Patents by Inventor Gerald E. Goman
Gerald E. Goman 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: 12284938Abstract: A walk reel mower has a traction frame that carries a handle assembly to accommodate users of different heights. The handle assembly can extend rearwardly and upwardly from the traction frame and can include a lower support, operatively coupled to the traction frame, and an upper mount carrying a handle which is gripped by a user during operation of the mower to guide and manipulate the mower. The upper mount can be slidingly movable relative to the lower support to raise or lower the handle relative to the ground to adjust the height of the handle above the ground to suit users of different heights who walk on the ground behind the traction frame while operating the mower. A latch can also be provided that is carried on the handle assembly and that engages between the lower support and the upper mount in one of a plurality of positions of the upper mount relative to the lower support.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2024Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Gerald E. Goman, Nicholas J. Sirek
-
Publication number: 20240349640Abstract: A walk reel mower has a pivotal rear traction drum that can be selectively disposed in two different mowing positions that allow a single mower to cut grass on golf course greens as well as tee boxes with no degradation in cutting or power performance. The reel cutting unit has a pivotal rear shield to allow the rear shield to be pivotally adjusted to maintain its radial spacing relative to the orbit of the reel at a desired amount as the reel diameter decreases due to wear.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2024Publication date: October 24, 2024Inventors: Gerald E. GOMAN, Robert D. PATTON
-
Publication number: 20240315166Abstract: A walk reel mower has a traction frame that carries a handle assembly to accommodate users of different heights. A pivotal bail on the handle assembly allows the user to slip a traction clutch to temporarily slow the mower down when turning the mower around. The handle assembly has a resilient isolator that acts in shear to permit the traction frame of the mower to maintain the quality and the height of cut when operated by users having a heavy downpressure touch on the handle assembly. A fixed head reel cutting unit or a flex head reel cutting unit can be interchangeably carried on the traction frame using a common mount therefor. Backlapping can be accomplished in situ by using an idler wheel between a driven transport wheel and the reel of the cutting unit to reverse the direction of the reel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2024Publication date: September 26, 2024Inventors: Gerald E. Goman, Nicholas J. Sirek
-
Patent number: 12022771Abstract: A walk reel mower has a pivotal rear traction drum that can be selectively disposed in two different mowing positions that allow a single mower to cut grass on golf course greens as well as tee boxes with no degradation in cutting or power performance. The reel cutting unit has a pivotal rear shield to allow the rear shield to be pivotally adjusted to maintain its radial spacing relative to the orbit of the reel at a desired amount as the reel diameter decreases due to wear.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2021Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Gerald E. Goman, Robert D. Patton, Larry W. Schmidt
-
Patent number: 12016266Abstract: A walk reel mower has a traction frame that carries at least one ground engaging member operatively powered by a prime mover. A rotatable cutting reel is operatively powered by the prime mower for pushing grass against a bedknife to cut the grass. A handle assembly is used to guide and manipulate the mower, and a traction bail on the handle assembly disengages and engages the traction drive. The traction bail is movable between first and second positions that have a range of motion large enough to permit the user to move the control into at least one intermediate position to produce a reduced ground speed greater than zero but less than the nominal ground speed.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 25, 2024Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Thomas F. Langworthy, Robert D. Patton, Nicholas J. Sirek, Joseph W. Pfankuch, Gerald E. Goman
-
Patent number: 11771000Abstract: A walk reel mower has a traction frame that carries at least one ground engaging member operatively powered by a prime mover The mower includes a handle assembly that extends rearwardly and upwardly from the traction frame. The handle assembly includes a handle to be gripped by a user when operating the mower. The handle guides and manipulates the mower. The mower also includes a common mount adapted to attach a reel cutting unit to the traction frame. The common mount has a first pair of laterally spaced mounting surfaces on the traction frame and a second pair of laterally spaced mounting surfaces on the reel cutting unit. The first pair of mounting surfaces face forwardly with respect to a forward direction of movement, and the second pair of mounting surfaces face rearwardly with respect to the forward direction of movement.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Robert D. Patton, Gerald E. Goman
-
Publication number: 20210321563Abstract: A walk reel mower has a traction frame that carries a telescopic handle assembly to accommodate users of different heights. A pivotal bail on the handle assembly allows the user to slip a traction clutch to temporarily slow the mower down when turning the mower around. The handle assembly has a resilient isolator that acts in shear to permit the traction frame of the mower to maintain the quality and the height of cut when operated by users having a heavy downpressure touch on the handle assembly. A fixed head reel cutting unit or a flex head reel cutting unit can be interchangeably carried on the traction frame using a common mount therefor. Backlapping can be accomplished in situ by using an idler wheel between a driven transport wheel and the reel of the cutting unit to reverse the direction of the reel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Robert D. Patton, Gerald E. Goman
