Patents by Inventor Scott Funke
Scott Funke 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: 11820218Abstract: A scalable power unit for powering one or more electric motors of a riding vehicle and/or a piece of outdoor power equipment includes a number of interconnected battery packs. The battery pack are received in a battery tray or stacked to form the scalable power unit. Each battery pack is configured to 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 switching elements to control the charging rate of the individual battery packs. When the battery packs are connected to an electrical 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: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
-
Publication number: 20230369880Abstract: A trailer includes a first power equipment having an equipment battery pack, a charging device having a primary battery pack, and a docking station electrically connected to the primary battery pack. When the first power equipment is positioned in the docking station, the docking station supplies power from the primary battery pack to the equipment battery pack to recharge the equipment battery pack.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Robert J. Koenen, Scott A. Funke, Todd Johnson, Mark Noller, Nicholas Joseph Ziedler, Jacob Zuehl
-
Publication number: 20230363309Abstract: A lawn mower includes a chassis supporting a wheel, a cutting deck supported by the chassis and defining a cutting chamber, a battery supported by the chassis, and a chore motor electrically coupled to the battery. The chore motor includes a housing with a coil assembly, a rotor, and a drive shaft extending out of the housing. The chore motor is attached to the cutting deck so that at least a portion of the housing and the drive shaft are positioned in the cutting chamber. The lawn mower further includes a blade coupled to the drive shaft so that the blade rotates within the cutting chamber when the chore motor rotates the drive shaft, and a spring washer coupled between the drive shaft and the blade. Relative rotation between the blade and the drive shaft occurs in response to a torque on the blade exceeding a threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Scott A. Funke, Mark Noller, Nick Joseph Zeidler, Christopher Krajewski, Joshua Kowalski
-
Patent number: 11712001Abstract: A lawn mower includes a chassis, a cutting deck, a chore motor, and a blade. The chassis supports several wheels. The cutting deck is supported by the chassis and defines a cutting chamber. The chore motor is electrically coupled to the battery. The chore motor includes a housing containing a coil assembly, a rotor, and a drive shaft extending out of the housing. The chore motor is attached to the cutting deck so that at least a portion of the housing and the drive shaft are positioned within the cutting chamber. The blade is coupled to the drive shaft and is configured to rotate within the cutting chamber when the chore motor rotates the rotor and drive shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2020Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Scott A. Funke, Mark Noller, Nick Joseph Zeidler, Christopher Krajewski, Joshua Kowalski
-
Publication number: 20230234432Abstract: 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 sequentially provide power to the riding lawn mower.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
-
Patent number: 11710981Abstract: A transportation vehicle including a plurality of battery packs, a plurality of power equipment, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify at least one of the plurality of power equipment or at least one of the plurality of battery packs that requires charging and direct power through a bus to distribute power to at least one of the plurality of power equipment or at least one of the plurality of battery packs. The plurality of battery packs are configured to recharge the plurality of power equipment.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Robert J. Koenen, Scott A. Funke, Todd Johnson, Mark Noller, Nicholas Joseph Ziedler, Jacob Zuehl
-
Publication number: 20230200296Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include a lawn mower including a frame, a deck coupled to the frame, and an electric power take off outlet coupled to the frame and structured to electrically couple with a battery. The electric power take off outlet including a power port structured to electrically couple to a peripheral device, and a data port structured to communicate with the peripheral device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2020Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Scott Funke, Mark Noller, Warren Corrado
-
Publication number: 20230180657Abstract: Outdoor power equipment including a frame, a battery, multiple wheels, a cutting deck, multiple chore motors, and multiple blades. The cutting deck is coupled to the frame and has a discharge opening. The electric chore motors are attached to the cutting deck and are selectively powered by the battery. Each of the blades is powered and rotated by one of the multiple electric chore motors. A first blade of the multiple blades is rotated in a first direction and a second blade of the multiple blades is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Scott Funke, Warren Corrado, Mark Noller, Nick Zeidler, Joshua Kowalski
-
Patent number: 11642952Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
-
