Patents Examined by Thomas B. Will
  • Patent number: 11711990
    Abstract: A system for monitoring the installation status of shank attachment members of an agricultural implement includes a shank and a shank attachment member coupled to a distal end of the shank. The system also includes a sensor at least partially embedded within the shank at or adjacent to its distal end, with the sensor providing data indicative of an installation status of the shank attachment member relative to the shank. In addition, the system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, with the controller being configured to determine the installation status of the shank attachment member based on the data received from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Joshua David Harmon
  • Patent number: 11712003
    Abstract: A harvesting system includes at least one modular unit coupled to a harvester includes a drying unit to dry a harvested material introduced into the harvester including at least one rotating drum, a number of appendages extending from the at least one rotating drum, at least one sensor to determine at least one environmental state within the drying unit, and at least one environmental state adjustment device to adjust at least one environmental attribute within the drying unit. The modular unit also includes a collection unit to collect the harvested material into a unit, a first conveyor mechanism to convey the harvested material from the drying unit to the collection unit, and a control system to control at least the harvester, the drying unit, the collection unit, the first conveyor mechanism, the sensor, and the environmental state adjustment device based on a signal received from the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Square Head Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Paul Groth
  • Patent number: 11707011
    Abstract: A single disk fertilizer opener assembly for opening a trench in soil includes a frame support and a cutting disk for forming the trench. The cutting disk is coupled to an axle and rotates about the axle as the assembly moves in a working direction. The assembly also includes a first arm pivotally coupled to the frame support and the axle, and a second arm pivotally coupled to the frame support at a location spaced from the first arm. A bracket is coupled to the axle and the second arm, and a scraper is coupled to the bracket and disposed substantially perpendicularly to the working direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Pablo Petenon, Rogerio Kroth, Elijah B. Garner, Dnyanesh Dhobale, Kamalakannan Natarajan
  • Patent number: 11700788
    Abstract: A swing assistance device for a brush cutter. The swing assistance device includes: a bracket; a coupling unit disposed on the top surface of the bracket, and coupled to a shaft at an inclined angle; left and right extension rods configured such that the outer ends thereof are located on both sides of a blade with the inner ends thereof coupled to both sides of the bracket; left and right rotation parts rotatably coupled to the outer ends of the left and right extension rods, and configured to, when the shaft swings in left-right directions, rotate while drawing arcs and assist in the swing operation; and a plurality of rotation rollers rotatably coupled to the outer circumference of each of the left and right rotation parts, and configured to, when the shaft swings in the left-right directions, rotate and assist in the swing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Sung Joe Chung
  • Patent number: 11700784
    Abstract: Soil conditioner injection systems that can provide a variety of benefits, including the fast and efficient amendment of soil with soil conditioner without requiring tillage and in a manner that significantly reduces or eliminates any inadvertent runoff of the soil conditioner, for example, from rain. In some examples the soil conditioner injection systems of the present disclosure include soil conditioner injectors that include a soil plug remover configured to remove a first volume of soil from a first location and a sleeved hammer configured to form a recess in soil and inject soil conditioner into the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventor: Roger Pion
  • Patent number: 11696523
    Abstract: A system for hydraulically leveling a multi-wing agricultural implement having a pressure regulating valve and a folding valve fluidly coupled in parallel between a supply line, configured to provide a supply pressure of hydraulic fluid, and an actuator, configured to move an outer-wing section of the implement between a transport position and a fully-extended position. Specifically, when fluid is supplied to the actuator via the pressure regulating valve, only a portion of the supply pressure is allowed through the pressure regulating valve to the actuator such that the outer-wing section may pivot towards a position where the outer-wing section is substantially level with the inner-wing section. When hydraulic fluid is supplied to the actuator via the folding valve, the outer-wing section is actuated towards the transport position. When hydraulic fluid is supplied to the actuator via the leveling valve, the outer-wing section is leveled relative to the inner-wing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Timothy R. Blunier, Jared Paul Schaffer
  • Patent number: 11692317
    Abstract: A soil compactor includes at least one compactor roller, which is free to rotate about an axis of rotation of the roller, with a plurality of roller segments, which follow one another along the direction of the axis of rotation of the roller. In each case, at least one electromotive drive for producing an oscillating torque is assigned to each roller segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: HAMM AG
    Inventors: Sebastian Villwock, Werner Völkel
  • Patent number: 11692314
    Abstract: An interlocking paver system including a polygon paver and a spacer paver is provided. The polygon paver may have a top level having a top level polygon paver perimeter and a bottom level secured to and protruding from the top level and having a bottom level polygon paver perimeter contained within the top level polygon paver perimeter. The spacer paver may have a top level having a top level spacer paver perimeter and a bottom level secured to and protruding from the top level and having a bottom level spacer paver perimeter extending beyond an entirety of the top level spacer paver perimeter. The spacer paver may be configured to selectively interlock with the polygon paver. The top level spacer paver perimeter, top level polygon paver perimeter, and bottom level spacer paver perimeter are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Ivan Townsend, Matthew Nugent, Thomas Lippitt, Robert Mueller, Nathan Gelino, Jason Schuler, Jonathan Smith, Andrew Nick
  • Patent number: 11690308
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for controlling an operation of agricultural implements may include a work vehicle configured to tow an implement. The work vehicle may include a hitch assembly having a draw point configured to be coupled to the implement. The work vehicle may further include an actuator configured to move the draw point relative to the hitch frame to adjust the position of the implement relative to the work vehicle. The implement may include a sensor configured to detect an operational parameter indicative of the operation of the implement. Additionally, the implement may further include a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, with the controller being configured to initiate control of an operation of the actuator based on sensor data received from the sensor to adjust the operational parameter of the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Trevor Stanhope
