Patents Examined by Thomas B. Will
  • Patent number: 11944037
    Abstract: A hemp harvester which strips the leaves and flowers from the stalks and branches of a hemp plant and separates them for subsequent processing includes a branch lifter for lifting and bunching the branches of the hemp plants as the harvester advances towards them; a stripper with counter rotating stripper rollers having radially extending resiliently flexible paddles which converge as said rolls turn to trap said flowers and leaves between them and strip the flowers and leaves from said stalks and branches; a capture system for capturing the separated flowers and leaves as they are stripped from the stalk and branches of the plants, a transfer and mulcher system for mulching and transferring said flowers and leaves from said capture system to a collection chamber; and an uprooting system for uprooting and collecting the stripped plants as said hemp harvester passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Evolve3, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathon J. Zuzga
  • Patent number: 11944024
    Abstract: A combination sod cutting and sprinkler cap removal tool includes a socket having a cavity and outer surface extending between proximal and distal ends, a cutting means disposed circumferentially about the distal end, an internal gear formed within the cavity, and a removable rotating means insertable into the cavity and configured to rotatably engage and be axially arrested by the internal gear whether the rotating means is inserted through the proximal end or the distal end. Interior gear teeth of the internal gear have both inner and outer engagement surfaces. When inserted through the proximal end, the rotating means engages the outer engagement surfaces to configure the distal end of the tool for cutting sod by rotation of the cutting means. When the rotating means engages the internal gear through the distal end, the proximal end of the tool is configured for removing a sprinkler cap by engaging the inner engagement surfaces with gripping surfaces of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Kody J. Ketterling
  • Patent number: 11944027
    Abstract: A header that includes at least one support and transport wheel assembly having an axle and two wheels. The wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system that includes an actuator mechanism configured to actuate a swivel movement of the axle and the wheels, the swivel movement being configured to bring the wheel assembly to or from a position wherein the axle is transversal to the longitudinal direction of the header. The wheel assembly is equipped with a drawbar that is deployable from a storage position to a deployed position, wherein the movement of the drawbar between the positions is synchronized with the swivel movement of the wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America, LLC
    Inventors: Dré W. J. Jongmans, Bart M. A. Missotten, Kenneth De Ceunynck, Sam Reubens, Frederik Tallir, Pieter Van Overschelde, Michiel Desmyter
  • Patent number: 11942301
    Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for lawn mower security systems provide the ability to safeguard ride-on style lawn mowers against unauthorized cranking of its engine if the mowers have push/pull mower deck or power-takeoff (PTO) switch technology. Security components secured to a PTO or mower deck switch to prevent the ability to position such switch in a disengaged position. Therefore, existing safety and interlock features of the existing ride-on mower otherwise prevent someone from being able to crank the mower, which helps to guard against unauthorized use and/or theft of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: JENDYK MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Bryant F. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11937546
    Abstract: A header including a front and rear wheel assembly, each assembly having an axle and two wheels. Each wheel assembly is coupled to the main body of the header by an actuating system having an actuator mechanism for actuating a swivel movement of the axle and the wheels to bring the wheel assembly to or from a road transport position. The front and rear wheel assemblies are equipped with tie rod arrangements for steering the header when it is transported on the road. The wheels of the wheel assemblies are operated as caster wheels. The tie rod arrangement of the front wheel assembly is coupled to a pivotable base connected to, or connectable to, a drawbar. The wheel assemblies have respective actuators which are synchronized so as to synchronize the position of the front and rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Dré W. J. Jongmans, Bart M. A. Missotten, Kenneth De Ceunynck, Sam Reubens, Frederik Tallir, Pieter Van Overschelde, Michiel Desmyter
  • Patent number: 11933018
    Abstract: A blade control device includes: a corrected design surface generation unit that generates a corrected design surface connecting a first surface existing in front of a work vehicle and a second surface having a different slope from a slope of the first surface on an initial design surface indicating a target shape of an excavation object to be excavated using a blade of the work vehicle; and a blade control unit that outputs a control command to control a height of the blade based on the corrected design surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Ishihara, Daichi Noborio, Yutaka Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11930737
