Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Zeiler
Jeffrey Zeiler 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).
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Publication number: 20210384746Abstract: A battery assembly includes a housing having a handle, rechargeable battery cells disposed within the housing, and a mating feature configured to selectively connect the battery assembly with a receptacle of at least one of a power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature includes a connector having at least two electrical ports electrically connected to the battery cells, and a data port configured to provide data communication between the battery assembly and at least one of a power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature also protrudes away from a side portion of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2019Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Christopher Krajewski, Kyle Harvey, Ryan S. Jaskowiak, Nicholas Zeidler, Mark Noller, Todd Johnson
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Publication number: 20210354541Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprising, a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade, and multiple battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, each battery pack graspable and removable by a user, wherein the multiple battery packs jointly provide power to the riding lawn mower.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey ZEILER, Robert John KOENEN, Jacob SCHMALZ, Albert LIU, Nick ZEIDLER, Scott FUNKE, David PROCKNOW
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Publication number: 20210344052Abstract: A battery system for power equipment includes a battery configured to removably connect to a receptacle, and a processing circuit of the battery configured to communicably interface with a processing circuit of the receptacle, wherein the battery and the receptacle are configured to electrically connect and transfer power from the battery through the receptacle to the power equipment, wherein the processing circuits of the battery and the receptacle are configured to transfer information between the battery and the receptacle, and wherein the processing circuits of the battery and the receptacle are configured to allow the transfer of power from the battery through the receptacle to the power equipment based on the information transferred between the battery and the receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2019Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventor: Jeffrey Zeiler
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Publication number: 20210313630Abstract: A cell module assembly includes multiple lithium-ion battery cells connected in parallel and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is programmed to receive useful life data for a useful life indicator of the battery cells, save the life data to memory to create a life data history, determine a life measurement based on the life data history, compare the life measurement to a first end of life threshold, determine if the life measurement has met the first end of life threshold, provide a first end of life output indicating that the life measurement has met the first end of life threshold, compare the life measurement to a second end of life threshold, determine if the life measurement has met the second end of life threshold, and provide a second end of life output indicating that the life measurement has met the second end of life threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2019Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
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Patent number: 11103886Abstract: A sprayer equipment includes a support frame, a pump, a pressure regulator, a concentrate tank, an injector, a spray nozzle, and a controller. The support frame has a plurality of wheels. The pump is coupled to the support frame and includes a pump inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a water source and a pump outlet providing water at an increased water pressure. The pressure regulator is configured to control the pressure of the water. The concentrate tank is supported by the support frame and configured to store a concentrate fluid. The injector is fluidly coupled to the concentrate tank and configured to inject the concentrate fluid into the water. The spray nozzle is fluidly coupled to the pump outlet and the injector. The controller is coupled to the injector and is configured to control operation of the injector.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Kyle Harvey, Todd Johnson, Jeffrey Zeiler
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Publication number: 20210111384Abstract: A battery pack includes a cell module assembly, a primary power output, and a secondary output connector. The cell module assembly includes several lithium-ion battery cells connected in parallel. The primary power output includes a pair of terminals for connection to equipment to be powered by the battery pack. The secondary output connector includes a secondary power output for connection to equipment to be powered by the battery pack and includes an enable input. The primary power output is configured to supply electrical power at a voltage higher than the secondary power output connector. The secondary power output is controllable through the enable input to selectively supply electrical power from the secondary power output.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nicholas Ziedler
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Publication number: 20200300206Abstract: An apparatus including an internal combustion engine, an electric motor configured to start the internal combustion engine, a brake mechanism, a release mechanism movable to a first position to release the brake mechanism, a switch actuated by the release mechanism, a pull rope, a sensor configured to output a signal based on the pull rope being actuated, and a control module coupled to the switch and the sensor. The switch is configured to provide a switch input to the control module when the release mechanism is in the first position. The sensor is configured to provide a sensor input to the control module when the pull rope is actuated. The control module activates the electric motor in response to the switch input and the sensor input.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2018Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey ZEILER, Robert KOENEN, Jason HANSEN