  • Patent number: 11690330
    Abstract: An integrated aeration spreader for use with an aerator includes a mounting plate, a mounting block rigidly coupled to the mounting plate, a support arm rotatably coupled to the mounting plate, a support block rigidly coupled to the support arm, a shaft rotatably coupled to the support block, wherein the shaft extends through the mounting block, a first nut threaded on the shaft, a first spring having a first end engaged with the first nut and a second end engaged with the mounting block, a second nut threaded on the shaft, and a second spring having a first end engaged with the second nut and a second end engaged with the mounting block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: AER-AIDER LLC
    Inventors: Michael Goldsberry, Martin Stickels
  • Patent number: 11684000
    Abstract: Garden tools are provided to enable easier gardening with increased gardening and landscaping functionality. The garden tools allow the passing of material through the tool to enable improved landscaping. Certain garden tools include gratings to sift material. Certain garden tools allow material to pass through to allow easier performance of the desired gardening or landscaping function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Garden Pros Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Gloria Schultz, Elton K Ongley, Vincent H Anderson
  • Patent number: 11680378
    Abstract: Embodiments are directed toward a spike strip. The spike strip preferably includes a housing, a plurality of spikes disposed in the housing, a door, and a mover. The door is preferably configured to transition between a closed configuration in which the spikes are covered and prevented from puncturing tires of vehicles driving over the spike strip and an open configuration in which the spikes are exposed and allowed to puncture a tire of a vehicle driving over the spike strip. The mover is preferably configured to transition the door from the closed configuration to the open configuration responsive to a signal provided to the spike strip from a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Peter Barrett
  • Patent number: 11678606
    Abstract: A lawn mower includes a main body and a power head mounted on the main body. The main body comprises a mounting shell recessed with a mounting groove. The power head comprises a motor assembly received in the mounting groove and a housing assembly covering the motor assembly. The motor assembly comprises a motor base assembled with the mounting shell and a motor fixed on the motor base. The bottom of the motor base is sealed and the side of the motor base is provided with an air outlet and a waterproof rib protruding from the air outlet for partial shielding. The installation bottom surface of the housing assembly corresponding to the air outlet at least partially overlaps the waterproof rib in an up and down direction. Compared with the prior art, the lawn mower has good waterproof performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yu Xiao
  • Patent number: 11678608
    Abstract: The invention provides a lawn mower, which comprises a power assembly, a cutting blade driven by the power assembly, and a cover, wherein the cover comprises a main body, a rear cover pivotally connected to the rear of the main body, and a partition portion dividing the main body into a cutting cavity and a grass-collecting cavity, the partition portion comprising a baffle, the rear cover is selectively pivotal between an open position and a closed position. The baffle is driven by the rear cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Globe (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Lv Wei
  • Patent number: 11678600
    Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Dale Koch, Jason Stoller, Todd Swanson, Michael Strnad, Matthew Morgan, Ian Radtke, Timothy Kater, Jeremy Hodel
  • Patent number: 11672196
    Abstract: A seed conveyor assembly that delivers seed to a planting surface in a controlled manner to maintain seed placement accuracy within a trench. In one embodiment, a seed guide for a seed conveyor assembly includes a relief portion and an introduction portion that includes at least one protrusion. The protrusion is angled from a side of the introduction portion toward the center of the introduction portion. The end of the protrusion is proximate the center of the introduction portion being further from the relief portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Ian Radtke, Kent Levy
  • Patent number: 11674286
    Abstract: A dredge head assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes: a shroud having a generally open bottom end and a top end; a screen structure covering the generally open bottom end of the shroud; a suction pipe with a first end connected to the top end of the shroud and a second end configured to be operatively connected with a pump which induces suction; a handle connected to and extending from the shroud and having at least one grasping portion; and one or more vacuum relief valve assemblies, each comprising a valve, at least one opening configured to be in communication with water, and an actuation mechanism positioned to be accessible to a diver. Dredging systems and methods of dredging are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: J.F. Brennan Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Smith, Randy Jacobs, Dustin Bauman, Victor J. Buhr, Adam Thorson, Justin Scherf
  • Patent number: 11665990
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a frame and a row unit that is attached to the frame. The row unit includes a gauge wheel and a ground engaging implement. The gauge wheel is configured to ride on the ground surface and maintain the ground engaging implement at a predetermined vertical position with respect to the ground surface. Furthermore, the work vehicle includes a ground support unit that supports the frame for movement across the ground surface. The ground support unit includes an outer face. The outer face includes a non-treaded side area that defines a lateral side of the outer face. The outer face includes a tread area that is spaced laterally from the lateral edge. The tread area includes a plurality of projections. The non-treaded side area is aligned along the travel direction with respect to the gauge wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Donald K. Landphair, Nathan A. Mariman
  • Patent number: 11653591
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a seed firmer having a resilient portion and a firming portion that are molded together into a unitary part with each portion being a different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Brian McMahon, Todd Swanson, Michael Strnad
  • Patent number: 11641799
    Abstract: A blade protection cover coupled to a blade of a lawn mower apparatus includes a first cover for covering one face of the blade and two second covers connected to the first cover. The two second covers cover two edges of the blade in a width direction of the blade. Two guides are disposed on inner faces of the two second covers. The two guides are configured to guide the blade protection cover to slide along the two edges in the width direction of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyeongho Cho, Hanshin Kim, Siyong Kim