Patents Represented by Attorney Sturm & Fix LLP
  • Patent number: 7703391
    Abstract: A large round baler equipped with moisture sensing apparatus and a bale scale to improve information useful in baling and using bales. Moisture sensing begins after the bale reaches a predetermined diameter. A history of bale weights is used to estimate how much tension to apply to a belt tensioner to achieve both a target bale weight and a target bale size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Tom Duenwald, Scott Rempe, Calvin Meinders
  • Patent number: 7665952
    Abstract: A trailer, having the capability of lowering its deck to the ground surface for ease of loading and unloading from the ground; raising its deck to a loading dock height for ease of loading and unloading from a loading dock or other elevated surface; and tilting its deck for dumping is disclosed. The deck is maintained in a transport position for travel. All the changes in position may be effected by a single actuator. Rollers, affixed to a rail affixed to the deck roll inside C-channels affixed to the frame arranged at a diagonal to the vertical when raising or lowering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Inventor: Bruce E. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7661748
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing transfer of odors from a vehicle to a hunter from a self propelled vehicle has at least one seat, a floorboard and a steering wheel. A cover for the seat, and/or floor mat and/or steering wheel has a vapor barrier to prevent odors from the seat, and/or floor mat and/or steering wheel from passing therethrough, and a material such as silk or RAYON® disposed on top of the vapor barrier of the seat, and/or floor mat and/or steering wheel which is free of any substance foreign to it that would have an odor associated with it, or it can be treated with an odor absorbing substance, or it can be treated with a “cover scent” such as acorn or earth/dirt scent which would be transferred to the hunter's hands and/or clothing and/or boots. Alternatively, a scent absorbing layer, such as a SCENT LOK® layer, can be disposed under the vapor barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Inventor: Tim Abraham
  • Patent number: 7658056
    Abstract: A drive system for agricultural implements having at least one floating head and a tongue that may be disposed at various angles relative to a longitudinal angle of the implement. Two swivel gearbox assemblies are used, each comprising a first 90° gearbox rigidly attached to the implement and a second 90° gearbox that is permitted to rotate about an axis passing through one of its shafts and one of the first 90° gearbox's shaft. Because the tongue angle is variable, the drive shafts for driving the implement must take on a plurality of angles. The swiveling gearbox assemblies allow variable angles at the tongue and at the header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Kent L. Thompson, Shane A. Bollinger, Stuart Gene Van Donselaar
  • Patent number: 7654069
    Abstract: A slide frame for a baler is provided for mounting one or more accessories such as a wind guard and/or a rotor, powered or non-powered, for assisting a pickup on a baler to pick up cut crops from the ground and deliver such crops to the inlet of a baling chamber. The slide frame is mounted in such a way as to automatically space each respective accessory a predetermined place with respect to the crop pickup device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Lile J. Dunham, Eric Woodford, Philip Egging
  • Patent number: 7654479
    Abstract: An improved brush cutter having an upper feed control member with stop, forward, neutral, and reverse positions also has a lower feed stop member with selectable sensitivity. Another aspect of the invention is to predict the feed roller shutoff point according to the rate of engine deceleration. According to another aspect, when the feed rollers stop feeding material into the cutters, to overcome drag on the cutters, a controller stops the feed rollers and then reverses them for a short time, and then reverses the rollers again if the problem is still present. To prevent jamming, a pressure switch senses when oil in a hydraulic motor system for rotating the feed rollers is too high and the controller momentarily reverses the feed rollers and then causes them to go forward, a cycle which can occur several times until the feed rollers are no longer stalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark R Stelter, James L. O'Halloran, Dennis K. Gabler, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Ivan R. Brand, Brian M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7648172
    Abstract: A kit for manufacturing a stitch-bound printed book comprises a book cover (10), a collection of pre-perforated sheets (15) that can be printed to make up a printed bookblock (18), and endpapers (20a,20b) for assembling the printed bookblock in the cover. The pre-perforated loose sheets (15) have along one edge that corresponds to the book's spine a series of binding perforations (16). The pre-perforated loose sheets (15) are printable on one or both sides in an A4 printer to constitute printed pages of the book. A bookblock (18) is formed by reconstituting the printed pre-perforated pages as a collection with their perforations (16) aligned and by sewing through the perforations (16). This involves stitch-binding of individual sheets (15) instead of the usual stitch-binding of folded sheets, which makes it feasible to print the prepared collection of pre-perforated sheets using desktop publishing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: C.P.E. Communication Promotion Edition S.A.