    Abstract: A merger system for an agricultural vehicle includes: at least one frame mount configured to couple to a chassis; a movable merger frame coupled to the at least one frame mount; a conveyor supported by the merger frame and configured to convey crop material; at least one load sensor associated with the at least one frame mount and configured to output load signals corresponding to a mass of the merger frame; and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one load sensor. The controller is configured to: determine a mass of crop material conveyed by the conveyor based at least partially on the mass of the merger frame; determine a crop yield based at least partially on the determined mass of crop material; and output a yield signal corresponding to the determined crop yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Zachary Stephens
  • Patent number: 11926988
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting the pitch of a work implement attached to a work vehicle, wherein the work implement has adjustable wings. The system and method include moving materials with a blade having an adjustable wing located at one end of a center portion of the blade. blade operatively connected to the work vehicle is positionable with respect to the work vehicle in response to an operator command. A commanded position of the blade is identified based on a blade positioning signal received from the operator command transmitted by an operator control device. An inclined position of the adjustable wing with respect to the center portion of the blade is identified. A pitch of the blade with respect to the work vehicle based is automatically adjusted based on the identified commanded position of the blade and the identified inclined position of the adjustable wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Giovanni A. Wuisan, Jeffrey M. Stenoish, Patrick J. Mulligan, Michael R. Tigges, Ryan R. Neilson, Nathan J. Horstman, Cory J. Brant, Timothy M. Post
  • Patent number: 11925145
    Abstract: A harvesting machine that has a first rotor rotationally coupled to a chassis, a second rotor rotationally coupled to the chassis, and a spine separating the first rotor from the second rotor. Wherein the spine has threshing inserts coupled thereto to facilitate threshing of crop processed by the first and second rotors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Manish Singh, Michael T. Meschke, Mark L. Mattson, Corey A. Noord
  • Patent number: 11925138
    Abstract: A beet scalper includes an upwardly biased parallel arm linkage, a boom, having an upper end coupled to the parallel arm linkage and a lower end bearing a beet scalping blade, and a locking mechanism, holding the boom in a downward operating position. Forward deflection of the lower end of the boom releases the locking mechanism, allowing the boom to rise to a tripped position under force of a biasing mechanism associated with the parallel arm linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Andrew Florence
  • Patent number: 11917942
    Abstract: Mower (1), has a plurality of mowing elements (2), forming a mower bar (3), a roller conditioner (4), behind the mower bar (3), and an upper conditioning roller (5) and a lower conditioning roller (6), the lower conditioning roller (6) is rotatable about a lower, positionally fixed axis of rotation (8), wherein the upper conditioning roller (5) is rotatable about an upper, shiftable axis of rotation (9) that, as a result of shifting the upper axis of rotation (9), a gap (7) between the conditioning rollers (5, 6) is changeable, wherein the lower conditioning roller (6) and the upper conditioning roller (5) are coupled to each other via a scissors-like transmission (10), and wherein first and second transmission parts (11,12) are coupled to the lower conditioning roller (6) and the upper conditioning roller (5) respectively and are operatively connected to each other and are shiftable in a scissors-like manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: CLAAS Saulgau GmbH
    Inventor: Siegfried Epp
  • Patent number: 11910735
    Abstract: A two-way soil clearing device for single-ridge grapevine and a construction machine for mounting the device, comprising a frame part, a soil clearing mechanism, a distance measuring sensor, an expansion and contraction device and a control unit; the frame comprises a left side frame and a right side frame; the left side frame and the right side frame are provided with a soil clearing mechanism respectively and expansion and contraction devices; the distance measuring sensor is provided in front of the soil clearing mechanism; and the control unit is respectively connected with the distance measuring sensor and the expansion and contraction device. The present invention can flexibly remove the covering soil between the piles of the grapevine and the covering soil at the side of the grapevine at one time, and can operate on both sides of the same soil ridge at the same time during work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: JIANGSU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Qizhi Yang, Mingsheng He, Xiaoqi Zhao, Aiping Shi, Wen Li, Lei Shi, Guangyu Du, Wenxuan Du
  • Patent number: 11913179
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to mats and connects are described. The apparatus include a mat having a top side, a bottom side, and an interior defined between the top side and the bottom side, and at least one connector post extending within the interior of the mat, wherein the at least one connector post comprises a connector pin cavity extending within the interior of the mat and configured to receive a connector pin and at least one locking structure configured to engage with a portion of the connector pin and secure the connector pin to the at least one connector post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NEWPARK MATS & INTEGRATED SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Saad Aziz, Gaurav Agrawal
  • Patent number: 11912247
