Patents Examined by Thomas B. Will
  • Patent number: 11492769
    Abstract: A device attachable to a pair of cross-country skis for grooming a trail in fresh snow simply by skiing the first pass. The purpose of this invention is to create a grooved trail in fresh snow to guide all skiers that follow in the same track. Without this attachment installed on the lead skier's ski, the soft snow on each side of the packed ski track does not help to keep the subsequent skier's ski in the lead skier's track. For them, it is like trying to ski on top of a narrow rail. This creates a situation where the skier must be diligent to stay in the track. With this device installed on the lead skiers ski, the subsequent skiers are guided by the packed snow on the sides of the lead skier's ski track. When skiing in tracks made using this invention, a skier can ski faster and smoother than in untracked snow. Since the compacted track helps guide the skier in the track, it allows the skier to focus on, and enjoy, the surroundings scenery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Richard J. Toews
  • Patent number: 11490566
    Abstract: A lawnmower can include a deck, blade, electric motor, battery pack, housing and fan. An air inlet can be located at the front end of the housing and adjacent to the top surface of the deck. The fan can be mounted in the housing and the housing can be configured such that, when the fan operates, air enters the housing air inlet at the front end of the housing, air flowing through the housing air inlet enters the first chamber, air flowing in the first chamber flows through the battery pack, air exiting the first chamber enters the second chamber and flows through the second chamber, air flowing in the second chamber flows through the motor in a direction that extends along the blade axis, and air exiting the motor exits the housing through the at least one air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Surender Kumar, Shivang Desai
  • Patent number: 11483955
    Abstract: A surface conditioning drag tool apparatus includes a plurality of fencing members each extending laterally along a width of the drag tool and spaced apart from one another at a plurality of locations between a front end and a rear end of the drag tool. The plurality of fencing members include a plurality of lower ground contacting extremities and a plurality of upper extremities spaced apart from one another in height and a frame coupled with and positioned above the plurality of ground working fencing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ABI Attachments, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin V. Keigley
  • Patent number: 11477934
    Abstract: An agricultural implement including a frame with a main frame section and at least one wing frame section such that the agricultural implement is configured for transitioning in between a work position and a transport position, at least one conveyance line, and at least one coupling device. The at least one coupling device includes a first coupling member attached to the first line portion and a second coupling member movably connected to the first coupling member and attached to the second line portion such that the at least one coupling device couples the first line portion and the second line portion of the at least one conveyance line in the work position and uncouples the first line portion and the second line portion of the at least one conveyance line in the transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gordon Anthony Engel, Dennis W. Chahley
  • Patent number: 11477941
    Abstract: A conditioner unit (6) for conditioning an agricultural crop material comprises a pair of rolls (20a, 20b) configured for rotation in opposite directions and providing a nip (22) through which crop material passes. An adjusting mechanism (31) is provided for adjusting a pressing force applied by the rolls (20a, 20b) to the crop material as it passes through the nip. The adjusting mechanism (31) includes at least one hydraulic actuator (30) connected to at least one of the rolls (20a, 20b) and a hydraulic circuit (33) that supplies hydraulic fluid to the actuator (30), the hydraulic circuit being configured so that in a first operational mode the rolls (20a, 20b) are pressed towards one another and in a second operational mode the rolls (20a, 20b) are pushed apart to provide a gap between the rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: KVERNELAND GROUP KERTEMINDE AS
    Inventor: Martin Bode Mortensen
  • Patent number: 11470783
    Abstract: A threshing or separating concave for grain harvesting is equipped with curved cheeks, between which concave bars having an elongated cross-sectional profile extend, the curved inside edges of which are provided with a rounded inside edge, and having concave rods extending in the direction of the curve, which pass through holes in the concave bars that are immediately adjacent to the rounded inside edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Friedrich Lauer
  • Patent number: 11470773