-
Publication number: 20210321562Abstract: A walk reel mower has a traction frame that carries a telescopic handle assembly to accommodate users of different heights. A pivotal bail on the handle assembly allows the user to slip a traction clutch to temporarily slow the mower down when turning the mower around. The handle assembly has a resilient isolator that acts in shear to permit the traction frame of the mower to maintain the quality and the height of cut when operated by users having a heavy downpressure touch on the handle assembly. A fixed head reel cutting unit or a flex head reel cutting unit can be interchangeably carried on the traction frame using a common mount therefor. Backlapping can be accomplished in situ by using an idler wheel between a driven transport wheel and the reel of the cutting unit to reverse the direction of the reel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Inventors: Thomas F. Langworthy, Robert D. Patton, Nicholas J. Sirek, Joseph W. Pfankuch, Gerald E. Goman
-
Patent number: 11051450Abstract: A walk reel mower has a traction frame that carries a rotatable cutting reel that pushes grass against a bedknife for cutting the grass. A handle assembly extends rearwardly and upwardly from the traction frame. The handle assembly carries a handle that is gripped by a user to operate the mower as the user walks on the ground behind the traction frame. The handle assembly has upper and lower portions that have a telescopic connection to one another to adjust the height of the handle above the ground to accommodate users of different heights.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Gerald E. Goman, Nicholas J. Sirek
-
Publication number: 20210195835Abstract: A walk reel mower has a pivotal rear traction drum that can be selectively disposed in two different mowing positions that allow a single mower to cut grass on golf course greens as well as tee boxes with no degradation in cutting or power performance. The reel cutting unit has a pivotal rear shield to allow the rear shield to be pivotally adjusted to maintain its radial spacing relative to the orbit of the reel at a desired amount as the reel diameter decreases due to wear. The ground speed of the walk reel mower is automatically slowed during turns of the mower by a mechanical cable assembly that links a user operable throttle control and throttle reducing control to a prime mover throttle. Finally, the leverage provided by the mower handle assembly when placed in a lowered position is used by the user to more easily deploy a kickstand.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2021Publication date: July 1, 2021Inventors: Gerald E. Goman, Robert D. Patton, Larry W. Schmidt
-
Patent number: 10959372Abstract: A fixed head walk reel mower has a frame supported for rolling over the ground. A reel cutting unit comprising a rotatable reel and a cooperating bedknife has a fixed orientation on the frame. The frame pivotally carries a ground engaging pivotal rear traction drum that can be selectively disposed in two different mowing positions when cutting grass at lower or higher height of cut ranges, respectively. This allows a single mower to cut grass at lower heights of cut on golf course greens as well as at higher heights of cut on tee boxes while minimizing degradation in cutting or power performance.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Gerald E. Goman, Robert D. Patton
-
Publication number: 20200146213Abstract: A walk reel mower has a traction frame that carries a telescopic handle assembly to accommodate users of different heights. A pivotal bail on the handle assembly allows the user to slip a traction clutch to temporarily slow the mower down when turning the mower around. The handle assembly has a resilient isolator that acts in shear to permit the traction frame of the mower to maintain the quality and the height of cut when operated by users having a heavy downpressure touch on the handle assembly. A fixed head reel cutting unit or a flex head reel cutting unit can be interchangeably carried on the traction frame using a common mount therefor. Backlapping can be accomplished in situ by using an idler wheel between a driven transport wheel and the reel of the cutting unit to reverse the direction of the reel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2018Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Gerald E. Goman, Robert D. Patton, Nicholas J. Sirek, Thomas F. Langworthy, Gerald J. Pomerening, Joseph W. Pfankuch
-
Publication number: 20180279548Abstract: A walk reel mower has a pivotal rear traction drum that can be selectively disposed in two different mowing positions that allow a single mower to cut grass on golf course greens as well as tee boxes with no degradation in cutting or power performance. The reel cutting unit has a pivotal rear shield to allow the rear shield to be pivotally adjusted to maintain its radial spacing relative to the orbit of the reel at a desired amount as the reel diameter decreases due to wear. The ground speed of the walk reel mower is automatically slowed during turns of the mower by a mechanical cable assembly that links a user operable throttle control and throttle reducing control to a prime mover throttle. Finally, the leverage provided by the mower handle assembly when placed in a lowered position is used by the user to more easily deploy a kickstand.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2016Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Gerald E. Goman, Robert D. Patton, Casey L. Adkins, Nicholas J. Sirek, Jeffrey A. Sorenson, Larry W. Schmidt
-
Patent number: 9220193Abstract: A reel mower has a double A arm suspension that lowers a reel cutting unit into a cutting position in a tail down orientation and that levels the reel cutting unit out as it lifts the reel cutting unit into a transport position. The reel cutting unit yaws during turns about a substantially vertical axis having a negative caster angle. The suspension has clamps that can be flipped open or closed to quickly attach or detach the reel cutting unit. A drive motor can be quickly attached or detached to the reel cutting unit using a pivotal wire form. An active counterbalance system automatically offsets the increasing weight of a grass basket on the reel cutting unit to maintain quality of cut. The grass basket maintains a constant spacing relative to the reel cutting unit when the reel cutting unit pitches to improve clipping collection.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Gerald E. Goman, Gary R. Lamusga, Todd P. Legault, Robert D. Patton, Ricky A. Galewski
