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: 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: 8752642
    Abstract: An implement height adjuster is provided to allow for the adjustment of the height of an implement remotely from the tractor cab without requiring the user to stop the tractor to make individual adjustments. The implement height adjuster is configured to be coupled to a planter unit or other equipment towed behind a tractor and includes a motor, a gear reduction transmission coupled to the motor, and a flexible output shaft, that is coupled to the transmission at a first end and to the implement to be adjusted at a second end. The flexible output shaft allows the motor of the implement height adjuster to be mounted in various positions on the equipment. The gear reduction transmission or motor includes a position sensor that allows the operator of the tractor to know the position of a particular implement without requiring a visual inspection of the implement. A control panel is used to manage the vertical adjustment of one or a series of implements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Yetter Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Patrick Whalen, Derek Litchfield, Derek Allensworth
  • Publication number: 20110247843
    Abstract: An implement height adjuster is provided to allow for the adjustment of the height of an implement remotely from the tractor cab without requiring the user to stop the tractor to make individual adjustments. The implement height adjuster is configured to be coupled to a planter unit or other equipment towed behind a tractor and includes a motor, a gear reduction transmission coupled to the motor, and a flexible output shaft, that is coupled to the transmission at a first end and to the implement to be adjusted at a second end. The flexible output shaft allows the motor of the implement height adjuster to be mounted in various positions on the equipment. The gear reduction transmission or motor includes a position sensor that allows the operator of the tractor to know the position of a particular implement without requiring a visual inspection of the implement. A control panel is used to manage the vertical adjustment of one or a series of implements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Patrick Whalen, Derek Litchfield, Derek 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
  • Publication number: 20080314301
    Abstract: A soil treatment dispensing assembly that is provided with a frame and a coulter wheel coupled to the frame that is adapted to engage the soil to form a trench. The soil treatment dispensing assembly is also provided with a support arm having a leading edge adapted to engage the soil. The support arm includes a tubular applicator that is coupled to the lower portion of the support arm. The applicator includes a tapered forward region, a dispensing opening and an internal cavity formed in the applicator. The soil treatment dispensing assembly also includes an application conduit arranged to terminate within the internal cavity of the applicator. The application conduit is connectable to a source of treating product, such as fertilizer, and communicates the treating product directly into the internal cavity of the applicator. Treating product within the internal cavity exits the opening formed in the applicator to treat the soil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Patrick Whalen, Don Bunnell, Jim Lascelles, Lonnie Lucas, Derek Litchfield, Derek Allensworth
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20070131153
    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: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: YETTER MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Whalen, Stephen Cerven, Derek Litchfield
  • Patent number: D663326
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Yatter Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Derek Allensworth, Jim Lascelles, Derek 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
  • Patent number: D987693
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: YETTER MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Derek Allensworth, Derek Litchfield