Patents by Inventor Brannon W. Polk

Brannon W. Polk 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).

  • Publication number: 20200000020
    Abstract: A mobile turf sprayer operates to spray a product onto a turf site. In some embodiments the mobile turf sprayer identifies a plurality of regions of the turf site to be sprayed and automatically sprays product onto those regions as the mobile turf sprayer moves about the turf site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: William J. Jugovich, Todd A. Otto, Steven R. Peterson, Brannon W. Polk, Steve A. Swinney, II
  • Patent number: 10426080
    Abstract: A mobile turf sprayer operates to spray a product onto a turf site. In some embodiments the mobile turf sprayer identifies a plurality of regions of the turf site to be sprayed and automatically sprays product onto those regions as the mobile turf sprayer moves about the turf site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: William J. Jugovich, Todd A. Otto, Steven R. Peterson, Brannon W. Polk, Steve A. Swinney, II
  • Publication number: 20170295719
    Abstract: A mobile turf sprayer operates to spray a product onto a turf site. In some embodiments the mobile turf sprayer identifies a plurality of regions of the turf site to be sprayed and automatically sprays product onto those regions as the mobile turf sprayer moves about the turf site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: William J. Jugovich, Todd A. Otto, Steven R. Peterson, Brannon W. Polk, Steve A. Swinney, II
  • Patent number: 9370175
    Abstract: A vehicle mounted sprayer has a plurality of spray booms equipped with downwardly facing spray nozzles. A control console includes a rounded palm rest with the most often used operational spray controls placed directly ahead of the palm rest for easy actuation by the operator as the operator rests the palm of one hand on the palm rest. A pivotal hose reel for manual spraying has pivotal motion about a vertical axis into one of a plurality of adjusted positions relative to the sprayer to ease unwinding and rewinding of the hose from the hose reel. A hill assist system holds the sprayer on a hill for a predetermined time to give the operator enough time to place the sprayer into forward motion up the hill from a standing stop. The spray through the booms can be selectively added to flow in a tank agitation system to boost agitation effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Steve A. Swinney, II, Todd A. Otto, Bart T. Ellson, David J. Martin, Chakradhari Ratala, Brannon W. Polk
  • Publication number: 20150216118
    Abstract: A vehicle mounted sprayer has a plurality of spray booms equipped with downwardly facing spray nozzles. A control console includes a rounded palm rest with the most often used operational spray controls placed directly ahead of the palm rest for easy actuation by the operator as the operator rests the palm of one hand on the palm rest. A pivotal hose reel for manual spraying has pivotal motion about a vertical axis into one of a plurality of adjusted positions relative to the sprayer to ease unwinding and rewinding of the hose from the hose reel. A hill assist system holds the sprayer on a hill for a predetermined time to give the operator enough time to place the sprayer into forward motion up the hill from a standing stop. The spray through the booms can be selectively added to flow in a tank agitation system to boost agitation effectiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Steve A. Swinney, II, Todd A. Otto, Bart T. Ellson, David J. Martin, Chakradhari Ratala, Brannon W. Polk
  • Publication number: 20140217200
    Abstract: A sprayer has a tank for holding a spray solution that is applied to a ground or turf surface. The sprayer includes an agitation system having a plurality of agitation nozzles that extend into the tank that are accessible from outside the tank and can be removed and replaced without using tools. The sprayer may include a rinse system carried onboard the sprayer which is segregated from the spray and agitation systems to avoid contaminating the rinse liquid prior to the time the rinse liquid is sprayed into the tank through rinse nozzles. The rinse nozzles include upwardly and downwardly directed nozzle ports and a bottom spinner for thoroughly cleaning all interior surfaces of the tank. The sprayer may also include a chemical eductor mounted on the side of the tank, whose weight is counterbalanced by springs, and which easily pivots between lower and upper positions on the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: THE TORO COMPANY
    Inventors: Todd A. Otto, Brannon W. Polk, David J. Norlander, Bruce A. Granger, Daniel E. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8640972
    Abstract: A sprayer has a tank for holding a spray solution that is applied to a ground or turf surface. The sprayer includes an agitation system having a plurality of agitation nozzles that extend into the tank that are accessible from outside the tank and can be removed and replaced without using tools. The sprayer may include a rinse system carried onboard the sprayer which is segregated from the spray and agitation systems to avoid contaminating the rinse liquid prior to the time the rinse liquid is sprayed into the tank through rinse nozzles. The rinse nozzles include upwardly and downwardly directed nozzle ports and a bottom spinner for thoroughly cleaning all interior surfaces of the tank. The sprayer may also include a chemical eductor mounted on the side of the tank, whose weight is counterbalanced by springs, and which easily pivots between lower and upper positions on the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Todd A. Otto, Brannon W. Polk, David J. Norlander, Robert J. Bisson, Bruce A. Granger, John H. Weber
