Patents by Inventor John R. Schneiker

John R. Schneiker 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 8413760
    Abstract: A muffler for an internal combustion engine includes a first shell includes a flexible portion, an intake conduit, and a second shell coupled to the first shell. The intake conduit extends outwardly from the first shell and is configured to be inserted into an exhaust port of an engine. The flexible portion surrounds the intake conduit. Upon attachment to the engine, compression force is stored via elastic deflection of the flexible portion of the first shell, thereby pressing the intake conduit into the exhaust port such that a seal is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, John R. Schneiker
  • Publication number: 20120304948
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine with an overhead valve configuration includes multiple integral bosses, an exhaust valve rocker stud including an upper portion and a lower portion, an intake valve rocker stud including an upper portion and a lower portion, a head plate supported by the integral bosses such that an air cooling passage is formed between the head plate and the cylinder head, where the head plate is fastened to the cylinder head by the lower portions of the exhaust valve rocker stud and the intake valve rocker stud, and a cover secured to the head plate such that the cover and the head plate enclose the upper portions of the exhaust valve rocker stud and the intake valve rocker stud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: John R. Schneiker
  • Publication number: 20120279199
    Abstract: A muffler for an internal combustion engine includes a first shell includes a flexible portion, an intake conduit, and a second shell coupled to the first shell. The intake conduit extends outwardly from the first shell and is configured to be inserted into an exhaust port of an engine. The flexible portion surrounds the intake conduit. Upon attachment to the engine, compression force is stored via elastic deflection of the flexible portion of the first shell, thereby pressing the intake conduit into the exhaust port such that a seal is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, John R. Schneiker
  • Patent number: 8251030
    Abstract: A cover system for an internal combustion engine having an overhead valve or overhead cam configuration includes a cover attached to a head plate. The cover has sides extending from a top surface and terminating in a flange with an overhang. The overhang includes a catch. The head plate has sides extending from a bottom surface and terminating in a curl. The flange and the overhang are positioned adjacent to the curl with the catch engaging an end of the curl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: John R. Schneiker
  • Patent number: 8251173
    Abstract: An engine includes an exhaust conduit having an exhaust port on an end of the exhaust conduit. The exhaust conduit has an angled inside surface that has a cross section that widens toward the exhaust port. The engine further includes a muffler having a housing with an intake pipe. The intake pipe is inserted through the exhaust port such that the intake pipe is wedged into the angled inside surface of the exhaust conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, John R. Schneiker
  • Patent number: 8220429
    Abstract: A single-cylinder, four-stroke cycle, internal combustion engine arranged in an overhead valve configuration includes a first valve train and a second valve train. The first valve train includes a first cam on a camshaft, a first pushrod driven by the first cam, a first rocker arm attached to the first pushrod, and an exhaust valve driven by the first rocker arm. The second valve train includes a second cam on the camshaft, a second pushrod driven by the second cam, a second rocker arm attached to the second pushrod, and an intake valve driven by the second rocker arm. The first rocker arm is longer than the second rocker arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: John R. Schneiker
  • Publication number: 20120097482
    Abstract: An engine includes a volume configured to hold oil for lubricating components of the engine, a pump, a conduit coupled to the pump and extending into the volume, and a visual interface coupled to the conduit. The conduit includes an opening located on the conduit at a position associated with a desired level for oil in the volume. When oil in the volume is at least up to the desired level, operation of the pump draws oil from the volume through the opening and into the conduit. The visual interface communicates whether or not oil in the volume is at least up to the desired level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Benjamin R. Miller, John R. Schneiker, Gary J. Gracyalny
  • Publication number: 20110017166
    Abstract: A cover system for an internal combustion engine having an overhead valve or overhead cam configuration includes a cover attached to a head plate. The cover has sides extending from a top surface and terminating in a flange with an overhang. The overhang includes a catch. The head plate has sides extending from a bottom surface and terminating in a curl. The flange and the overhang are positioned adjacent to the curl with the catch engaging an end of the curl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: John R. Schneiker
  • Publication number: 20110017336
    Abstract: An engine includes an exhaust conduit having an exhaust port on an end of the exhaust conduit. The exhaust conduit has an angled inside surface that has a cross section that widens toward the exhaust port. The engine further includes a muffler having a housing with an intake pipe. The intake pipe is inserted through the exhaust port such that the intake pipe is wedged into the angled inside surface of the exhaust conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, John R. Schneiker
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110017159
    Abstract: A single-cylinder, four-stroke cycle, internal combustion engine arranged in an overhead valve configuration includes a first valve train and a second valve train. The first valve train includes a first cam on a camshaft, a first pushrod driven by the first cam, a first rocker arm attached to the first pushrod, and an exhaust valve driven by the first rocker arm. The second valve train includes a second cam on the camshaft, a second pushrod driven by the second cam, a second rocker arm attached to the second pushrod, and an intake valve driven by the second rocker arm. The first rocker arm is longer than the second rocker arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventor: John R. Schneiker
  • Patent number: D531638
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, Charles Lasky, Paul A. Leech, John P. McDonald, Brian P. Saiia, John R. Schneiker, Kipp K. Stevens, Christina E. Wisler
  • Patent number: D537396
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, Charles Lasky, Paul A. Leech, John P. McDonald, Brian P. Saiia, John R. Schneiker, Kipp K. Stevens, Christina E. Wisler
  • Patent number: D541303
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, Charles Lasky, Paul A. Leech, John P. McDonald, Brian P. Saiia, John R. Schneiker, Kipp K. Stevens, Christina E. Wisler
  • Patent number: D553645
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher J. Drew, Charles Lasky, Paul A. Leech, John P. McDonald, Brian P. Saiia, John R. Schneiker, Kipp K. Stevens, Christina E. Wisler