Patents by Inventor Brian Michael Craig

Brian Michael Craig 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: 20250063970
    Abstract: A tool mount configured for use with an agricultural implement includes a mounting plate assembly having a mount plate and a mount sleeve. The mount plate is configured to be rigidly coupled to a frame of the implement and defines a depth stop channel. The mount sleeve extends outwardly from the mount plate along a pivot axis. The tool mount also includes an arm assembly configured to support a ground-engaging tool of the implement. The arm assembly includes a mounting arm pivotably coupled to the mount sleeve such that the arm assembly is configured to pivot about the pivot axis across a pivot range. The arm assembly further includes a stop pin extending outwardly from the mounting arm that is configured to be received within the depth stop channel to limit pivoting of the arm assembly relative to the mounting plate assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Brian Michael Craig, Jeffry Scott Huber
  • Publication number: 20250063965
    Abstract: A strip tillage implement includes a toolbar frame and a hitch frame rotatably coupled together. Additionally, the implement includes a roll lock assembly alterable between a locked and unlocked configuration. The roll lock assembly includes a locking bar rotatably coupled to the toolbar frame. Furthermore, the roll lock assembly includes a locking fastener configured to be selectively installed relative to the locking bar and the hitch frame. When the roll lock assembly is in the locked configuration, the locking fastener is inserted through both the hitch frame and the locking bar to couple the locking bar to the hitch frame in a manner that limits relative rotation of the toolbar frame and the hitch frame. Additionally, when the roll lock assembly is in the unlocked configuration, the locking bar is movable relative to the portion of the hitch frame with relative rotation between the toolbar frame and the hitch frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Austin Joseph Lewandowski, Brian Michael Craig
  • Publication number: 20250063974
    Abstract: An agricultural row unit includes a row unit frame and at least one downforce actuator configured to apply a downward biasing force against the row unit frame. The row unit also incudes a linkage assembly provided in operative association with the row unit frame and the downforce actuator(s). The linkage assembly includes a plurality of linkages, with each of the linkages extending between a proximal end coupled to the row unit frame and a distal end configured to be coupled to a toolbar of an associated implement. The linkage assembly also includes a mounting pin coupled to and extending directly between opposed linkages of the linkages. A first end of the downforce actuator(s) is supported by the mounting pin relative to the opposed linkages, and a second end of the downforce actuator(s) is coupled to the row unit frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventor: Brian Michael Craig
  • Publication number: 20250063962
    Abstract: An implement includes a row unit including a row unit frame, a coulter disc, and a mounting assembly for supporting the coulter disc. The mounting assembly includes a mounting bracket including a mounting plate and upper and lower plates rigidly coupled to the mounting plate. The mounting bracket is coupled to the row unit frame and configured to be positionally adjusted to adjust the position of the coulter disc in a first direction. Additionally, the mounting assembly includes a first support arm coupled to the mounting bracket between the upper and lower plates and configured to be positionally adjusted to adjust the position of the coulter disc in a second direction. Furthermore, the mounting assembly includes a second support arm coupled between the first support arm and the coulter disc and configured to be positionally adjusted to adjust the position of the coulter disc in a third direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Austin Joseph Lewandowski, Brian Michael Craig, Jeffry Scott Huber
  • Publication number: 20250063963
    Abstract: A row cleaner a row cleaner disc defining an inner face and a scraper blade supported relative to the row cleaner disc. The scraper blade includes a mounting portion and a blade portion, with the blade portion extending in a fore-aft direction between a forward end and an aft end and in a lateral direction between an inner lateral end positioned adjacent to the mounting portion and an outer lateral end spaced apart from the mounting portion. The outer lateral end of the blade portion is oriented substantially parallel to the inner face of the row cleaner disc. Additionally, the blade portion is oriented non-perpendicular to the inner face of the row cleaner disc as the blade portion extends from the outer lateral end of the blade portion to the inner lateral end of the blade portion in the lateral direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventor: Brian Michael Craig
