Patents by Inventor Gerald J. Zien

Gerald J. Zien 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: 6092617
    Abstract: A slow in turn system for a vehicle comprises an accelerator linkage that is linked to the input lever of a variable speed transmission. The accelerator linkage includes first and second link arms that couple a foot pedal to a rotatable cam plate. The link arm that connects to the cam plate is coupled thereto by a slider so that the connection point of that link arm may be moved towards and away from the pivot axis of the cam plate. The slider is moved away from the pivot axis of the cam plate during turns of the vehicle to reversely rotate the cam plate, and hence retard the input lever of the speed changing system, to thereby automatically slow the vehicle. This movement of the slider is accomplished by a connecting linkage extending to the steering system of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle includes a cruise control system that can be set to obtain a particular forward speed but which allows the operator to temporarily speed up without subsequently having to reset the cruise control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Donald M. White, III, Glenn L. Larsen, David A. Murray, Gerald J. Zien
  • Patent number: 4245454
    Abstract: A device (10) for metering discrete lengths of filament utilized in a flexible filament vegetation cutting device is disclosed. The line metering device (10) is preferably used in flexible filament lawn mowers. An electric motor (28) rotatively drives a drive shaft (32) about its axis. A driving mechanism, preferably a spool (36) is coupled to the drive shaft (32) for rotation therewith whenever the drive shaft (32) is rotated. A driven mechanism, preferably a guide drum (84), is selectively coupled for rotation to the driving mechanism (36). The spool (36) has the flexible filament (66) wound about it and is coupled to one of the driven and driving mechanisms (84, 32) for rotation therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventor: Gerald J. Zien