    Abstract: A zero turn radius lawnmower, such as a stand-on lawnmower, including a main frame having a first end portion and a second end portion, a pair of drive wheels operably coupled to the second end portion of the main frame and configured to be driven independently in both forward and reverse directions, and a front axle assembly pivotally coupled to the first end portion of the main frame about a single axis. The zero turn radius lawnmower also includes a pair of caster wheels coupled to respective ends of the front axle assembly such that the pair of caster wheels are able to move relative to the main frame, as well as a mower deck coupled to the main frame by at least one first linkage and coupled to the front axle assembly by at least one second linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Philip H. Wenzel, Robert S. Laurin, E. Mark Lynch, Brian Crossway, Derrick R. Camenga
  • Patent number: 11470782
    Abstract: A rotatable pick-up device, which is installed or installable in an agricultural harvesting machine, for harvested crop, having a roller-shaped drum with an outer lateral surface that has an outside diameter, a multiplicity of tine rings that are arranged on the outer lateral surface of the drum and protrude over the outside diameter of the drum, intermediate spaces for receiving strippers provided between adjacent tine rings, and the tine rings have tine segments that, in the mounted state, are arranged entirely above the lateral surface and are manufactured from an elastic plastic. The tine rings and the tine segments have mutually complementary fastening means, by means of which the tine segments can be mounted on the tine ring without the tine ring being removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: B. Strautmann & Söhne GmbH u. Co. KG
    Inventors: Christopher Laumann, Friedrich Quebe, Wolfgang Strautmann
  • Patent number: 11473273
    Abstract: A tool bit comprises a shank portion including a cylindrical configuration defining a longitudinal axis, a radial direction, and a circumferential direction, and a working portion including a cylindrical configuration that is concentric with the shank portion and a flat bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David Bruno Parzynski, Jr., Thomas Marshall Congdon
  • Patent number: 11470779
    Abstract: Gathering chains for row crop harvester heads which improve yield by minimizing the loss of kernels that may prematurely break loose and be lost to the ground. The gathering chains include continuous loops with a plurality of lateral extension segments which provide a substantially continuous conveying surface extending substantially across the width of the slot defining the path of travel of the row crop entering the row unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: 360 Yield Center, LLC
    Inventors: Austin Ehle, Tyler Ritland, Jesse Kaiser
  • Patent number: 11470778
    Abstract: A mower and an attachment device or mount having a frame attachment clamp to removeably affix to the wheel support frame, a pivotable linkage arrangement to position a string trimmer proximate either front wheel of the lawnmower, and a grade wheel to maintain a designated height of string trimmer above grade. The attachment device or mount may enable the operator to attach the frame attachment clamp to either front wheel enabling the operator to look ahead and anticipate where the lawnmower needs to be driven and simultaneously to position the string trimmer for trimming and edging operation around landscapes and borders on either the left or right side of the lawnmower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Russell Mark Carey
  • Patent number: 11470777
    Abstract: A convertible lawnmower includes a housing and a mulching system. The housing includes a discharge opening. The mulching system includes a mounting ring and a shutter ring. The mounting ring is coupled substantially concentrically to the housing and includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and a sidewall that extends substantially axially therebetween. The sidewall is formed with a retaining groove and at least one installation groove. The retaining groove extends at least partially circumferentially within an inner surface of the sidewall and each installation groove extends axially from the lower surface to the retaining groove. The shutter ring is only coupled to mounting ring via the retaining groove such that the shutter ring is selectively shiftable between a mulching mode and a discharge mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Surender Kumar, Timothy Justin Johnson
  • Patent number: 11464164
    Abstract: A high-efficiency cutting system for an autonomous mower provides a multiple blade tip cutting radius for a cleaner cut, and more complete mow. The system includes a spinning blade disk provided within a housing including a vertical standoff. The blade disk includes a first pair of cutting blades located between the center of the blade disk and the circumference of the blade disk, and a second pair of cutting blades located radially inward from the first pair of cutting blades. The cutting blades extend downward and away from the blade disk at an angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: MTD PRODUCTS INC
    Inventors: Ryan Cmich, Adam Ference
  • Patent number: 11464157