    Inventor: Kevin Paul Steele
  • Patent number: 7637444
    Abstract: An improved brush cutter having an upper feed control member with stop, forward, neutral, and reverse positions also has a lower feed stop member with selectable sensitivity. Another aspect of the invention is to predict the feed roller shutoff point according to the rate of engine deceleration. According to another aspect, when the feed rollers stop feeding material into the cutters, to overcome drag on the cutters, a controller stops the feed rollers and then reverses them for a short time, and then reverses the rollers again if the problem is still present. To prevent jamming, a pressure switch senses when oil in a hydraulic motor system for rotating the feed rollers is too high and the controller momentarily reverses the feed rollers and then causes them to go forward, a cycle which can occur several times until the feed rollers are no longer stalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark Robert Stelter, James L. O'Halloran, Dennis K Gabler, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Ivan R Brand, Brian M Johnson
  • Patent number: 7624937
    Abstract: An improved brush cutter having an upper feed control member with stop, forward, neutral, and reverse positions also has a lower feed stop member with selectable sensitivity. Another aspect of the invention is to predict the feed roller shutoff point according to the rate of engine deceleration. According to another aspect, when the feed rollers stop feeding material into the cutters, to overcome drag on the cutters, a controller stops the feed rollers and then reverses them for a short time, and then reverses the rollers again if the problem is still present. To prevent jamming, a pressure switch senses when oil in a hydraulic motor system for rotating the feed rollers is too high and the controller momentarily reverses the feed rollers and then causes them to go forward, a cycle which can occur several times until the feed rollers are no longer stalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark Robert Stelter, James L O'Halloran, Dennis K Gabler, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Ivan R Brand, Brian M Johnson
  • Patent number: 7625154
    Abstract: A plow blade having a fluid passageway and points of fluid ejection is produced with basic manufacturing processes allowing for efficient production. The blade construction has a multiple component assembly for providing the ability to rebuild a blade and replacing a portion of the blade that may be worn. In another aspect of the invention a process of ejecting a specific fluid at specific points along a plow blade the desirable characteristics are maximized, while the volume of ejected fluid is minimized. This method is adaptable in static plowing and vibratory plowing utilities since lubricating the sides of the blade/chute that come into contact with the ground with fluid has been found to greatly reduce the amount of drag (friction).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Keith A. Hoelting, James V. Reeves, Brian N. Kenkel
  • Patent number: 7611037
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nail gun hanger including a C-shaped bracket and a pivotally attached lever. An inner arm of the lever carries a tooth that engages the bottom surface of a framing member such as a rafter or joist, when the outer arm of the lever supports the weight of a nail gun. The nail gun hanger allows the operator to hang the gun on a framing member to enable the use of both hands for other tasks. When the gun is lifted and its weight is no longer supported by the outer lever arm, the tooth of the inner lever arm disengages from the bottom surface of the rafter so the gun can be removed from the rafter and used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: BLMS Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Michael A. Bazzano
  • Patent number: 7596935
    Abstract: A suspension system for fixed-frame, towed agricultural implements having at least one floating head. A hydraulic cylinder is used for both lift and suspension of the floating head. A hydraulic accumulator provides expansion room for hydraulic fluid to move in and out of the hydraulic cylinder during suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Shane A. Bollinger, Kent L. Thompson, Rustin V. Bentzinger
  • Patent number: 7597279
    Abstract: An improved brush cutter having an upper feed control member with stop, forward, neutral, and reverse positions also has a lower feed stop member with selectable sensitivity. Another aspect of the invention is to predict the feed roller shutoff point according to the rate of engine deceleration. According to another aspect, when the feed rollers stop feeding material into the cutters, to overcome drag on the cutters, a controller stops the feed rollers and then reverses them for a short time, and then reverses the rollers again if the problem is still present. To prevent jamming, a pressure switch senses when oil in a hydraulic motor system for rotating the feed rollers is too high and the controller momentarily reverses the feed rollers and then causes them to go forward, a cycle which can occur several times until the feed rollers are no longer stalled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Mark Robert Stelter, James L O'Halloran, Dennis K Gabler, Jeffrey D. Kernwein, Ivan R Brand, Brian M Johnson
  • Patent number: 7594386
    Abstract: Many variables in processes such as those using turbocompressors and turbines must be limited or constrained. Limit control loops are provided for the purpose of limiting these variables. By using a combination of closed loop and open loop limit control schemes, excursions into unfavorable operation can be more effectively avoided. Transition between open loop and closed loop may be enhanced by testing the direction and magnitude of the rate at which the limit variable is changing. If the rate of change indicates recovery is imminent, control is passed back to the closed loop limit control function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Compressor Controls Corporation
    Inventors: Krishnan Narayanan, Paul F Fisher
  • Patent number: 7578539
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to an apparatus for use with curtain side trailers, including a pillar with a hydraulic dampening device and two members, and providing a way for the pillar to be locked and released from lateral movement along a railing or framework. The invention is generally used as an intermediary support for the curtain and the roof, and extends from the trailer bed to the roof. Since the pillars can move laterally along the railing or framework once released and opened, the width for loading and unloading is increased. The dampening device of present invention helps with safety issues of prior inventions by decreasing the velocity of the opening pillar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Roland Curtains USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Hermann L. Acker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7578731
    Abstract: A field dressing knife suitable for all aspects of field dressing small and large game is disclosed. Various novel aspects of the knife include: a large butt-end of the handle and a groove near the butt-end of the handle, both to spread the normal stress over a larger surface area when striking the butt-end of the handle with a free hand for splitting pelvis and brisket bones; and a configurable handle, permitting the double-edged field dressing knife to be used in knife mode or in a hatchet mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Harold J. Moore
  • Patent number: 7578399
    Abstract: A splash guard organizer for a sink work space. The splash guard organizer includes a vertical back panel with a number of spaced horizontal slots, a flexible water seal located at the bottom of the panel, and a hand access for operation of the water valve. The back panel is supported by a pair of feet extending forward from opposite ends of the panel. A number of fixtures, that have rearwardly extending tabs selectively secured in the slots, are supported in a cantilevered manner. The fixtures are designed to hold a number of individual items useful in the work space, such as bottles, brushes, sponges, towels, and cleaning pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Inventor: Azanaw Mulaw
  • Patent number: D599059
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Mediclinics, S.A.
    Inventor: Luis Sau Clerch
  • Patent number: D608622
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Inventor: Frank Xiang Zhu
  • Patent number: D612245
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Inventor: Aniceto Canamasas Puigbo