Patents by Inventor Jacob Schmalz
Jacob Schmalz 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).
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Patent number: 11916242Abstract: A battery pack includes a cell module assembly, a primary power output, and a secondary output connector. The cell module assembly includes several lithium-ion battery cells connected in parallel. The primary power output includes a pair of terminals for connection to equipment to be powered by the battery pack. The secondary output connector includes a secondary power output for connection to equipment to be powered by the battery pack and includes an enable input. The primary power output is configured to supply electrical power at a voltage higher than the secondary power output connector. The secondary power output is controllable through the enable input to selectively supply electrical power from the secondary power output.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2020Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nicholas Ziedler
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Publication number: 20240007026Abstract: A controller module includes an enclosure including an inner wall defining a volume, a plurality of motor controllers, each motor controller comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a plurality of transistors located on the first side, and a plurality of outputs located on the second side. The first side of the PCB is positioned adjacent to the inner wall of the enclosure to allow heat generated by the motor controller to dissipate via the enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: David Schulenberg, Jacob Schmalz
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Patent number: 11820218Abstract: A scalable power unit for powering one or more electric motors of a riding vehicle and/or a piece of outdoor power equipment includes a number of interconnected battery packs. The battery pack are received in a battery tray or stacked to form the scalable power unit. Each battery pack is configured to be removed and used separately or added to a combination of battery packs. A control unit selectively opens and closes switching elements to separately control the connections between the battery packs and an electrical load, such as a motor. During charging, the control unit opens and closes switching elements to control the charging rate of the individual battery packs. When the battery packs are connected to an electrical load, the control unit controls the state of the switching elements to selectively discharge the battery packs to power the riding vehicle and/or electric loads.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Publication number: 20230320264Abstract: A service vehicle for storing and transporting outdoor power equipment includes a loading/unloading ramp, a charging bay configured to charge a rechargeable battery pack mounted on a first piece of outdoor power equipment, a spare battery charging station configured to store and selectively charge a spare rechargeable battery pack, a user interface having a display, and a controller in communication with the user interface and having a processing circuit with a charging module. The controller is configured to receive a charge level of the rechargeable battery pack and the spare rechargeable battery pack from the charging module and instruct the user interface to display the charge levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Ryan T. Hahn, Kyle Harvey, Todd Johnson, Robert Pjevach, Jacob Schmalz, Peter D. Shears, Nicholas Zeidler
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Publication number: 20230327224Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing and a plurality of cell module assemblies arranged within the housing. Each of the cell module assemblies includes a positive collector plate, a negative collector plate, and a plurality of battery cells. Each of the plurality of battery cells includes a positive terminal connected to the positive collector plate and a negative terminal connected to the negative collector plate. A number of the plurality of the cell module assemblies within the housing defines a capacity of the battery pack.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
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Publication number: 20230301231Abstract: An outdoor power equipment device, such as a lawn mower, includes a main chassis having first and second pivot joints, a first rocker arm having a caster wheel on a first end portion and a drive wheel on a second end portion, and a second rocker arm having a caster wheel on a first end portion and a drive wheel on a second end portion, wherein the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are independently pivotally coupled to the respective first and second pivot joints of the main chassis at a location between the caster wheels and the drive wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2023Publication date: September 28, 2023Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Todd Johnson, Christopher Krajewski, Nicholas Zeidler, Jacob Schmalz, Bryan Keith Dandridge, Ryan Jaskowiak, Matthew Steven Zurawski, Ryan Hahn
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Publication number: 20230234432Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprising, a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade, and multiple battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, each battery pack graspable and removable by a user, wherein the multiple battery packs sequentially provide power to the riding lawn mower.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Patent number: 11690315Abstract: An autonomous lawn mower includes removable batteries, one or more electric motors, a cutting blade, one or more wheels, an angle sensor, and a controller. The cutting blade is driven by one of the electric motors. The wheels are driven by one of the electric motors. The controller is configured to allow the lawn mower to perform a grass cutting function at a jobsite without human interaction. The controller is configured to determine whether a roll angle is greater than a first predefined amount using data from the angle sensor. In response to determining the roll angle is greater than the first predefined amount, the controller is configured to stop operation of one of the one or more electric motors configured to provide rotational drive power to the cutting blade.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Ryan T. Hahn, Kyle Harvey, Todd Johnson, Robert Pjevach, Jacob Schmalz, Peter D. Shears, Nicholas Zeidler