-
Publication number: 20150007543Abstract: A reel mower has a double A arm suspension that lowers a reel cutting unit into a cutting position in a tail down orientation and that levels the reel cutting unit out as it lifts the reel cutting unit into a transport position. The reel cutting unit yaws during turns about a substantially vertical axis having a negative caster angle. The suspension has clamps that can be flipped open or closed to quickly attach or detach the reel cutting unit. A drive motor can be quickly attached or detached to the reel cutting unit using a pivotal wire form. An active counterbalance system automatically offsets the increasing weight of a grass basket on the reel cutting unit to maintain quality of cut. The grass basket maintains a constant spacing relative to the reel cutting unit when the reel cutting unit pitches to improve clipping collection.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2014Publication date: January 8, 2015Applicant: THE TORO COMPANYInventors: Gerald E. Goman, Gary R. Lamusga, Todd P. Legault, Robert D. Patton, Ricky A. Galewski
-
Patent number: 8850783Abstract: A reel mower has a double A arm suspension that lowers a reel cutting unit into a cutting position in a tail down orientation and that levels the reel cutting unit out as it lifts the reel cutting unit into a transport position. The reel cutting unit yaws during turns about a substantially vertical axis having a negative caster angle. The suspension has clamps that can be flipped open or closed to quickly attach or detach the reel cutting unit. A drive motor can be quickly attached or detached to the reel cutting unit using a pivotal wire form. An active counterbalance system automatically offsets the increasing weight of a grass basket on the reel cutting unit to maintain quality of cut. The grass basket maintains a constant spacing relative to the reel cutting unit when the reel cutting unit pitches to improve clipping collection.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2013Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Gerald E. Goman, Ricky A. Galewski
-
Publication number: 20130312380Abstract: A reel mower has a double A arm suspension that lowers a reel cutting unit into a cutting position in a tail down orientation and that levels the reel cutting unit out as it lifts the reel cutting unit into a transport position. The reel cutting unit yaws during turns about a substantially vertical axis having a negative caster angle. The suspension has clamps that can be flipped open or closed to quickly attach or detach the reel cutting unit. A drive motor can be quickly attached or detached to the reel cutting unit using a pivotal wire form. An active counterbalance system automatically offsets the increasing weight of a grass basket on the reel cutting unit to maintain quality of cut. The grass basket maintains a constant spacing relative to the reel cutting unit when the reel cutting unit pitches to improve clipping collection.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: THE TORO COMPANYInventors: Gerald E. Goman, Ricky A. Galewski
-
Patent number: 8544251Abstract: A reel mower has a plurality of reel cutting units. Each reel cutting unit is connected to a frame of the reel mower by its own double A arm suspension that lowers a reel cutting unit into a cutting position in a tail down orientation and that levels the reel cutting unit out as it lifts the reel cutting unit into a transport position.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Gerald E. Goman, Ricky A. Galewski, Gary R. Lamusga
-
Publication number: 20110179759Abstract: A reel mower has a double A arm suspension that lowers a reel cutting unit into a cutting position in a tail down orientation and that levels the reel cutting unit out as it lifts the reel cutting unit into a transport position. The reel cutting unit yaws during turns about a substantially vertical axis having a negative caster angle. The suspension has clamps that can be flipped open or closed to quickly attach or detach the reel cutting unit. A drive motor can be quickly attached or detached to the reel cutting unit using a pivotal wire form. An active counterbalance system automatically offsets the increasing weight of a grass basket on the reel cutting unit to maintain quality of cut. The grass basket maintains a constant spacing relative to the reel cutting unit when the reel cutting unit pitches to improve clipping collection.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2009Publication date: July 28, 2011Inventors: Gerald E. Goman, Ricky A. Galewski, Todd P. Legault, Robert D. Patton, Neil R. Whitman, Gary R. Lamusga, Rodney W. Woock
-
Patent number: 7971421Abstract: A walk reel mower includes a pair of inclined rigid links for mounting the reel cutting unit to the reel mower frame for rolling about a longitudinal axis, and a pair of vertical support arms for mounting the reel cutting unit to the reel mower frame for pitching about a transverse axis. An integrated gearbox houses both the traction and reel drives, including the differential that is part of the traction drive, as well as a parking brake. A flexible drive shaft powers the cutting reel from the gearbox and is made from materials that do not require petroleum based lubricants to avoid the possibility of damage to the turf or grass. A single control handle located on the handle of the mower actuates both the reel and traction drives. The reel cutting unit includes a back plate which has a portion formed as a hollow beam for strength.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2010Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: The Toro CompanyInventors: Gerald E. Goman, Robert D. Patton, Donald B. Schnotala