Patents Assigned to Toro Company
  • Electronic Speed Control System
    Publication number: 20220194227
    Abstract: A smart governor system that intercepts and adjusts throttle commands when certain criteria are met based on vehicle operations and a user-selected transmission mode. The governor, when engaged, reduces a throttle command in order limit engine and/or ground speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Fohrenkamm, Rebecca A. Springman, Kelly S. Meemken
  • Autonomous grounds maintenance machines with path planning for trap and obstacle avoidance
    Patent number: 11350563
    Abstract: Operating an autonomous grounds maintenance machine includes determining a travel path for the machine to reach a destination waypoint in a zone of a work region. The travel path is analyzed for problem areas based on a predetermined terrain map. Rotations of the machine may be planned even before the machine begins to travel down the path to proactively prevent the machine from becoming trapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventor: Jason T. Kraft
  • Autonomous machine navigation and training using vision system
    Patent number: 11334082
    Abstract: Autonomous machine navigation techniques may generate a three-dimensional point cloud that represents at least a work region based on feature data and matching data. Pose data associated with points of the three-dimensional point cloud may be generated that represents poses of an autonomous machine. A boundary may be determined using the pose data for subsequent navigation of the autonomous machine in the work region. Non-vision-based sensor data may be used to determine a pose. The pose may be updated based on the vision-based pose data. The autonomous machine may be navigated within the boundary of the work region based on the updated pose. The three-dimensional point cloud may be generated based on data captured during a touring phase. Boundaries may be generated based on data captured during a mapping phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Alexander Steven Frick, Jason Thomas Kraft, Ryan Douglas Ingvalson, Christopher Charles Osterwood, David Arthur LaRose, Zachary Irvin Parker, Adam Richard Williams, Stephen Paul Elizondo Landers, Michael Jason Ramsay, Brian Daniel Beyer
  • Reel blade and manufacturing method
    Patent number: 11324163
    Abstract: A reel for a reel mower having reference grooves formed in the shaft thereof and usable as datum to ensure ends formed in the shaft are concentrically aligned and for sharpening and truing maintenance operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Scott Michael Coffin, Cody Schrupp
  • Mobile turf instrument apparatus
    Patent number: 11320261
    Abstract: A probe assembly for measuring a synthetic turf infill profile having a probe, a turf surface contact assembly and a sensor. The probe is configured to extend down through the turf infill profile until a tip of the probe contacts a lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The surface contact assembly is vertically movable relative to the probe while the probe is being moved downwardly into the turf infill profile, wherein the surface contact assembly has a contact area with the turf surface that is large enough to retain the surface contact assembly resting atop an upper boundary of the turf infill profile when the lowermost tip of the at least one probe has contacted the lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The sensor reads the distance between the upper and lower boundaries of the turf infill profile at a sampled location in the turf surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Troy D. Carson, Chris A. Wadzinski, Jackie R. Gust
  • Lighting fixture with reversible shroud
    Patent number: 11313537
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lighting fixture with a shroud that can be removed and repositioned on the housing of the lighting fixture. The shroud may have a first end with a first shape and a second end with a second shape that is different than the first shape. The user may reorient the shroud to face one of the two ends away from and at different elevations relative to the lens to provide different shapes to the light emitted from the fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Peter Nanninga, Burnett Jones, Eden Allen, Jorge Rivera, Hyok Lee
  • TURF MANAGEMENT
    Publication number: 20220110275
    Abstract: A turf management system includes an irrigation system for providing water to the turf at a turf site, and an irrigation evaluation system for evaluating the performance of the irrigation system. The irrigation evaluation system segments the turf site into irrigation management units, where each of the irrigation management units includes at least one sprinkler head. Qualities of the turf are measured to generate collected data points. The data points are used by the irrigation evaluation system to compute a value for the turf in each of the irrigation management units. The values can then be used to identify irrigation management units having common characteristics. The values can be used to define irrigation management zones for controlling the irrigation system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Applicant: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Van Willis Cline, Kathleen Sue Rice, Troy David Carson