  • Publication number: 20250063971
    Abstract: In one aspect, an agricultural implement includes a row unit including a frame. A center coulter can be operably coupled with the frame. A knife can be operably coupled with the frame and positioned aft of the center coulter. A diverging gap can be defined between the center coulter and the knife such that the diverging gap increases in width in the forward/aft direction as a location along the knife moves upward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Jesse Allen Stoller, Brad David Frank, William E. Preller, Brian Michael Craig, Austin Joseph Lewandowski, Caleb Roy Mohr, Gabe DeBoeuf Tomlinson, Sean Dale Jordal, Jeffry Scott Huber
  • Publication number: 20250063966
    Abstract: A strip conditioner for an agricultural row unit includes a conditioner frame configured to be supported relative to a row unit, and a rotary tool assembly coupled to the conditioner frame for rotation relative thereto, with the rotary tool assembly including a plurality of cultivator wheels. The strip conditioner further includes a rake assembly supported by the conditioner frame relative to the rotary tool assembly. The rake assembly includes a rod support member coupled to the conditioner frame, and a plurality of rake rods coupled to the rod support member. Each rake rod extends from the rod support member to a location between a respective pair of adjacent cultivator wheels of the plurality of cultivator tools. Additionally, each rake rod of the plurality of rake rods defines a circular cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Austin Joseph Lewandowski, Brian Michael Craig
  • Publication number: 20250063969
    Abstract: A shank assembly for an agricultural implement includes a ground-engaging shank having a shank body. Furthermore, the shank assembly includes a sleeve having a forward wall, an intermediate wall positioned aft of and spaced apart from the forward wall, and an aft wall positioned aft of and spaced apart from the intermediate wall. Additionally, the sleeve includes a first side wall coupled to the forward, intermediate, and aft walls on a first side of the sleeve and a second side wall coupled to the forward, intermediate, and aft walls on a second side of the sleeve. Moreover, the forward wall, the intermediate wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall collectively define a forward passage through which the shank body extends. In addition, the intermediate wall, the aft wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall collectively define an aft passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: William E. Preller, Brian Michael Craig, Austin Joseph Lewandowski, Jeffry Scott Huber
  • Publication number: 20250063964
    Abstract: In one aspect, a row unit configured for use with an agricultural implement includes a frame and a coulter supported by the frame and extending in a fore-aft direction of the row unit along a longitudinal centerline of the row unit. The row unit also includes a row cleaner supported by the frame relative to the coulter, with the row cleaner including first and second row cleaner disc. The first and second row cleaner discs are arranged relative to the coulter such that an initial point of engagement of the coulter with soil being processed by the row is located: (1) aft of soil entry locations of the first and second row cleaner discs in the fore-aft direction; and (2) forward of soil exit locations of the first and second row cleaner discs in the fore-aft direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: William E. Preller, Austin Joseph Lewandowski, Brian Michael Craig
  • Publication number: 20250048953
    Abstract: An agricultural implement extends in a fore-aft direction between a forward end and an aft end. The agricultural implement includes a toolbar assembly comprising a central toolbar section and first and second wing toolbar sections pivotably coupled to the central toolbar section, with the central toolbar section configured to be mounted to a work vehicle via a semi-mounted configuration. Additionally, the implement includes first and second lift-assist assemblies pivotably coupled to the central toolbar section and extending outwardly therefrom in a forward direction of travel of the implement such that the lift-assist assemblies are positioned at forward end of the agricultural implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Austin Joseph Lewandowski, William E. Preller, Brian Michael Craig, Jeffry Scott Huber
  • Publication number: 20250017127
    Abstract: In one aspect, a rear folding agricultural implement allows for first and second wing sections of a toolbar assembly to be folded relative to a central toolbar section of the toolbar assembly via independently actuatable wing roll sections coupled between the central toolbar section and the respective wing sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Brian Michael Craig, William E. Preller, Michael J. Grossen, Timothy Crumrine, Andrew T. Maki, Austin Joseph Lewandowski, Jeffry Scott Huber