Patents Examined by Madeline Ivy Runco
  • Patent number: 11272665
    Abstract: A combine comprising a feeder housing, and an auger for receiving harvested crop. The auger includes an auger tube rotatable around an auger axis, and a tined-tube positioned inside the auger tube and rotatable around a tined-tube axis that is offset from the auger axis, the tined-tube including fingers extending from the tined-tube and protruding through the auger tube to convey the harvested crop to the feeder housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Sorensen
  • Patent number: 11272658
    Abstract: A control panel, a self-propelled switch apparatus, and a power device (13). The control panel comprises a pushing rod (1) connected to a machine body and a panel assembly (2) reciprocatingly sliding on the pushing rod. The control panel further comprises locking assembly (41, 42) connected to the panel assembly. The locking assembly (41, 42) are adapted to lock the panel assembly on the pushing rod and unlock the control panel and the pushing rod. The control panel further comprises a self-propelled switch (134), and when the self-propelled switch (134) is triggered, a device in which the control panel is disposed can be switched from a manual-power driving mode to a self-propelled driving mode. By means of the solution, a garden tool can walk in a self-propelled manner, and can also be pushed to walk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Feng Jiang
  • Patent number: 11259464
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a first frame member and a second frame member pivotally connected to each other and an actuating assembly configured to rotate the second frame member. The actuating assembly includes a first link pivotally connected to the first frame member, a second link pivotally connected to the second frame member, and a third link attached to an actuator. Two of the first, second, and third links are pivotally connected by a connecting pin, which is received in a slot formed in the third one of the links. The actuating assembly is configured to prevent the pin from moving along the slot and to allow rotation of the second link relative to the third link, when the second frame member is arranged between a retracted position and an expanded position, and to allow the pin to move along the slot, when the second frame member is arranged in the expanded position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Bart van der Lelij
  • Patent number: 11259461
    Abstract: A riding lawn care vehicle may include a frame to which a mobility assembly is operably coupled, an equipment frame operably coupled to the frame forward of the mobility assembly, a steering assembly operably coupled to the mobility assembly to enable an operator seated on the riding lawn care vehicle to provide steering control of the riding lawn care vehicle, a removable cutting in deck and a belt positioning system. The cutting deck includes a rotatable blade and is configured to receive power for turning the blade from an equipment drive belt of the vehicle when the equipment drive belt is operably coupled with the cutting deck. The belt positioning system is configured to enable the equipment drive belt to be automatically operably coupled between the cutting deck and the riding lawn care vehicle in response to the cutting deck being docked with the equipment frame in an operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Johan Bengtzohn, Mats Axelsson
  • Patent number: 11229162
    Abstract: A reel includes a plurality of bats and an end shield plate mounted on the end of the reel at the crop divider which has a peripheral edge radially inward of an outer tip of the fingers with an apex at each of the bats and portions which are recessed from a straight line joining the apexes. Each of the endmost fingers of the bats has a base which is axially inside the end plate and is bent longitudinally of the reel to define an outer tip which is axially spaced from the base to a position beyond the radial plane of the end plate. A plurality of molded paddle blades are mounted to project outwardly from the end surface to clear crop away from the space between the outer face of the end plate and the divider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: MacDon Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Francois R. Talbot, Karl Bernard Hundt
  • Patent number: 11219163
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a mower device provided between a pair of right and left front wheels and a pair of right and left rear wheels and configured to mow grass on a traveling land surface; a grass collecting container provided rearwardly of a vehicle body, a conveyer duct extending between the mower device and the grass collecting container as extending through between the pair of right and left rear wheels and configured to convey grass clippings discharged from the mower device to the grass collecting container; and a belt conveyer configured to convey the grass clippings discharged from the mower device toward the grass collecting container. The belt conveyer forms a conveying bottom face of the conveyer duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Uemura, Hirokazu Ito
  • Patent number: 11212961