  • Control system and method using multiple inputs for controlling cooling fan speed of outdoor power equipment unit
    Patent number: 11293333
    Abstract: An outdoor unit has a frame that carries a ground grooming or working implement, a traction drive, and a cooling fan, all of which comprises loads on a prime mover. A power management controller automatically reduces an operational speed of the traction drive when prime mover droop is present. The cooling fan cools two cooling fluids. The controller stores data representing variable fan speeds for cooling each cooling fluid in both normal and above normal temperature ranges and for use when prime mover droop is present. The controller uses the highest fan speed required for cooling the cooling fluids in the normal range unless the droop fan speed is lower in which case the lower droop fan speed is used but only to the extent that the lower droop fan speed is not lower than the highest fan speed required for cooling the cooling fluids in the above normal temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Alexander S. Frick, Peter M. Arendt, Jesse R. Gamble
  • Four wheel drive, skid steer snow vehicle with snow plow blade
    Patent number: 11261573
    Abstract: A snow plow is pivotally mounted to a tractor by a compound mount allowing for multiple blade positions. The mount has an inner portion pivotally mounted about a first horizontal axis to the front of the tractor and an outer portion pivotally mounted about a vertical axis to the inner portion. The plow blade is pivotally mounted about a second horizontal axis to the outer portion. Deicer nozzles spray liquid and a spreader distributes salt and other materials in front of the front wheels of the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventor: Thomas M. Rich
  • Bounce Reducing Cover For A Sprinkler
    Publication number: 20220055059
    Abstract: Described herein is a bounce-reducing cover assembly that is positioned on the top of the cover and riser of a sprinkler to achieve a similar golf ball bounce characteristic as typical golf course turf. The cover assembly has a top surface that is composed of a plurality of vertical fingers or posts, which help achieve the desired bounce characteristics with a golf ball. Specifically, these fingers are flexible and provide some “give” so as to absorb some of the force from an incoming golf ball. Depending on the durometer of the material, size of the fingers, and spacing of the fingers, different bounce characteristics can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Steven C. Renquist
  • Utility loader with high lift loader arms and unifying hand grip for dual traction control levers
    Patent number: 11255068
    Abstract: A compact utility loader is operated by a standing operator at the rear of a frame. A loader arm assembly comprises a scissors linkage on either side of the frame nesting around the prime mover. Each scissors linkage has an upper loader arm that is pivoted at its rear end to rears ends of a pair of lower loader arms such that the pivot connections to the upper loader arm move upwardly and forwardly relative to the frame during elevation of the loader arm assembly to provide a high lift capability. The frame is self-propelled by a differential drive and steering system that is operated by dual levers. A hand grip extends between and unifies the operation of the levers to permit the operator to more easily move the levers in the ways that are needed to provide either straight motion of the frame or turns of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: John P. Azure, Joseph C. Knipp, James A. Kuemper
  • Turf maintenance or working apparatus with automatically controlled laterally and angularly displaceable swath-based implement
    Patent number: 11252861
    Abstract: A turf sprayer comprises a transport vehicle that carries a laterally extending spray boom assembly. The spray boom assembly is both laterally displaceable and angularly displaceable relative to the transport vehicle. A controller uses a defined path represented by GPS coordinates to control the operation of various actuators to automatically maintain a reference point on the spray boom assembly on the desired path and to automatically maintain the spray boom assembly perpendicular to the desired path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Todd A. Otto, John R. Kess, Steve A. Swinney, II
  • Electronic speed control system
    Patent number: 11241958
    Abstract: A smart governor system that intercepts and adjusts throttle commands when certain criteria are met based on vehicle operations and a user-selected transmission mode. The governor, when engaged, reduces a throttle command in order limit engine and/or ground speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Jeremy A. Fohrenkamm, Rebecca A. Springman, Kelly S. Meemken
  • Sprinkler With Internal Compartments
    Publication number: 20220023894