    Abstract: A block includes a first block portion, a second block portion, a third block portion and a fourth block portion. The first block portion has a first upper surface, a second upper surface, and a lower surface. The second block portion is over the first block portion and has a third upper surface. The third block portion is over the first block portion and has a fourth upper surface. The fourth block portion is over the first block portion, has a fifth upper surface, and is positioned between the second block portion and the third block portion. A first recessed region is between the second block portion and the fourth block portion. A second recessed region is between the third block portion and the fourth block portion. The first upper surface is exposed in the first recessed region and the second upper surface is exposed in the second recessed region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: RUBBERFORM RECYCLED PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventor: William J. Robbins
  • Patent number: 11910748
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a cutting deck assembly and a grounds maintenance vehicle that includes such assembly. The assembly includes a top surface and a sidewall extending from the top surface. The top surface and the sidewall partially surround a first cutting chamber and a second cutting chamber. The assembly further includes a channel disposed adjacent a rear portion of the sidewall and extending along a channel axis between a first end and a second end of the channel, where the first end of the channel is connected to an outlet of the first cutting chamber; and a ramp disposed at least partially within the channel and adjacent the second end of the channel. The ramp includes a directing surface that is adapted to deflect at least a portion of clippings that enter the channel from the outlet of the first cutting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert L. Anderson, Jeffrey W. Stern, Curtis E. Wersal
  • Patent number: 11903338
    Abstract: Systems and method for linearly displacing an object, such as a cutter or other component, in response to a rotation of a pivotable arm are disclosed. The systems and method encompass one or more actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders, to pivot a pivotable arm pivotable about an axis. A flexible component coupled to an end of the pivotable arm is displaced in response to the rotational motion of the pivotable arm. Movement of the flexible component in response to rotation of the pivotable arm is converted into linear motion via curved surface on which the flexible component rides. The pivotable arm is rotated in response to actuation of one or more actuators, such as one or more hydraulic cylinders, coupled to the pivotable arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Moline, IL
    Inventors: Todd M. Verhoef, Curt A. Elpers, Logan K. Trueblood
  • Patent number: 11903336
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a ring elevator for lifting root crops in a root crop harvester, including a first and a second pair of endless carrying strips, each pair arranged in parallel and drivable over a closed path; first and second parallel transverse elements attached between and to, respectively, the first and second strips; flexible support elements, each attached to a first transverse element and to a second transverse element. The first strips can be arranged around the second strips at a distance which varies along the paths between a minimum distance (dmin) and a maximum distance (dmax), and in an ascending part equals a carrier distance (c), such that the flexible support elements form baskets for receiving the root crops. The useful volume (Vu) in the baskets takes up at least 50% of the total volume (Vt) delimited by the transverse elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Dewulf NV
    Inventors: Joeri Van Iseghem, Gert De Boe
  • Patent number: 11891765
    Abstract: A barrier transition framework such as for use as a bridge transition, is disclosed for connection to a concrete anchor at an entrance, comprising a tubular upper transition chord having first and second beveled ends, and a tubular lower transition chord having first and second beveled ends. The first beveled ends of each of the upper and lower chords are welded to an approach deflector. The second beveled ends of each of the upper and lower chords are welded to an anchorage plate. A transition assembly is formed by connecting thrie-beams to the road-side of the transition framework. A thrie-beam may also be connected to the field-side of the transition framework. The disclosed transition framework provides a preassembled solid four bar structure with exceptional resistance to deflection in both the vertical and horizontal planes, that spans a greater distance than convention transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Vandorf BT1 Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Fraser Powell, William Price Longstreet, Dean Clinton Alberson
  • Patent number: 11889791
    Abstract: A device for leveling a surface; the device includes a shaft, a handle-means and a head-assembly. The shaft is selectively retractable, and the head-assembly is foldable to enable compact storage. The device is for personal use by a user in leveling a surface; for example, a sand bunker/sand trap on a golf course. In some versions, the device further includes an attachment-means for attaching the device to a bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Curran Golf Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Curran, Michael White, Richard Gregory Elmer
  • Patent number: 11889786
    Abstract: A mower with one or more wing decks that includes one or more manual lifting mechanisms for the one or more wing decks. The manual lifting mechanism may shift between retracted and extended positions, where in the extended position a handle can be positioned further away from the wing deck. When the handle is in the extended position, a user can manually engage the handle and lift the wing deck from a lowered configuration to a raised configuration, using less force than would be required if the handle was in the retracted configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian L. Nebel, Thomas J. Gaeddert, Philip Lowell Hochstetler