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).

  • Publication number: 20220190426
    Abstract: A power system for power equipment includes a battery having a capacity of at least 300-Watt hours and including a battery housing substantially enclosing the battery and a receiver including electrical terminals provided on the receiver, the electrical terminals selectively and electrically coupled to the battery. The receiver is configured to selectively couple with a portion of the battery housing. The receiver is configured to be decoupled from the portion of the battery housing without the use of tools. The receiver includes a planar mounting surface including at least one aperture for receiving a threaded fastener. The receiver is coupled to the power equipment via a threaded fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Kyle Harvey, Bryan Keith Dandridge, Ryan Hahn, Ryan Jaskowiak, Nick Zeidler, Jacob Schmalz, Mark Noller, Todd Johnson
  • Publication number: 20220173445
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
  • Publication number: 20220061212
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Ryan T. Hahn, Kyle Harvey, Todd Johnson, Robert Pjevach, Jacob Schmalz, Peter D. Shears, Nicholas Zeidler
  • Patent number: 11258114
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
  • Publication number: 20220045395
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, James Michael Busse, Jacob Schmalz
  • Patent number: 11197414
    Abstract: A system for providing autonomous lawn care services. The system includes a number of autonomous outdoor power devices, and one or more service vehicles. The one or more service vehicles are configured to selectively load and unload one or more of the autonomous outdoor power devices at a jobsite based on instructions received by a controller of the one or more service vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Robert Pjevach, Kyle Harvey, Nicholas Zeidler, Jacob Schmalz, Peter D. Shears, Todd Johnson, Ryan T. Hahn
  • Publication number: 20210354541
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey ZEILER, Robert John KOENEN, Jacob SCHMALZ, Albert LIU, Nick ZEIDLER, Scott FUNKE, David PROCKNOW
  • Publication number: 20210313630
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
  • Publication number: 20210111384
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nicholas Ziedler
  • Publication number: 20200253360
    Abstract: A backpack system for use with a power tool, the system including a harness system configured to extend at least over a user's shoulders, and a carrier portion configured to be coupled to the harness system. At least one battery pack is housed within the carrier portion, and at least one electrical connector is coupled to the at least one battery pack, with the at least one battery pack being configured to provide power to the power tool. The carrier portion may further include at least one opening formed therein to allow the passage of air at least partially through the carrier portion. The power tool may be a string trimmer or a blower. Additionally, one or more carrier portions may be recharged in a recharging station which is configured to allow for hands-free connection of a carrier portion to a user's harness system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan HAHN, Warren CORRADO, Kyle HARVEY, Matthew ZURAWSKI, Jacob SCHMALZ, Joseph GIACALONE
  • Publication number: 20200205338
    Abstract: A ride-on vehicle, such as a zero turn radius lawnmower, includes a main chassis having first and second pivot joints, a in 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: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Todd Johnson, Christopher Krajewski, Nicholas Zeidler, Jacob Schmalz, Bryan Keith Dandridge, Matthew Steven Zurawski, Ryan Hahn, Ryan Jaskowiak
  • Publication number: 20200113133
    Abstract: A lawnmower includes a cutting deck, a cutting blade positioned below the cutting deck, and an electric motor coupled to and configured to drive the cutting blade. The electric motor is positioned at least partially below the cutting deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Keith Dandridge, Scott Funke, Jacob Schmalz, Mark Noller
  • Publication number: 20200021210
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Schulenberg, Jacob Schmalz
  • Publication number: 20190291779
    Abstract: Ride-on outdoor power equipment includes one or more batteries, one or more electric traction motors electrically connected to the one or more batteries, one or more user input devices, a plurality of sensors, and a controller in communication with the one or more batteries, the electric traction motors and the one or more user input devices, the controller configured to control the electric traction motors to operate the ride-on outdoor power equipment based on inputs received via the user input devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, David Schulenberg, Scott Funke, Steve Avery, Steve Weber, Brian Poirier, Jacob Schmalz
  • Publication number: 20190230850
    Abstract: A system for providing autonomous lawn care services. The system includes a number of autonomous outdoor power devices, and one or more service vehicles. The one or more service vehicles are configured to selectively load and unload one or more of the autonomous outdoor power devices at a jobsite based on instructions received by a controller of the one or more service vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Todd Johnson, Bob Pjevach, Kyle Harvey, Nick Zeidler, Jacob Schmalz, Doug Shears, Jeff Zeiler, Ryan Hahn
  • Publication number: 20190160972
    Abstract: A scalable power unit for powering one or more electric motors of a riding vehicle and/or a piece of outdoor power equipment. The scalable power unit includes a number of interconnected battery packs. The battery packs can be received in a battery tray or stacked to form the scalable power unit. Each battery pack can 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 the switching elements to control the charging rate of the individual battery packs. When the battery packs are connected to an electric 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: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
  • Publication number: 20180133726
    Abstract: A pressure washer spray gun includes a spray gun body configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of pressurized water, a chemical container configured to contain liquid chemical, a chemical injection port fluidly coupled to the chemical container, an air inlet port configured to be fluidly coupled a source of air, and a nozzle configured for ejecting fluid through an orifice having an orifice diameter. The air inlet port is located between the chemical injection port and the nozzle orifice. In operation, with the orifice diameter being a first orifice diameter, a high pressure operating mode is implemented. In operation, with the orifice diameter being a second orifice diameter greater than the first orifice diameter, a chemical injection operating mode is implemented. In operation, with the orifice diameter being a third orifice diameter greater than the second orifice diameter, a foaming chemical injection mode is implemented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Jacob Schmalz
  • Patent number: 9901943
    Abstract: A pressure washer spray gun includes a spray gun body configured to be fluidly coupled to a source of pressurized water, a chemical container coupled to the spray gun body, wherein the chemical container is configured to contain liquid chemical, a venturi including a converging section, a throat, and a diverging section, wherein the venturi is coupled to the body, and wherein the chemical container is fluidly coupled to the throat, an air inlet port formed in the diverging section and configured to fluidly couple the diverging section to a source of air, and multiple nozzles, wherein each nozzle has a different orifice diameter, and wherein only one nozzle at a time can be selected to provide a fluid output from the spray gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Jacob Schmalz
  • Publication number: 20160252052
    Abstract: An engine includes a fuel tank including a fuel tank body defining an internal fuel tank volume for containing a fuel, an air cleaner system including an air cleaner housing defining an internal air cleaner volume, a vent conduit integrally formed with the fuel tank body, the vent conduit extending between an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture, wherein the inlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal fuel tank volume and the outlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal air cleaner volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Chad J. Gartzke, Jacob Schmalz, Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Paul A. Leech, Kenneth Breitenstein
  • Patent number: 9341148
    Abstract: An engine includes a fuel tank with a fuel tank body defining an internal fuel tank volume for containing a fuel, a vent conduit integrally formed with the fuel tank body, and an air cleaner system including an air cleaner housing defining an internal air cleaner volume. The vent conduit extends between an inlet aperture and an outlet aperture. The inlet aperture is in fluid communication with the internal fuel tank volume. An opening is formed in the air cleaner housing and the vent conduit extends through the opening. The outlet aperture of the vent conduit is positioned within the internal air cleaner volume and the vent conduit provides fluid communication between the internal fuel tank volume and the internal air cleaner volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Chad J. Gartzke, Jacob Schmalz, Carl T. Tiefenthaler, Paul A. Leech, Kenneth Breitenstein