Branski
  • Publication number: 20130019822
    Abstract: An engine includes an engine cover, a blower fan, and a recoil starter having a cover. The engine cover includes an inlet aperture and is configured to house working components of the engine. The blower fan is configured to disperse air received through the inlet aperture to cool the working components of the engine. The recoil starter cover has an opening for air to pass through and is fastened to the underside of the engine cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Jason J. Raasch, Gregory L. Hupfer, Chad J. Gartzke, Carl Tiefenthaler
  • Publication number: 20110315133
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a muffler configured to reduce exhaust gas noise, a choke valve configured to control a flow of air in a carburetor, a thermally responsive element coupled with the choke valve and configured to move the choke valve in response to a temperature change in the thermally responsive element, and a thermally conductive member. The muffler has a housing defining an interior and an exterior. The thermally conductive member has a first portion positioned in the interior of the muffler in direct contact with the exhaust gases and extends through the muffler housing to the exterior of the muffler. The thermally conductive member also has a second portion positioned exteriorly of the muffler and coupled to the thermally responsive element, the thermally conductive member configured to conduct heat from exhaust gases within the muffler to the thermally responsive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, David W. Branski, Chad J. Gartzke, William H. Mayer, Benjamin R. Miller, Dawn N. Traynor, Gene Zimmerman, Jean-Paul Benjamins
  • Publication number: 20110020151
    Abstract: A blower system for an engine includes a base of a blower scroll coupled to an engine crankcase. The base has a bottom wall with an opening sized to accommodate an end of a crankshaft. The base also has a sidewall extending away from the crankcase. The blower system further includes a blower housing fastened to the base, without the use of threaded fasteners. Together the blower housing and the base form a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. Also, the blower system includes a fan within the chamber. The fan is driven by the crankshaft and is designed to direct a flow of air through the outlet of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Benjamin R. Miller, Chad J. Gartzke, John R. Schneiker, Greg Hupfer, David W. Branski