Patents by Inventor Chad P. McCormick

Chad P. McCormick 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).

  • Patent number: 6945471
    Abstract: A rotary sprinkler having an adjustable arc segment whose angular extent and absolute direction relative to the ground are represented by an arc indicator, which arc indicator may comprise a band whose visible length represents the angular extent and whose position on the sprinkler points to the direction. The sprinkler may have the arc segment adjusted by a movable arc limit stop that is coupled to a toggle member only at drive reversal, and the sprinkler may be converted to full circle operation by raising the arc limit stop relative to a cooperating trip tab. A buckling spring assembly used to shift the drive comprises a compression spring held between two spaced pivot members, and the drive can be built in continuous and intermittent drive versions by replacing a few normal rotary gears with multilated gears. A friction clutch having asymmetric teeth for smooth operation prevents damage to the drive during forced nozzle rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Jeff R. McKenzie, Peter Janku, Rebecca R. Lichte, Chad P. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20020153432
    Abstract: A rotary sprinkler having an adjustable arc segment whose angular extent and absolute direction relative to the ground are represented by an arc indicator, which arc indicator may comprise a band whose visible length represents the angular extent and whose position on the sprinkler points to the direction. The sprinkler may have the arc segment adjusted by a movable arc limit stop that is coupled to a toggle member only at drive reversal, and the sprinkler may be converted to full circle operation by raising the arc limit stop relative to a cooperating trip tab. A buckling spring assembly used to shift the drive comprises a compression spring held between two spaced pivot members, and the drive can be built in continuous and intermittent drive versions by replacing a few normal rotary gears with multilated gears. A friction clutch having asymmetric teeth for smooth operation prevents damage to the drive during forced nozzle rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Jeff R. McKenzie, Peter Janku, Rebecca R. Lichte, Chad P. McCormick
  • Patent number: 6332581
    Abstract: A sprinkler nozzle for a rotary sprinkler comprises two water flow passages extending therethrough, namely an upper passage and a parallel lower passage. The upper passage includes a straight, substantially cylindrical bore having stream straightening vanes, the upper passage watering radially outer portions of the watered pattern. The lower passage comprises a diffuser that reduces the energy of the water flowing into the lower passage by providing an expanded volume, namely a volume having a greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the inlet. The water exits the diffuser through an outlet which includes a rear edge that forms an impact surface against which a portion of the boundary layer flow is directed. This impact surface is arch shaped and deflects the intercepted portion of the boundary layer flow from the top to the bottom of the lower passage. The boundary layer flow is then dumped onto a lower ramp of the outlet of the lower passage which lower ramp is downwardly inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Douglas E. Chin, Chad P. McCormick