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Publication number: 20200267895Abstract: A zero turn radius mower including a pair of rear drive wheels, a mowing deck including multiple cutting blades, an electric storage battery, a pair of electric wheel motors each operable to rotate one of the rear drive wheels, multiple electric blade motors each operable to rotate one of the multiple cutting blades, and a master controller in communication with each of the pair of wheel motors and the multiple blade motors. The master controller is operable to control a rotational speed of each of the pair of wheel motors and the multiple blade motors. The master controller is operable to stop rotation of the cutting blades when the wheel motors are operating below a threshold speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert J. Koenen
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Patent number: 10724492Abstract: A snowthrower includes an internal combustion engine and a starter battery pack that provides electrical power to operate an electric starter motor. The starter battery pack is received within a receptacle of the snowthrower and is selectively coupled to the starter motor to initiate operation of the internal combustion engine. The starter battery pack can further include a battery heating circuit that is operable to heat the starter battery pack above ambient temperatures to increase the current output of the starter battery pack. The battery heating circuit includes a controller that utilizes electrical power from the starter battery pack to heat the starter battery pack.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Dale Van Patten, Jason Andrew Hansen
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Publication number: 20200205338Abstract: A ride-on vehicle, such as a zero turn radius lawnmower, includes a main chassis having first and second pivot joints, a in first rocker arm having a caster wheel on a first end portion and a drive wheel on a second end portion, and a second rocker arm having a caster wheel on a first end portion and a drive wheel on a second end portion, wherein the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are independently pivotally coupled to the respective first and second pivot joints of the main chassis at a location between the caster wheels and the drive wheels. The ride-on vehicle may also include a modular mower deck assembly with a plurality of mower deck modules having a blade assembly, an electric blade motor configured to provide rotation to the blade assembly, and an attachment assembly configured to enable attachment between adjacent mower deck modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2018Publication date: July 2, 2020Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Todd Johnson, Christopher Krajewski, Nicholas Zeidler, Jacob Schmalz, Bryan Keith Dandridge, Matthew Steven Zurawski, Ryan Hahn, Ryan Jaskowiak
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Patent number: 10687464Abstract: A zero turn radius (ZTR) mower that includes an electric powertrain. The electric powertrain of the ZTR mower includes one or more electric storage batteries, a plurality of electric wheel drive motors that each drives one of the rear wheels of the ZTR mower and a plurality of electric blade motors that each drives one of the plurality of cutting blades mounted to a mower deck. The electric powertrain includes a master controller operable to selectively control the supply of electric power from the electric storage battery to the pair of electric wheel drive motors and the plurality of electric blade motors. The master controller controls the speed and direction of movement of the ZTR mower through user inputs. The master controller is able to separately control the operational speed of each of the electric blade motors based upon the direction and speed of movement of the ZTR mower.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert J. Koenen
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Publication number: 20200113133Abstract: A lawnmower includes a cutting deck, a cutting blade positioned below the cutting deck, and an electric motor coupled to and configured to drive the cutting blade. The electric motor is positioned at least partially below the cutting deck.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Keith Dandridge, Scott Funke, Jacob Schmalz, Mark Noller
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Publication number: 20190291779Abstract: Ride-on outdoor power equipment includes one or more batteries, one or more electric traction motors electrically connected to the one or more batteries, one or more user input devices, a plurality of sensors, and a controller in communication with the one or more batteries, the electric traction motors and the one or more user input devices, the controller configured to control the electric traction motors to operate the ride-on outdoor power equipment based on inputs received via the user input devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, David Schulenberg, Scott Funke, Steve Avery, Steve Weber, Brian Poirier, Jacob Schmalz
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Publication number: 20190217319Abstract: A sprayer equipment includes a support frame, a pump, a pressure regulator, a concentrate tank, an injector, a spray nozzle, and a controller. The support frame has a plurality of wheels. The pump is coupled to the support frame and includes a pump inlet configured to be fluidly coupled to a water source and a pump outlet providing water at an increased water pressure. The pressure regulator is configured to control the pressure of the water. The concentrate tank is supported by the support frame and configured to store a concentrate fluid. The injector is fluidly coupled to the concentrate tank and configured to inject the concentrate fluid into the water. The spray nozzle is fluidly coupled to the pump outlet and the injector. The controller is coupled to the injector and is configured to control operation of the injector.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Kyle Harvey, Todd Johnson, Jeffrey Zeiler