  • Patent number: 8573510
    Abstract: A turf sprayer has a truss shaped center boom and a pair of pivotal truss shaped wing booms within which spaced spray nozzles are supported. A drift shroud system comprises three integral and one-piece drift shrouds comprising a center shroud for the center boom and a pair of side shrouds for the wing booms. Each shroud is attached to an underside of the corresponding boom in a manner such that the shrouds project below the booms and not substantially above the booms to leave the truss-shapes of the booms open and unobscured to provide access to the spray nozzles within the booms. The shrouds each have openings in a top wall thereof for receiving the spray exiting from the nozzles with the spray passing downwardly between spaced front and rear walls of the shrouds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Bisson, Brannon W. Polk, David J. Norlander, Timothy P. Sosnowski, Bart T. Ellson
  • Publication number: 20120292402
    Abstract: A sprayer has a tank for holding a spray solution that is applied to a ground or turf surface. The sprayer includes an agitation system having a plurality of agitation nozzles that extend into the tank that are accessible from outside the tank and can be removed and replaced without using tools. The sprayer may include a rinse system carried onboard the sprayer which is segregated from the spray and agitation systems to avoid contaminating the rinse liquid prior to the time the rinse liquid is sprayed into the tank through rinse nozzles. The rinse nozzles include upwardly and downwardly directed nozzle ports and a bottom spinner for thoroughly cleaning all interior surfaces of the tank. The sprayer may also include a chemical eductor mounted on the side of the tank, whose weight is counterbalanced by springs, and which easily pivots between lower and upper positions on the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Todd A. Otto, Brannon W. Polk, David J. Norlander, Robert J. Bisson, Bruce A. Granger, John H. Weber, Daniel E. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20120091227
    Abstract: A turf sprayer has a truss shaped center boom and a pair of pivotal truss shaped wing booms within which spaced spray nozzles are supported. A drift shroud system comprises three integral and one-piece drift shrouds comprising a center shroud for the center boom and a pair of side shrouds for the wing booms. Each shroud is attached to an underside of the corresponding boom in a manner such that the shrouds project below the booms and not substantially above the booms to leave the truss-shapes of the booms open and unobscured to provide access to the spray nozzles within the booms. The shrouds each have openings in a top wall thereof for receiving the spray exiting from the nozzles with the spray passing downwardly between spaced front and rear walls of the shrouds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Robert J. Bisson, Brannon W. Polk, David J. Norlander, Timothy P. Sosnowski, Bart T. Ellson
  • Patent number: 7857239
    Abstract: A self-propelled and self-contained shrouded walking boom unit including a small tank and pump mounted on the unit. The unit also has a small transmission and DC drive which makes the unit self-propelled. The configuration is such that the operator walks in front of the spray applicator system with the spray being applied behind the operator. The operator steers the applicator and controls the spray from a handle attached to a single front steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventors: Kent S. Hahn, Brannon W. Polk
  • Publication number: 20080197210
    Abstract: A self-propelled and self-contained shrouded walking boom unit including a small tank and pump mounted on the unit. The unit also has a small transmission and DC drive which makes the unit self-propelled. The configuration is such that the operator walks in front of the spray applicator system with the spray being applied behind the operator. The operator steers the applicator and controls the spray from a handle attached to a single front steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Kent S. Hahn, Brannon W. Polk
  • Patent number: 7063273
    Abstract: A spray delivery system including a sectional boom attachable to a vehicle. The boom includes first and second movable arms and a fixed arm, each arm housing a plurality of spray nozzles. Each arm can include a frame having openings so that the arms are light-weight and so that the nozzles housed in the frames for protection can spray through the openings in the bottom surface of the frame. The movable arms include an operation position and a retracted position and the arms each include a drift shroud covering to prevent wind from interfering with the application of spray from nozzles. The drift shrouds can include windows that align with the openings in the frame such that an operator can see the spray from the nozzle from the operator's seat in the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Inventors: Kent S. Hahn, Brannon W. Polk