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a compartment that surrounds its riser portion in an offset or asymmetrical configuration. More specifically, the distance of the compartments walls from those of the riser vary (i.e., increase or decrease) at different locations surrounding the riser. Put another way, the riser is closer to one side of the compartment than other sides of the compartment. This non-concentric configuration allows larger components to fit inside the compartment than would otherwise fit if the riser was symmetrically surrounded by the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: The Toro Company
    Inventors: James T. Wright, III, Steven C. Renquist
  • Mower quick height of cut adjustment
    Patent number: 11206759
    Abstract: A mower comprising a vehicle, a plurality of cutting assemblies, and an automatic height of cut control system is described. In some aspects, the automatic height of cut control system is configured to automatically change the height of cut for the plurality of cutting assemblies while maintaining the attitude of each cutting blade as the blade moves from a first height of cut to a second height of cut. In some aspects, the cutting assemblies include a variable-length member linked to a four-bar linkage configured to cause a change in the height of cut in response to a change in length of the variable-length member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Jackie Ray Gust, Miguel Angel Pizano, Chris Allen Wadzinski, John R. Van Beek, Kevin T. Conry
  • Bounce reducing cover for a sprinkler
    Patent number: 11192133
    Abstract: Described herein is a bounce-reducing cover assembly that is positioned on the top of the cover and riser of a sprinkler to achieve a similar golf ball bounce characteristic as typical golf course turf. The cover assembly has a top surface that is composed of a plurality of vertical fingers or posts, which help achieve the desired bounce characteristics with a golf ball. Specifically, these fingers are flexible and provide some “give” so as to absorb some of the force from an incoming golf ball. Depending on the durometer of the material, size of the fingers, and spacing of the fingers, different bounce characteristics can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Steven C. Renquist
  • Irrigation Controller
    Publication number: 20210378110
    Abstract: Described herein is an irrigation controller having a rotating user interface where the front side of the user interface can be rotated 180 degrees so that it faces the inside of the controller housing. This functionality allows the user to install or modify the irrigation wiring while also programming the irrigation settings and/or schedule.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Steve Kish, Matt Hall, Chris Asmus, Rengan Rajendran, Saroj Manandhar
  • Turf management
    Patent number: 11178829
    Abstract: A turf management system includes an irrigation system for providing water to the turf at a turf site, and an irrigation evaluation system for evaluating the performance of the irrigation system. The irrigation evaluation system segments the turf site into irrigation management units, where each of the irrigation management units includes at least one sprinkler head. Qualities of the turf are measured to generate collected data points. The data points are used by the irrigation evaluation system to compute a value for the turf in each of the irrigation management units. The values can then be used to identify irrigation management units having common characteristics. The values can be used to define irrigation management zones for controlling the irrigation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Van Willis Cline, Kathleen Sue Rice, Troy David Carson
  • Accessory control using a vehicle communication bus
    Patent number: 11168451
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling vehicle accessories using a vehicle communication bus. A vehicle integration controller may be configured to monitor messages written to the vehicle communication bus to control one or more accessories equipped on the vehicle. The vehicle may be equipped with an accessory communication bus to which one or more accessory controllers are coupled. Accordingly, the vehicle integration controller may write messages to the accessory communication bus to control operation of the vehicle accessories. Additionally, the vehicle integration controller may write messages to the vehicle communication bus to adapt to operation of the vehicle accessories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Jonathan Coyne, Jacob Johnson
  • Sprinkler with internal compartments
    Patent number: 11167304
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a compartment that surrounds its riser portion in an offset or asymmetrical configuration. More specifically, the distance of the compartments walls from those of the riser vary (i.e., increase or decrease) at different locations surrounding the riser. Put another way, the riser is closer to one side of the compartment than other sides of the compartment. This non-concentric configuration allows larger components to fit inside the compartment than would otherwise fit if the riser was symmetrically surrounded by the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: James T. Wright, III, Steven C. Renquist