Patents by Inventor Brad A. Hoffman

Brad A. Hoffman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CUTTING SPEED CONTROL FOR MOWER
    Publication number: 20250287868
    Abstract: An automatic rotary cutting speed control system for a mower. The rotary cutting speed control system includes a mower deck including an electric motor configured to drive a rotatable blade carrier supporting at least one blade for cutting grass. The system also includes a controller operatively coupled with the electric motor. The controller includes a processor, a memory device operatively coupled with the processor, and cutting speed control logic stored in the memory device and being executable by way of the processor to control rotation of the blade carrier by: (i) receiving a signal representative of a measurement of blade carrier rotation including rotary speed or torque or both, and (ii) adjusting a target blade carrier drive signal based on the received signal to automatically drive the blade carrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2024
    Publication date: September 18, 2025
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lewis, Carl B. Agee, Brad A. Hoffman, Daniel B. Thiemke, David J. Gordon
  • Return to neutral control mechanism for zero turning radius mower
    Patent number: 8235151
    Abstract: A return to neutral control mechanism for a zero turning radius mower is disclosed. The return to neutral control mechanism includes a pair of control levers pivotable between forward, neutral and reverse positions. A brake pedal is moveable between a disengaged position to an engaged position. In response to engagement of the brake pedal, a control pivot attached to each control lever moves each control lever to the neutral position. The return to neutral control mechanism may include a cam that rotates in response to engagement of the brake pedal, and a control pivot that follows the cam during engagement of the brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Dimitri Nunez, Franklin Patrick Lewis, Damon C. Green, Brad A. Hoffman, John W. Wall, Michael David, Curtis Ayers, Thomas G. Bartlett, William B. Lambeth, Jr.
  • RETURN TO NEUTRAL CONTROL MECHANISM FOR ZERO TURNING RADIUS MOWER
    Publication number: 20090044506
    Abstract: A return to neutral control mechanism for a zero turning radius mower is disclosed. The return to neutral control mechanism includes a pair of control levers pivotable between forward, neutral and reverse positions. A brake pedal is moveable between a disengaged position to an engaged position. In response to engagement of the brake pedal, a control pivot attached to each control lever moves each control lever to the neutral position. The return to neutral control mechanism may include a cam that rotates in response to engagement of the brake pedal, and a control pivot that follows the cam during engagement of the brake pedal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Dimitri Nunez, Franklin Patrick Lewis, Damon C. Green, Brad A. Hoffman, John W. Wall, Michael David, Curtis Ayers, Thomas G. Bartlett, William B. Lambeth, JR.