Patents by Inventor Ken K. Oka

Ken K. Oka 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: 5533856
    Abstract: A front-end loader includes a pair of loader arms and features a parallelogram-shaped plate assembly associated with each arm and having first and second corners respectively pivotally mounted to the forward end of a respective loader arm and to an implement carrier holder and having third and fourth corners respectively pivotally coupled to levelling and tilt linkage assemblies. A tilt cylinder is mounted between the tilt linkage assembly and the parallelogram-shaped plate assembly. The parallelogram-shaped plate assembly serves to transfer levelling linkage and tilt cylinder inputs to an implement carrier holder coupled to a mounting bracket at the rear side of a bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Henry Friesen, Ken K. Oka
  • Patent number: 5531561
    Abstract: A loader parking stand system includes a pair of stands mounted to the torque tube interconnecting a pair of boom arms of the loader. The connection of each stand to the torque tube is effected by inserting a connecting pin, defining the upper end of the stand, into a cylindrical receptacle projecting upwardly into and being welded to the torque tube, the receptacle being nearly vertical when the loader is disposed in an attitude for being parked. Each stand includes a latch mechanism located entirely inside the torque tube and being manually operable for selectively releasing the stand for permitting it to be swivelled through 180.degree. between its stored and park positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Rory Rae, Ken K. Oka, Gordon D. Hubbard, Frank F. Rocco, David W. Bratt, Dean R. Chalmers, Ron M. Hind
  • Patent number: 5405237
    Abstract: A tractor-mounted loader is provided with a leveling linkage including a pivot arm assembly pivotally mounted to each of a pair of loader arms at locations intermediate the ends of the latter. A first link is coupled between each post supporting the loader boom arm on the tractor and the pivot arm assembly while a tilt cylinder serves as a second link and is coupled between the pivot arm assembly and a tilt linkage for the implement. The pivot arm assembly of each linkage includes a pair identical plates fixed in spaced parallel relationship to each other and each plate contains an elongate pivot pin adjustment slot having the mounting pin for the tilt cylinder located therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Ken K. Oka
  • Patent number: 4840020
    Abstract: There is disclosed a rotary mower which is comprised of a top deck and sidewalls, a connecting structure for supporting the front of the mower on a tracking three-point hitch, a drive shaft connectable to a tractor power take-off, a gearbox and rotor to drive the mower blade and a tail wheel for varying blade cutting height adjustably supported by a support tube pivotally carried by the mower deck. The tail wheel adjustment structure is carried between the mower deck and wheel support tube to reduce stresses and resulting deformation on the deck and sidewalls and is compactly designed to minimize projection of parts above the tail wheel support tube both during operation and shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Ken K. Oka
  • Patent number: 4326594
    Abstract: A tractor-drawn farm implement is carried at its front end on a tractor drawbar and at its rear end by trailing wheel means, and linkage of the so-called four-bar type is operative to selectively raise and lower the implement. The body of the implement serves as one member of the linkage and front and rear lever arms are interconnected by a leveling rod so as to coordinate the front and rear arms as force is exerted against one arm by power-operated means on the implement. During one phase of vertical movement of the implement as it is raised or lowered, the leveling rod is stressed in compression. The invention provides yieldable means in conjunction with the rod capable of yielding as to prevent or at least minimize bending of the rod in the event of over-stressing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Ken K. Oka, Peter C. Haag
  • Patent number: 4315396
    Abstract: An agricultural implement for operation over the ground beneath the low-hanging branches of trees in an orchard is equipped with shield means effective to prevent or minimize injury to the branches and fruit borne thereby. The inventive feature is the provision of a wheel support and ground-engaging wheel capable of adjustment relative to the main body of the implement, together with a fender carried by the wheel support independently of the main body and a shield member carried by the body and overlying the fender so as to cover the gap between the fender and body irrespective of adjustment of the wheel, wheel support and fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1982
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Ken K. Oka, John Kulak
  • Patent number: 4224783
    Abstract: A simple draft stabilizer is provided for a pull-type harvesting implement having a trailing and transversely extending harvesting header. The stabilizer includes a vertically adjustable earth-penetrating disk blade carried by and to one side of the fore-and-aft extending drawbar. The blade is supported for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and imparts a sidewards force that counters the fallback forces generated by the offset harvesting header. The blade is also mounted to rotate about an axis substantially transversely aligned with the axes of revolution of the wheels supporting the harvesting header to permit sharp turns and avoid skidding damage to the supporting wheel and its mounting structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Kirkpatrick, Dalton H. Spicer, Ken K. Oka
  • Patent number: 4149426
    Abstract: A device for engaging and disengaging a power shaft and driven elements of a forage wagon or similar tractor drawn implement. A split sheave clutch having a driving face connected to the power shaft and a driven face connected to the driven elements is engaged by tightening a V-belt between the faces. The belt tightening mechanism includes an idler pulley shiftable to and from a belt tightening position and a latching mechanism releasably securing the pulley in the belt tightening position. A latch control member connected to a safety bar extending across the front of the wagon releases the latching mechanism to disengage all the driven elements when the operator either pushes or pulls the safety bar. The driven elements can be re-engaged with the power shaft by shifting the pulley to the belt tightening position without need for the operator to first return to the tractor to stop the power shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: John Rosbak, Ken K. Oka