Patents by Inventor Derek A. Litchfield

Derek A. Litchfield 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: 20240251693
    Abstract: A residue coulter apparatus is configured to cleanly sever and clear crop debris from a planting row, causing minimal disturbance to the soil. The residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of crop debris clearing discs each having a plurality of back-swept teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth are separated by recesses formed between the teeth. The clearing discs are located on opposite sides of the planter and are angled toward each other so that the leading edges of the clearing discs are pointed in a toe-in orientation. The residue coulter apparatus also includes floater wheels that are coupled to a first side of the crop debris clearing discs. The floater wheels include a series of tines that are configured to be aligned with the teeth of the clearing disc such that there is one tine per tooth of the clearing discs. The floater wheels also include a series of recesses formed between the tines wherein the recesses are aligned with the recesses formed in the clearing discs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Derek W. ALLENSWORTH, Derek A. LITCHFIELD
  • Publication number: 20230165180
    Abstract: An adjustable furrow closing assembly that is used to close a seed furrow formed in the soil during a planting operation. The assembly includes a housing that is pivotally coupled to a planting unit. The housing includes an adjustable carrier that pivots within the housing. The adjustable carrier includes first and second closing wheels that are adapted to engage with the soil to close the seed furrow. The assembly also includes a downforce control lever that extends into the housing and is coupled to the adjustable carrier. The housing includes a gate member that including a plurality of slots. The downforce control lever is configured to be moved from one slot to a next slot of the gate to either increase or decrease downforce that is applied to the closing wheels. The slots formed in the gate to allow the gate position to be adjusted with respect to the housing to calibrate downforce on the closing wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Derek W. ALLENSWORTH, Derek A. LITCHFIELD
  • Patent number: 10462959
    Abstract: A seed furrow closing wheel includes an annular rim and a plurality of teeth carried on the rim for rotation about an axis. The teeth extend radially outward from the rim and are circumferentially spaced apart from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: YETTER MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick T. Whalen, Derek A. Litchfield, Derek W. Allensworth
  • Publication number: 20180014454
    Abstract: A seed furrow closing wheel includes an annular rim and a plurality of teeth carried on the rim for rotation about an axis. The teeth extend radially outward from the rim and are circumferentially spaced apart from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick T. WHALEN, Derek A. LITCHFIELD, Derek W. ALLENSWORTH
  • Patent number: 7832345
    Abstract: An apparatus that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from a planting row or closes a furrow while causing minimal disturbance to the soil. The residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of flat discs each having a plurality of back swept teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth include a beveled cutting edge on the outer edge of the teeth adapted to sever residue from the field or close a furrow. The discs are oriented substantially vertical to the ground. Two discs are used in combination to clear a pathway for planting seed or for closing a furrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Patrick Whalen, Stephen E. Cerven, Derek A. Litchfield
  • Patent number: 7240627
    Abstract: A residue coulter apparatus that cleanly severs and clears crop debris from a planting row, causing minimal disturbance to the soil. The residue coulter apparatus comprises a pair of flat discs each having a plurality of back swept shark type teeth extending about their periphery. The teeth include a double beveled cutting edge on the outer edge of the teeth adapted to sever residue from the field. The clearing discs are oriented substantially vertical to the ground. Two clearing discs are used in combination to clear a pathway for planting seed. The clearing discs are angled toward each other so that the leading edges of the clearing discs are pointed in a toe-in orientation. The present design effectively removes crop debris without over discharge and causes minimal soil disturbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Patrick Whalen, Stephen E. Cerven, Derek A. Litchfield
  • Patent number: D801396
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Patrick T. Whalen, Derek A. Litchfield, Derek W. Allensworth