    Abstract: A metering device for dispensing agricultural product from a bin. The metering device comprises a housing enclosing an interior space, and a metering assembly removably received within the interior space of the housing. The metering assembly is configured to convey agricultural product through the metering device. The metering assembly comprises a rotatable sub-shaft, a first metering wheel positioned on the sub-shaft and configured to rotate with the sub-shaft, a second metering wheel positioned on the sub-shaft and configured to rotate with the sub-shaft, and a dividing element positioned on the sub-shaft between the first metering wheel and the second metering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Verne A. Hubalek, Alex Potuzak, Gregory W. Arnett
  • Patent number: 11464169
    Abstract: A threshing concave assembly is disclosed having a threshing concave bar wherein the threshing bar is comprised of two threshing surfaces having a dihedral angle relationship relative to each other. In addition, in another aspect the threshing bar can be comprised of two dihedral surfaces whereby one surface face has about 130% greater surface area than its adjacent surface face. Alternatively, one surface face of the threshing bar can be 1.3x wider than its adjacent surface face. In another aspect the threshing bar can be comprised of two dihedral surfaces whereby one surface face has about a 170% greater surface area than its adjacent surface face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Brian G. Robertson
  • Patent number: 11466424
    Abstract: A bracket for mounting an excavation bucket on a coupler of an articulated arm. The bracket comprises a body extending in a plane and having a central portion. A first concavity on a first side of the body substantially has an arc-of-circle shape to conform with a surface of a cylinder and hinge therearound. The bracket comprises a second concavity on a second side of the body opposite the first side with respect to the central portion. A third concavity on the second side of the body substantially has the arc-of-circle shape. The bracket comprises a first abutment edge formed by the central portion of the body; and a second abutment edge aside the first abutment edge and further from the central portion of the body compared to the first abutment edge. This bracket allows reversible mounting of the coupler of the excavation bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: GROUP R.Y. BEAUDOIN INC.
    Inventors: Rémi Beaudoin, Alain Rivard, Luc D'Amours
  • Patent number: 11452254
    Abstract: A meter roller for an agricultural metering system includes multiple flutes and corresponding recesses. The flutes and the corresponding recesses are configured to meter flowable particulate material from a storage tank to a material distribution system via rotation of the meter roller. The meter roller also includes multiple air passages formed within a body of the meter roller. Each air passage is fluidly coupled to a central cavity of the meter roller and extends to a base of a respective recess, and the air passage is configured to flow air from the central cavity into the respective recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Graham Douglas Stuart, Nicholas George Alfred Ryder
  • Patent number: 11434610
    Abstract: Disclosed are transport and logistics systems of large cities that may be used in construction of cities with population of over five hundred thousand people. The technical result of the proposed solution is to optimize the urban transport and logistics system, eliminate traffic congestions and ensure rapid movement to any point in the city. The urban transport and logistics system includes the first ground level for road and rail freight transport, the second level of pipeline and technical communications, the third level of passenger transport, the fourth pedestrian level, each level being located one above the other, and they are connected with each other and with residential and non-residential buildings by vertical staircase-elevator modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: Denis Valentinovich Tyaglin
  • Patent number: 11427972
    Abstract: A compactor machine includes a machine frame, at least one cylindrical roller drum rotatably coupled to the machine frame and rotatable about a drum axis oriented generally transverse to a direction of travel of the compactor machine, and a first light attached to the machine frame, the light shining a line of light on a surface that indicates a location of an edge of the roller drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Ries, John L. Marsolek
  • Patent number: 11419259
    Abstract: A directional garlic seed throwing mechanism includes a base, a rotating device, a vision sensor, a seed throwing guide plate, a seed guide pipe and a plurality of bulbil adjusting devices. The rotating device includes a rotating motor detachably connected to the base and a turntable connected to an output end of the rotating motor. The seed throwing guide plate is arranged on the turntable to enable garlic seeds of seed containing bowls to fall into the seed guide pipe. The seed guide pipe has an upper port right below the bulbil adjusting devices and arranged on the base. An even number of the bulbil adjusting devices are fixed on the turntable uniformly and symmetrically and include the seed containing bowls and bulbil direction control devices for driving the bowls to rotate 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: SHANDONG ACADEMY AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY SCIENCES, Shandong University
    Inventors: Jingxin Shen, Yitian Sun, Yongjia Sun, Gang Chen, Qing Long Li, Xian Ying Feng, Jun Zhou, Peng Yan