    Abstract: A drive-over mower deck includes at least one retractable front roller which is pivotable between a lowered position extending forwardly and downwardly from a rim at a front and center of the drive-over mower deck, and a retractable position in which the front roller pivots freely between the lowered position and a retracted position when the drive-over mower deck lays flat on a ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Maxwell G. Anderson, Travis S. Mergener
  • Patent number: 11202410
    Abstract: A crop divider assembly for a harvesting header includes a housing defining an interior cavity and including a forwardmost end. A divider rod has a first end and a second end, where the first end is coupled to the forwardmost end of the housing. A light-emitting mechanism is coupled to the second end of the divider rod. The divider rod extends upwardly from the forwardmost end, and the light-emitting mechanism is positioned at a location above the forwardmost end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Matthew Lommen
  • Patent number: 11191213
    Abstract: A header floatation system that includes a floatation mechanism which includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a first floatation adjustment array which includes at least a first contact point, a floatation mechanism mount which includes at least a second contact point, and a floatation mechanism fastener. The first end of the floatation mechanism can be mechanically linked to the floatation mechanism mount. Either the first floatation adjustment array or the floatation mechanism mount can include a third contact point. The floatation mechanism fastener can be positioned adjacent to, on, or through at least the first or second contact points aligning contact between the floatation mechanism mount and the first floatation adjustment array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Brown Fay, II
  • Patent number: 11178816
    Abstract: A quick remove drive-over mower deck ramp includes plastic body having a first end, a second end and a center portion extending over a pulley and belt on a multi-blade mower deck. The ramp has a rear incline and a front incline, each incline sloping upwardly from one end of the ramp toward the center portion. A first end of the ramp engages a cleat while the ramp is against the mower deck, and disengages the cleat while the ramp is pivoted away from the mower deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventor: Maxwell Anderson
  • Patent number: 11178821
    Abstract: A reel for use in an agricultural header has an axis of rotation and comprises a bat and a finger. The bat is mounted to rotate around the axis of rotation to gather crop, and has a non-circular cross-sectional profile. The finger is mounted to the bat to rotate with the bat around the axis of rotation to gather crop. The finger comprises a tine and a clamshell mount to which the tine is coupled and that surrounds the bat to mount the finger to the bat against rotation about the bat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Mossman
  • Patent number: 11172612
    Abstract: An attachment of a harvesting head of a combine is disclosed. The attachment includes a main body and a flange fixedly connected to the main body. The flange is connected to the main body at an angle and the flange has at least one mounting aperture. The flange is configured to be attached to the harvesting head of a combine by the at least one mounting aperture. When the flange is attached to the harvesting head of the combine and the combine is performing a harvesting operation, a furthest portion of the main body away from the flange is positioned above a lowest portion of the harvesting head from a ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: DK AG Solutions LLC
    Inventors: David L. McGargill, Kenneth J. McGargill
  • Patent number: 11160209
    Abstract: A drive arrangement for the reciprocating drive of a cutter bar comprises a hydraulic gear motor with a housing and a gearwheel, which is set in motion around a first axis by a hydraulic medium, and an eccentric drive, which comprises an eccentric element that can be rotatably driven by a gearwheel around a second axis parallel to the first axis, and a drive element connected to the eccentric element, which is, or can be, connected to the cutter bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Ferdinand Zumbach
  • Patent number: 11154009
    Abstract: A non-row sensitive forage harvester header is formed with a single rotary member driven by a simplified drive mechanism coupled to the primary drive of the forage harvester to which the header is mounted. A horizontal drive shaft transfers the rotational power laterally to a gear box. The vertical output shaft from the gearbox has a first drive sprocket mounted thereon to connect directly with a drive chain fixed to the crop transfer disks, and a second drive sprocket mounted thereon and coupled to a drive chain entrained around a driven sprocket on the cutting disk to provide a drive speed differential with respect to the crop transfer disks. The crop guides are formed with rearwardly angled transfer arms cooperable with sweeper members on the crop transfer disk to direct the severed crop into engagement with the transfer disks for feeding into the forage harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Horning Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Leon Z. Horning, Leon H. Horning, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11147210
