Patents by Inventor Khari S. Clarke

Khari S. Clarke 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: 11013173
    Abstract: A control system for a ground working vehicle. The control system may include a handle assembly including a handle member extending upwardly and rearwardly from a chassis of the vehicle. The control system may also include a speed control apparatus including a control grip operably connected to, and translatable along, the handle member. Translation of the control grip may activate a transmission to move the chassis in the forward direction when the control grip is translated downwardly along the handle member towards the chassis. Further, the control system may include a lockout apparatus movably attached to a handle member. The lockout apparatus may be adapted to selectively and physically restrict movement of the control grip relative to the handle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron Y. Curtis, Khari S. Clarke
  • Publication number: 20200296890
    Abstract: A control system for a ground working vehicle. The control system may include a handle assembly including a handle member extending upwardly and rearwardly from a chassis of the vehicle. The control system may also include a speed control apparatus including a control grip operably connected to, and translatable along, the handle member. Translation of the control grip may activate a transmission to move the chassis in the forward direction when the control grip is translated downwardly along the handle member towards the chassis. Further, the control system may include a lockout apparatus movably attached to a handle member. The lockout apparatus may be adapted to selectively and physically restrict movement of the control grip relative to the handle member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Aaron Y. Curtis, Khari S. Clarke
  • Patent number: 10709064
    Abstract: A control system for a ground working vehicle. The control system may include a handle assembly including a handle member extending upwardly and rearwardly from a chassis of the vehicle. The control system may also include a speed control apparatus including a control grip operably connected to, and translatable along, the handle member. Translation of the control grip may activate a transmission to move the chassis in the forward direction when the control grip is translated downwardly along the handle member towards the chassis. Further, the control system may include a lockout apparatus movably attached to a handle member. The lockout apparatus may be adapted to selectively and physically restrict movement of the control grip relative to the handle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Aaron Y. Curtis, Khari S. Clarke
  • Publication number: 20190230852
    Abstract: A control system for a ground working vehicle. The control system may include a handle assembly including a handle member extending upwardly and rearwardly from a chassis of the vehicle. The control system may also include a speed control apparatus including a control grip operably connected to, and translatable along, the handle member. Translation of the control grip may activate a transmission to move the chassis in the forward direction when the control grip is translated downwardly along the handle member towards the chassis. Further, the control system may include a lockout apparatus movably attached to a handle member. The lockout apparatus may be adapted to selectively and physically restrict movement of the control grip relative to the handle member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Aaron Y. Curtis, Khari S. Clarke
  • Patent number: 9848531
    Abstract: A grounds maintenance apparatus such as a lawn mower adapted for movement from a horizontal operating orientation to a vertical storage orientation. Embodiments of the apparatus provide supplemental storage wheels adapted to permit rolling of the apparatus over a ground surface while in the vertical storage orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Chris A. Wadzinski, John O. Hurst, Khari S. Clarke, John T. Gill, Ryan M. Petersen, Mark C. Daly
  • Patent number: 9677648
    Abstract: A control system for controlling engagement of a first and second transmission of an all-wheel drive (AWD) walk-behind power equipment unit such as a lawn mower. The control system may include a mechanical load balancer to split an input drive force vector into two output force vectors. These two forces act upon associated first and second connection elements coupled to the first and second transmissions, respectively. One transmission may include a resistance element selected to sequence engagement of the first and second transmissions so that both transmissions begin driving their respective wheels at or near the same time even when the wheels associated with one transmission are more heavily-loaded than the wheels associated with the other transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Chris A. Wadzinski, John T. Gill, Khari S. Clarke, Ryan M. Petersen, John O. Hurst
  • Publication number: 20160201771
    Abstract: A control system for controlling engagement of a first and second transmission of an all-wheel drive (AWD) walk-behind power equipment unit such as a lawn mower. The control system may include a mechanical load balancer to split an input drive force vector into two output force vectors. These two forces act upon associated first and second connection elements coupled to the first and second transmissions, respectively. One transmission may include a resistance element selected to sequence engagement of the first and second transmissions so that both transmissions begin driving their respective wheels at or near the same time even when the wheels associated with one transmission are more heavily-loaded than the wheels associated with the other transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Chris A. Wadzinski, John T Gill, Khari S. Clarke, Ryan M. Petersen, John O. Hurst
  • Publication number: 20160198627
    Abstract: A grounds maintenance apparatus such as a lawn mower adapted for movement from a horizontal operating orientation to a vertical storage orientation. Embodiments of the apparatus provide supplemental storage wheels adapted to permit rolling of the apparatus over a ground surface while in the vertical storage orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Chris A. Wadzinski, John O. Hurst, Khari S. Clarke, John T. Gill, Ryan M. Petersen, Mark C. Daly
  • Patent number: 7231755
    Abstract: A walk-behind implement, e.g., lawn mower, having a handle assembly, and a handle assembly release apparatus for use with such an implement. The release apparatus, in one embodiment, may permit unlocking of the handle assembly from a first operating position relative to a housing of the implement. Once unlocked, the handle assembly may be moved, e.g., pivoted, to a second storage position. In one embodiment, the release apparatus may include a lever member that may be actuated by the application of a force applied by an operator's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Khari S. Clarke
  • Patent number: D714351
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: David J. Martin, Philip C. Dretzka, Khari S. Clarke, Chris A. Wadzinski
  • Patent number: D966176
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Philip C. Dretzka, Aaron Y. Curtis, Khari S. Clarke, Aaron A. Hernandez, Daniel A. Phipps
  • Patent number: D1016860
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Philip C. Dretzka, Aaron Y. Curtis, Khari S. Clarke, Kevin D. Docken, Aaron A. Hernandez, Daniel A. Phipps