Patent number: 11477939Abstract: A mower deck insert includes a first cutting chamber, a second cutting chamber, and a discharge passage extending adjacent to the first cutting chamber and the second cutting chamber. The first cutting chamber includes a first axial scroll extending about a first vertical axis. The first axial scroll includes a first upper surface having a first start region and a first end region. The second cutting chamber includes a second axial scroll extending about a second vertical axis. The second axial scroll includes a second upper surface having a second start region and a second end region. The first start region is vertically lower than the first end region, and the second start region is vertically lower than the second end region.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Kenneth W. Derra, Scott A. Funke, David W. Procknow, Rodney J. Balzar
-
Publication number: 20210408820Abstract: A transportation vehicle including a plurality of battery packs, a plurality of power equipment, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify at least one of the plurality of power equipment or at least one of the plurality of battery packs that requires charging and direct power through a bus to distribute power to at least one of the plurality of power equipment or at least one of the plurality of battery packs. The plurality of battery packs are configured to recharge the plurality of power equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Robert J. Koenen, Scott A. Funke, Todd Johnson, Mark Noller, Nicholas Joseph Ziedler, Jacob Zuehl
-
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
-
Publication number: 20210105939Abstract: A lawn mower includes a chassis, a cutting deck, a chore motor, and a blade. The chassis supports several wheels. The cutting deck is supported by the chassis and defines a cutting chamber. The chore motor is electrically coupled to the battery. The chore motor includes a housing containing a coil assembly, a rotor, and a drive shaft extending out of the housing. The chore motor is attached to the cutting deck so that at least a portion of the housing and the drive shaft are positioned within the cutting chamber. The blade is coupled to the drive shaft and is configured to rotate within the cutting chamber when the chore motor rotates the rotor and drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Scott A. Funke, Mark Noller, Nick Joseph Zeidler, Christopher Krajewski, Joshua Kowalski
-
Publication number: 20200205339Abstract: A mower deck insert includes a first cutting chamber, a second cutting chamber, and a discharge passage extending adjacent to the first cutting chamber and the second cutting chamber. The first cutting chamber includes a first axial scroll extending about a first vertical axis. The first axial scroll includes a first upper surface having a first start region and a first end region. The second cutting chamber includes a second axial scroll extending about a second vertical axis. The second axial scroll includes a second upper surface having a second start region and a second end region. The first start region is vertically lower than the first end region, and the second start region is vertically lower than the second end region.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Kenneth W. Derra, Scott A. Funke, David W. Procknow, Rodney J. Balzar
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Publication number: 20170245433Abstract: A mower comprises a deck comprising an underside cavity with a first interior profile; and a deck insert mounted within the underside cavity. The deck insert has a deck insert interior with a second interior profile different than the first interior profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventors: Kenneth W. Derra, Scott A. Funke, David W. Procknow, Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Rodney J. Balzar
-
Publication number: 20130343906Abstract: A pressure washer includes an engine, a water pump driven by the engine, a starter motor coupled to the engine to start the engine, an energy storage device electrically coupled to the starter motor, a spray device including an activation device for starting and stopping a flow of water from the spray device, a pressure sensor, and a flow sensor. The water pump has a low pressure side and a high pressure side. The high pressure side provides pressurized water. The pressure sensor is located at the low pressure side and is configured to indicate a water pressure relative to a threshold pressure. The flow sensor is located at the low pressure side and is configured to indicate a water flow relative to a threshold flow. With the engine off, the starter motor starts the engine when the pressure sensor indicates the water pressure is above the threshold pressure and the flow sensor indicates the water flow is above the threshold flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Inventors: Scott A. Funke, Robert Koenen, David W. Procknow, Jason A. Hansen, Stephen J. Lavender, Jason D. Elvers, Ramidu Mirissage, James Nommensen
-
Patent number: 6668225Abstract: A trailer control system incorporates sensors on both the trailer and a tow vehicle towing the trailer to measure operating parameters of both the trailer and the tow vehicle or prime mover. A computer mounted in the trailer or in the tow vehicle gathers input data from the sensors, including a variety of measurements of force, displacement, and temperature for the tow vehicle, the trailer, and their components. The computer may also be used to apply braking forces to the wheels of the trailer. Using the simulator, a variety of components on the trailer may be tested, their performance measured, and a better trailer may be designed. A trailer may also incorporate such a system for better control of the trailer and the combination vehicle of which it is a part.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Pahngroc Oh, Scott Funke, Kevin J. Pavlov