Patents by Inventor Donald Rodney Flatau

Donald Rodney Flatau 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).

  • Patent number: 6869153
    Abstract: A track assembly for moving a vehicle which includes a track having lugs including both drive and guide portions on its inner surface. The guide portions substantially abut against the track rollers of the assembly. Such abutment maintains alignment of the track between those rollers so as to prevent it from moving from side to side and interfering with feeding of the drive portions onto the assembly drive sprocket. Further, the guide portions grab against the drive sprocket to maintain contact of the drive portions therewith. Each of the above functions permits uninterrupted movement of the vehicle since the track is enabled to move in a continued path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Earl Fleming Wright, Andrew Edward Modzik, Jr., Donald Rodney Flatau
  • Publication number: 20030189377
    Abstract: A track assembly for moving a vehicle which includes a track having lugs including both drive and guide portions on its inner surface. The guide portions substantially abut against the track rollers of the assembly. Such abutment maintains alignment of the track between those rollers so as to prevent it from moving from side to side and interfering with feeding of the drive portions onto the assembly drive sprocket. Further, the guide portions grab against the drive sprocket to maintain contact of the drive portions therewith. Each of the above functions permits uninterrupted movement of the vehicle since the track is enabled to move in a continued path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation
    Inventors: Earl Fleming Wright, Andrew Edward Modzik, Donald Rodney Flatau
  • Patent number: 6332748
    Abstract: A latching device is provided for coupling a vehicle tool carrier with a variety of tools such as a bucket. The device serves to releasably secure the tool with the carrier once the carrier has been positioned with the tool. The latch includes a handle-actuated pawl and an over center linkage to retain the latching device in either its latched or unlatched position. A spring serves to hold the link in its over-center position. The pawl swings laterally to minimize interference with the carrier and tool structures and simplify activation by the operator from his seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David Arthur Doering, Donald Rodney Flatau
  • Patent number: D405098
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Charles David Andrews, Gordon Edward Miller, Larry A. Sliker, Donald Rodney Flatau
  • Patent number: D406594
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Gordon Edward Miller, Larry A. Sliker, Donald Rodney Flatau, Andrew Edward Modzik, Jr., Richard Lee Forest
  • Patent number: D407415
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Donald Rodney Flatau, Gordon Edward Miller, Larry A. Sliker, Charles David Andrews
  • Patent number: D407417
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Gordon Edward Miller, Larry A. Sliker, Donald Rodney Flatau
  • Patent number: D407418
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Gordon Edward Miller, Larry A. Sliker, Donald Rodney Flatau
  • Patent number: D412712
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Gordon Edward Miller, Larry A. Sliker, Donald Rodney Flatau, Andrew Edward Modzik, Jr., Richard Lee Forest