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Publication number: 20190178220Abstract: A snowthrower includes an internal combustion engine and a starter battery pack that provides electrical power to operate an electric starter motor. The starter battery pack is received within a receptacle of the snowthrower and is selectively coupled to the starter motor to initiate operation of the internal combustion engine. The starter battery pack can further include a battery heating circuit that is operable to heat the starter battery pack above ambient temperatures to increase the current output of the starter battery pack. The battery heating circuit includes a controller that utilizes electrical power from the starter battery pack to heat the starter battery pack.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2019Publication date: June 13, 2019Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Dale Van Patten, Jason Andrew Hansen
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Publication number: 20190160972Abstract: A scalable power unit for powering one or more electric motors of a riding vehicle and/or a piece of outdoor power equipment. The scalable power unit includes a number of interconnected battery packs. The battery packs can be received in a battery tray or stacked to form the scalable power unit. Each battery pack can be removed and used separately or added to a combination of battery packs. A control unit selectively opens and closes switching elements to separately control the connections between the battery packs and an electrical load, such as a motor. During charging, the control unit opens and closes the switching elements to control the charging rate of the individual battery packs. When the battery packs are connected to an electric load, the control unit controls the state of the switching elements to selectively discharge the battery packs to power the riding vehicle and/or electric loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2017Publication date: May 30, 2019Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Patent number: 10233889Abstract: A snowthrower includes an internal combustion engine and a starter battery pack that provides electrical power to operate an electric starter motor. The starter battery pack is received within a receptacle of the snowthrower and is selectively coupled to the starter motor to initiate operation of the internal combustion engine. The starter battery pack can further include a battery heating circuit that is operable to heat the starter battery pack above ambient temperatures to increase the current output of the starter battery pack. The battery heating circuit includes a controller that utilizes electrical power from the starter battery pack to heat the starter battery pack.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2017Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Dale Van Patten, Jason Andrew Hansen
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Publication number: 20180192580Abstract: A zero turn radius (ZTR) mower that includes an electric powertrain. The electric powertrain of the ZTR mower includes one or more electric storage batteries, a plurality of electric wheel drive motors that each drives one of the rear wheels of the ZTR mower and a plurality of electric blade motors that each drives one of the plurality of cutting blades mounted to a mower deck. The electric powertrain includes a master controller operable to selectively control the supply of electric power from the electric storage battery to the pair of electric wheel drive motors and the plurality of electric blade motors. The master controller controls the speed and direction of movement of the ZTR mower through user inputs. The master controller is able to separately control the operational speed of each of the electric blade motors based upon the direction and speed of movement of the ZTR mower.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert J. Koenen
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Patent number: 9915238Abstract: A starter battery pack with a start button included as part of the starter battery pack is shown and described. The starter battery pack includes a start button that, when the starter battery pack is received within a receptacle of outdoor power equipment, such as a lawn tractor, allows the starter battery pack to provide power to a starting circuit of the power equipment. The battery pack is selectively rechargeable and preferably is a type of battery, such as lithium ion, that can be repeatedly discharged and recharged without affecting battery life. When the starter battery pack is received within the receptacle, activation of the start button provides current and voltage from the starter battery pack to an electric starter motor, which initiates operation of the internal combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen
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Publication number: 20170306916Abstract: A snowthrower includes an internal combustion engine and a starter battery pack that provides electrical power to operate an electric starter motor. The starter battery pack is received within a receptacle of the snowthrower and is selectively coupled to the starter motor to initiate operation of the internal combustion engine. The starter battery pack can further include a battery heating circuit that is operable to heat the starter battery pack above ambient temperatures to increase the current output of the starter battery pack. The battery heating circuit includes a controller that utilizes electrical power from the starter battery pack to heat the starter battery pack.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2017Publication date: October 26, 2017Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Dale Van Patten, Jason Andrew Hansen