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Patent number: 11682800Abstract: A cell module assembly includes multiple lithium-ion battery cells connected in parallel and an electronic controller. The electronic controller is programmed to receive useful life data for a useful life indicator of the battery cells, save the life data to memory to create a life data history, determine a life measurement based on the life data history, compare the life measurement to a first end of life threshold, determine if the life measurement has met the first end of life threshold, provide a first end of life output indicating that the life measurement has met the first end of life threshold, compare the life measurement to a second end of life threshold, determine if the life measurement has met the second end of life threshold, and provide a second end of life output indicating that the life measurement has met the second end of life threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
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Patent number: 11672201Abstract: A ride-on vehicle, such as a zero turn radius lawnmower, includes a main chassis having first and second pivot joints, a first rocker arm having a caster wheel on a first end portion and a drive wheel on a second end portion, and a second rocker arm having a caster wheel on a first end portion and a drive wheel on a second end portion, wherein the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are independently pivotally coupled to the respective first and second pivot joints of the main chassis at a location between the caster wheels and the drive wheels. The ride-on vehicle may also include a modular mower deck assembly with a plurality of mower deck modules having a blade assembly, an electric blade motor configured to provide rotation to the blade assembly, and an attachment assembly configured to enable attachment between adjacent mower deck modules.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2018Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Todd Johnson, Christopher Krajewski, Nicholas Zeidler, Jacob Schmalz, Bryan Keith Dandridge, Matthew Steven Zurawski, Ryan Hahn, Ryan Jaskowiak
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Patent number: 11642952Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprising, a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade, and multiple battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, each battery pack graspable and removable by a user, wherein the multiple battery packs jointly provide power to the riding lawn mower.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Publication number: 20230118059Abstract: A removable and replaceable battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells, an outer housing configured to encase the plurality of battery cells, a handle extending from the outer housing configured to be grasped by a user, an electrical connector located on a rear side of the outer housing, and a plurality of MOSFETs configured to control a current output to the electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a plurality of ports and is configured to electrically couple to a battery receptacle connector. Each of the plurality of MOSFETs is thermally coupled to the outer housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Michael Gigot, Jacob Schmalz, Michael David Marshall
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Publication number: 20230072285Abstract: A cell module assembly includes a first frame having a first plurality of pockets, a second frame spaced apart from the first frame and having a second plurality of pockets, a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells coupled to and extending between the second frame and the first frame, a first collector plate electrically connected to the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells and coupled to the first frame by a first curable adhesive, and a second collector plate electrically connected to the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells and coupled to the second frame by a second curable adhesive. Each one of the plurality of lithium-ion battery cells is received within a respective one of the first plurality of pockets and a respective one of the second plurality of pockets.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2022Publication date: March 9, 2023Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, James Michael Busse, Jacob Schmalz
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Publication number: 20230054789Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing, a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a plurality of cell module assemblies. The positive terminal and negative terminal are each externally accessible from the housing and extend into a first compartment of the housing. The cell module assemblies are received in a second compartment of the housing, and are coupled to the positive terminal and the negative terminal through a connection extending from the second compartment into the first compartment. The first compartment is accessible through a first panel that is movably coupled to the housing through a first securing mechanism providing a first level of access. The second compartment is accessible through a second panel that is movably coupled to the housing through a second securing mechanism providing a second level of access.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Michael Marshall, Jacob Schmalz, John Piechowski