    Abstract: A string trimmer attachment assembly for edging a lawn includes a weed trimmer that has a pole, a gear head that is coupled to the pole and a trimming head that is rotatably coupled to the gear head. The gear head is angled between the pole and the trimming head. A rolling unit is removably coupled to the pole of the weed trimmer. The rolling unit is oriented to extend along a perpendicular axis with respect to a rotational axis of the trimming head. Additionally, the rolling unit horizontally orients the rotational axis of the trimming head when the rolling unit is positioned to roll along a support surface. In this way the trimming head is positioned to perform edging along a vertical edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Gerard Landry
  • Patent number: 11122738
    Abstract: A cutter housing for a lawnmower can include first and second cutting chambers with first and second chamber walls and first/second discharge openings. First and second ring gates that have openings and blocking segments can be concentrically placed within respective first and second chamber walls, and rotatably attached to the cutter housing. The first and second ring gates can be rotated between: (a) an opened position in which the first/second ring gate is positioned with the first/second ring opening having a first overlap with a first/second discharge opening to provide a discharge mode, and (b) a closed position in which the first/second ring gate is positioned with the first/second ring opening having a decreased overlap, relative to the first overlap, with the first/second discharge opening to provide a mulch mode. The ring gates can be stopped at intermediate positions to provide a partial mulch mode or partial discharge mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Teegan L. Kelly, Robert A. Recher
  • Patent number: 11116130
    Abstract: A utility machine, such as an outdoor power equipment unit such as a lawn mower, includes a work unit performing work in addition to motive power for the utility machine and a trailer occupied by an operator in a standing position. The operator may seamlessly step onto the trailer to operate the machine in stand-on mode and step off the trailer to operate the machine in walk-behind mode. The trailer remains in the deployed condition in both stand-on mode and walk-behind mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
  • Patent number: 11044846
    Abstract: A lawn mower and a cutter housing assembly can include a cutter housing, a first and second rotation arms, and first and second plates pivotably attached to the cutter housing. The first plate and second plate can be selectively rotatable between: (a) a discharge mode in which the plates are positioned a first distance from the front wall of the cutter housing to provide a first gap, and (b) a mulch mode in which the plates are positioned a second distance greater than the first distance from the front wall to provide a decreased gap. A first actuator and second actuator can be connected to the first and second rotation arms to cause rotation of the first and second rotation arms when actuated. Actuation of the first actuator and second actuator can cause the first plate and second plate to move between the discharge mode and the mulch mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Teegan L. Kelly
  • Patent number: 11039572
    Abstract: A multi-positional stalk stomper assembly for attaching a stalk stomper to a toolbar of a farm implement comprises a mounting bracket and a pivotal shoe assembly. The mounting bracket is adaptable to be attached to the toolbar of the farm implement and includes a rectangular plate, the plate having first and second major sides, the first side engageable with the toolbar. A first connecting member outwardly extends perpendicular from the second major side of the plate. The shoe assembly includes a torsion spring assembly, a second connecting member outwardly extending from the torsion spring assembly, the second connecting member mateable with the first connecting member, a shoe bracket pivotally connected to the torsion spring assembly, and a downwardly extending shoe attached to the shoe bracket. Upon mating the second connecting member with the first connecting member, the shoe assembly is lockable to the mounting bracket at a selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Pride Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Justin D. Buetow, Benjamin W. Wick
  • Patent number: 11032971
    Abstract: A stalk roll for a corn harvester has a first portion including a first material having a first material density, and a second portion including a second material having a second material density. The first density is at least fifty percent greater than the second density, or the first tensile strength is at least fifty percent greater than the second tensile strength. The first portion includes a support portion that engages a drive shaft, a first radial portion extending radially outward from the support portion, a first blade connected to the first radial portion, a second radial portion extending radially outward from the support portion opposite the first radial portion, and a second blade connected to the second radial portion. The first and second blade portions engage a corn stalk. The second portion is positioned between the first radial portion and the second radial portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Steve A. Coon, Nathan E. Krehbiel, Troy M. Heims