Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Congdon

Thomas M. Congdon 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: 11970844
    Abstract: In one aspect, a corner shroud includes a body that may have a floor portion having a floor rear surface, a floor inner surface, a floor lower surface, and a floor upper surface having a curved portion, a side portion, extending from the floor portion, and having a side outer surface, a side rear surface, a side inner surface, and a side upper surface, a front portion extending between the floor portion and the side portion, the front portion having a front surface, a front inner surface, and a front rear surface, and a top portion extending from the front portion, the top portion having a top upper surface, a top inner surface, a top lower surface, a top rear surface, and a top outer surface. The floor upper surface, the side inner surface, the front rear surface, the top lower surface, and the top inner surface define a recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan R Bjerke, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: 11952751
    Abstract: A shroud retention system for a work tool is disclosed. The shroud retention system may have an adapter attached to the work tool. The shroud retention system may also have a shroud that slidably engages with the adapter. The shroud may have a retainer slot. Further, the shroud retention system may have a spring assembly disposed in the shroud. The spring assembly may have a block that slidably moves relative to the adapter. The spring assembly may also have a resilient member disposed between the adapter and the block. In addition, the spring assembly may have a retainer disposed in the retainer slot. The retainer may engage with the block. The retainer may have at least one recess disposed on the retainer front face or on the retainer rear face. The recess may extend partway toward the other of the retainer front face or the retainer rear face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Bjerke, Scott A. Schick, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: 11746506
    Abstract: A system for use in securing bits against rotation in a motor grader may include a bit, with the bit having a shank. The shank may include a locking portion. The system may include an adapter board including a hole configured to receive the shank of the bit. The system may also include an anti-rotation plate configured to engage the locking portion of the shank of the bit such that the anti-rotation plate constrains the bit against rotation with respect to the adapter board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Parzynski, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: 11499298
    Abstract: A corner segment, configured to be mounted to a work implement, may include a body having a plurality of surfaces including a rear surface, an upper surface, a front surface, a bottom surface, an outer side surface, an inner side surface, and a corner surface that is adjacent to each of the front surface, the outer side surface, the upper surface, and the bottom surface. A portion of the bottom surface forms a bottom surface wear zone, and a portion of the front surface forms a front surface wear zone, The corner segment may also include a plurality of protrusions provided on wear zones, the wear zones including the bottom surface wear zone and the front surface wear zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Congdon, Nathan Bjerke
  • Patent number: 11459736
    Abstract: A cutting edge for a machine. The cutting edge includes a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. The cutting edge includes insert apertures along the bottom side. The insert apertures shaped to receive inserts made of harder material than the majority of the cutting edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Parzynski, Jr., Thomas M. Congdon
  • Publication number: 20210355658
    Abstract: A system for use in securing bits against rotation in a motor grader may include a bit, with the bit having a shank. The shank may include a locking portion. The system may include an adapter board including a hole configured to receive the shank of the bit. The system may also include an anti-rotation plate configured to engage the locking portion of the shank of the bit such that the anti-rotation plate constrains the bit against rotation with respect to the adapter board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David B. PARZYNSKI, Thomas M. CONGDON
  • Publication number: 20210340739
    Abstract: In one aspect, a corner segment, configured to be mounted to a work implement, may include a body having a plurality of surfaces including a rear surface, an upper surface, a front surface, a bottom surface, an outer side surface, an inner side surface, and a corner surface that is adjacent to each of the front surface, the outer side surface, the upper surface, and the bottom surface. A portion of the bottom surface forms a bottom surface wear zone, and a portion of the front surface forms a front surface wear zone, The corner segment may also include a plurality of protrusions provided on wear zones, the wear zones including the bottom surface wear zone and the front surface wear zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. CONGDON, Nathan BJERKE
  • Publication number: 20210332568
    Abstract: In one aspect, a corner shroud includes a body that may have a floor portion having a floor rear surface, a floor inner surface, a floor lower surface, and a floor upper surface having a curved portion, a side portion, extending from the floor portion, and having a side outer surface, a side rear surface, a side inner surface, and a side upper surface, a front portion extending between the floor portion and the side portion, the front portion having a front surface, a front inner surface, and a front rear surface, and a top portion extending from the front portion, the top portion having a top upper surface, a top inner surface, a top lower surface, a top rear surface, and a top outer surface. The floor upper surface, the side inner surface, the front rear surface, the top lower surface, and the top inner surface define a recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan R. BJERKE, Thomas M. CONGDON
  • Patent number: 11149416
    Abstract: A system for use in securing bits against rotation in a motor grader may include a bit, with the bit having a shank. The shank may include a locking portion. The system may include an adapter board including a hole configured to receive the shank of the bit. The system may also include an anti-rotation plate configured to engage the locking portion of the shank of the bit such that the anti-rotation plate constrains the bit against rotation with respect to the adapter board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Parzynski, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Publication number: 20210301503
    Abstract: A cutting edge for a machine. The cutting edge includes a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side. The cutting edge includes insert apertures along the bottom side. The insert apertures shaped to receive inserts made of harder material than the majority of the cutting edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Parzynski, JR., Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: 11035103
    Abstract: A lock for a ground engaging tool may have a first diameter body portion, a neck portion extending from the body portion along a rotational axis of the lock and having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and a head portion extending from the neck portion along the rotational axis. The head portion may have first and second generally planar end surfaces extending from a bottom surface to a top surface, and first and second cam surfaces, which connect the end surfaces and each include a convex portion and a concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Richard Bjerke, Thomas M. Congdon, Edward Harry Betts, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210010247
    Abstract: A shroud retention system for a work tool is disclosed. The shroud retention system may have an adapter attached to the work tool. The shroud retention system may also have a shroud that slidably engages with the adapter. The shroud may have a retainer slot. Further, the shroud retention system may have a spring assembly disposed in the shroud. The spring assembly may have a block that slidably moves relative to the adapter. The spring assembly may also have a resilient member disposed between the adapter and the block. In addition, the spring assembly may have a retainer disposed in the retainer slot. The retainer may engage with the block. The retainer may have at least one recess disposed on the retainer front face or on the retainer rear face. The recess may extend partway toward the other of the retainer front face or the retainer rear face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Nathan BJERKE, Scott A. SCHICK, Thomas M. CONGDON
  • Patent number: 10883257
    Abstract: A shroud retention system for a work tool is disclosed. The shroud retention system may have an adapter attached to the work tool, and a shroud having a channel that slides over the adapter. The channel may have a retainer slot. The shroud retention system may further have a spring assembly disposed in the channel and connectable to the adapter. The spring assembly may have a slide compressor that can slide within the channel relative to the adapter. The slide compressor may have a compressor mating feature. The spring assembly may further have a resilient member disposed between the adapter and the slide compressor. The shroud retention system may have a retainer plate disposed in the retainer slot. The retainer plate may have a retainer mating feature that mates with the compressor mating feature such that the retainer plate and the slide compressor are engaged in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Bjerke, Scott A. Schick, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: D920401
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Congdon, David B. Parzynski, Jr., Nathan Bjerke
  • Patent number: D922447
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Bjerke, Scott A. Schick, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: D933719
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Bjerke, Scott A. Schick, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: D938999
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Congdon, David B. Parzynski, Jr., Nathan Bjerke
  • Patent number: D959505
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan R. Bjerke, Thomas M. Congdon
  • Patent number: D963718
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Congdon, David B. Parzynski, Jr., Nathan Bjerke
  • Patent number: D997209
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan R. Bjerke, Thomas M. Congdon