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Patent number: 11588202Abstract: A cell module assembly includes a top frame, a bottom frame, multiple lithium-ion battery cells, a top collector plate, a bottom collector plate, and a curable adhesive. The top frame includes protrusions that define first multiple pockets. The bottom frame includes protrusions that define second multiple pockets axially aligned with the first multiple pockets. Each of the first and the second multiple pockets have multiple windows. The battery cells are received within a pocket in each of the first and second multiple pockets. The top collector plate is coupled to the top frame and includes multiple apertures above the first multiple pockets. The bottom collector plate is coupled to the bottom frame. The top collector plate and the bottom collector plate are electrically connected to the battery cells. The curable adhesive is received within each window in the first multiple pockets and couples each battery cell to the top frame.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, James Michael Busse, Jacob Schmalz
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Publication number: 20220416312Abstract: A battery pack includes a battery housing, a positive terminal, a negative terminal, a plurality of cell module assemblies, and a battery management system. The plurality of cell module assemblies are received within an internal cavity of the battery housing, and include a plurality of lithium-ion battery cells that are connected in parallel. The battery management system is in communication with at least one of the plurality of cell module assemblies within the internal cavity, and is structured to receive a voltage tap measurement from each of the plurality of cell module assemblies within the internal cavity, compare the voltage tap measurement from each of the plurality of cell module assemblies to an expected voltage tap measurement, and determine if a voltage tap measurement for a cell module assembly within the plurality of cell module assemblies deviates from the expected voltage tap measurement to identify a faulty cell module assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2020Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Michael Marshall, Jim Busse
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Publication number: 20220407122Abstract: A battery pack includes a housing having a positive terminal and a negative terminal. Battery cells are located within the housing and are selectively coupled to the positive terminal and coupled to the negative terminal. A battery management system is located within the housing and is configured to operate a first switch within the housing to selectively couple the battery cells and the positive terminal. A bleed circuit is electrically coupled between the positive terminal and the negative terminal. The bleed circuit includes a resistor and a second switch to selectively couple the positive terminal to the negative terminal. The battery management system is configured to open the first switch and close the second switch and measure a voltage drop across the resistor to detect a presence and type of voltage source connected to the positive terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2020Publication date: December 22, 2022Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Michael Marshall, Jacob Schmalz
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Publication number: 20220393621Abstract: Outdoor power equipment includes a drive motor configured to operate a drive wheel, a drive motor controller configured to control the drive motor, a first chore motor configured to drive a first chore device, and a first chore motor controller communicatively coupled to the drive motor controller. The first chore motor controller is configured to receive an operational state of the drive motor including a drive motor speed from the drive motor controller and operate the first chore motor based on the operational state of the drive motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2022Publication date: December 8, 2022Applicant: Birggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: David Schulenberg, Jacob Schmalz
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Publication number: 20220314819Abstract: A battery system includes a battery assembly and an equipment interface. The battery assembly includes a battery pack, a battery housing enclosing the battery pack, a communication gateway, and a first electrical connector. The battery pack includes rechargeable battery cells. The communication gateway is configured to communicate using a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol. The first electrical connector includes a plurality of first terminals. The equipment interface is configured to be coupled to a piece of equipment, and includes a second electrical connector including a plurality of second terminals. The second electrical connector is configured to mate with the first electrical connector to electrically coupled the plurality of first terminals with the plurality of second terminals to electrically couple the battery assembly to the equipment interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2020Publication date: October 6, 2022Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Kyle Harvey, Todd Johnson, Mark Noller, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
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Patent number: 11437936Abstract: An outdoor power equipment includes multiple motors and a controller module. The motors include a first motor and a second motor. The first motor is structured to operate a first component of the outdoor power equipment and the second motor is structured to operate a second component of the outdoor power equipment. The controller module includes multiple motor controllers structured to communicate via a network communication bus with each other and operate the first motor and the second motor to operate the first component and the second component based on the communication via the network communication bus.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: David Schulenberg, Jacob Schmalz