Patents by Inventor Donald Tvetene

Donald Tvetene 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: 8118154
    Abstract: A sod handling method and a sod handling apparatus, in one embodiment the sod handling apparatus uses a pressure differential to hold a sod slab during sod transfer, other embodiments include a sod lift member for lifting sod, a sod transport mechanism for moving sod; a sod carriage for transporting sod, a sod bed positioning system for stacking sod, a system and method for checking sod quality as well as an apparatus and method of machine stacking sod to maintain the integrity of a sod stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Trebro Holding, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Tvetene, Donald Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Publication number: 20100187071
    Abstract: A sod handling method and a sod handling apparatus, in one embodiment the sod handling apparatus uses a pressure differential to hold a sod slab during sod transfer, other embodiments include a sod lift member for lifting sod, a sod transport mechanism for moving sod; a sod carriage for transporting sod, a sod bed positioning system for stacking sod, a system and method for checking sod quality as well as an apparatus and method of machine stacking sod to maintain the integrity of a sod stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: TREBRO HOLDING, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Tvetene, Donald Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Patent number: 7641437
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring sod slabs in an unrolled condition including a retractable bed for allowing a sod slab to fall under the influence of gravity from one sod bed to another sod bed with a further sod bed to allow a sod pickup mechanism to place and remove sod slabs thereon from different directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Trebro Holding, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Tvetene, Donald Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Publication number: 20060102363
    Abstract: A sod handling method and a sod handling apparatus, in one embodiment the sod handling apparatus uses a pressure differential to hold a sod slab during sod transfer, other embodiments include a sod lift member for lifting sod, a sod transport mechanism for moving sod; a sod carriage for transporting sod, a sod bed positioning system for stacking sod, a system and method for checking sod quality as well as an apparatus and method of machine stacking sod to maintain the integrity of a sod stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 18, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Tvetene, Donald Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Publication number: 20050058527
    Abstract: A towable sod stacker having a pallet holder for holding a stack of sod, a conveyor for receiving and temporarily storing a plurality of cut sod slabs and a sod pickup and transport mechanism for lifting the plurality of cut sod sections from the conveyor and vertically placing the sod slabs in any of four positions on the pallet to provide an alternately stacked pallet of sod slabs with the towable stacker conveyor laterally displaceable to permit an operator to on-the-go dump a spoiled sod slab from the conveyor
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventors: Theodore Tvetene, Donald Tvetene, Michael Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Patent number: 6783318
    Abstract: A towable sod stacker having a pallet holder for holding a stack of sod, a conveyor for receiving and temporarily storing a plurality of cut sod slabs and a sod pickup mechanism for lifting the plurality of cut sod sections from the conveyor and vertically placing the sod slabs in any of four positions on the pallet to provide an alternately stacked pallet of sod slabs with the towable stacker conveyor laterally displaceable to permit an operator to on-the-go dump a spoiled sod slab from the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventors: Theodore Tvetene, Donald Tvetene, Michael Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Publication number: 20040037683
    Abstract: A towable sod stacker having a pallet holder for holding a stack of sod, a conveyor for receiving and temporarily storing a plurality of cut sod slabs and a sod pickup mechanism for lifting the plurality of cut sod sections from the conveyor and vertically placing the sod slabs in any of four positions on the pallet to provide an alternately stacked pallet of sod slabs with the towable stacker conveyor laterally displaceable to permit an operator to on-the-go dump a spoiled sod slab from the conveyor
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Theodore Tvetene, Donald Tvetene, Michael Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Patent number: 6681864
    Abstract: A method the method of transferring a roll of sod while inhibiting an unwinding of the roll of sod comprising the steps of: (a) rolling a slab of sod into a first sod roll; (b) forcing the first sod roll onto a sod roll handling mechanism containing a second sod roll with the first sod roll forming pressure contact with the second sod roll on the sod roll handling mechanism; and (c) advancing the sod roll handling mechanism with the second sod roll while maintaining the first sod roll and the second sod roll in pressure contact to thereby inhibit the unwinding of the first sod roll as the first sod roll is transferred to the handling mechanism and an sod harvester guidance system for maintaining a full cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventors: Donald Tvetene, Michael Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Publication number: 20020043375
    Abstract: A method the method of transferring a roll of sod while inhibiting an unwinding of the roll of sod comprising the steps of: (a) rolling a slab of sod into a first sod roll; (b) forcing the first sod roll onto a sod roll handling mechanism containing a second sod roll with the first sod roll forming pressure contact with the second sod roll on the sod roll handling mechanism; and (c) advancing the sod roll handling mechanism with the second sod roll while maintaining the first sod roll and the second sod roll in pressure contact to thereby inhibit the unwinding of the first sod roll as the first sod roll is transferred to the handling mechanism and an sod harvester guidance system for maintaining a full cut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Donald Tvetene, Michael Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Patent number: 6364027
    Abstract: A method the method of transferring a roll of sod while inhibiting an unwinding of the roll of sod comprising the steps of: (a) rolling a slab of sod into a first sod roll; (b) forcing the first sod roll onto a sod roll handling mechanism containing a second sod roll with the first sod roll forming pressure contact with the second sod roll on the sod roll handling mechanism; and (c) advancing the sod roll handling mechanism with the second sod roll while maintaining the first sod roll and the second sod roll in pressure contact to thereby inhibit the unwinding of the first sod roll as the first sod roll is transferred to the handling mechanism and an sod harvester guidance system for maintaining a full cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventors: Donald Tvetene, Michael Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Patent number: 6296063
    Abstract: A method and an automatic sod harvester for on-the-go cutting, rolling and storing of sod with the sod harvester including a sod cutter for freeing a section of sod from a sod field, a sod roller for rolling the section of sod into a sod roll, a sod roll accumulator having a sod troughs therein for receiving and holding a plurality of sod rolls therein and a sod roll pickup mechanism for lifting the sod rolls on the sod roll accumulator and transferring the sod rolls to a sod carrier for delivery of the sod rolls to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventors: Donald Tvetene, Michael Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene
  • Patent number: 6050367
    Abstract: A load stabilizing bi-directional vehicle having a steerable front and a steerable rear wheel and a pair of lateral wheels for maintaining the balance of the bi-directional vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventors: Theodore Tvetene, Donald Tvetene, Michael Tvetene, Gregg Tvetene