Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Zeiler
Jeffrey Zeiler 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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Publication number: 20240079890Abstract: A battery charging system includes a charging rack comprising multiple receptacle, multiple battery assemblies. Each of the battery assemblies includes a housing having a handle, rechargeable battery cells disposed within the housing, and a mating feature protruding away from the housing, wherein the mating feature is configured to selectively connect the battery assembly with the receptacle of the charging rack and includes multiple ports electrically connected to the battery cells and configured receive power from the charging rack to charge the battery cells, and wherein the handle comprises a release button configured to selectively disengage the battery assembly from the receptacle of the charging rack.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Christopher Krajewski, Kyle Harvey, Ryan S. Jaskowiak, Nicholas Zeidler, Mark Noller, Todd Johnson
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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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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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Patent number: 11817731Abstract: A battery assembly includes a housing having a handle, rechargeable battery cells disposed within the housing, and a mating feature configured to selectively connect the battery assembly with a receptacle of at least one of a power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature includes a connector having at least two electrical ports electrically connected to the battery cells, and a data port configured to provide data communication between the battery assembly and at least one of a power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature also protrudes away from a side portion of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Christopher Krajewski, Kyle Harvey, Ryan S. Jaskowiak, Nicholas Zeidler, Mark Noller, Todd Johnson
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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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Publication number: 20230200296Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include a lawn mower including a frame, a deck coupled to the frame, and an electric power take off outlet coupled to the frame and structured to electrically couple with a battery. The electric power take off outlet including a power port structured to electrically couple to a peripheral device, and a data port structured to communicate with the peripheral device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2020Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Scott Funke, Mark Noller, Warren Corrado
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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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Publication number: 20230180657Abstract: Outdoor power equipment including a frame, a battery, multiple wheels, a cutting deck, multiple chore motors, and multiple blades. The cutting deck is coupled to the frame and has a discharge opening. The electric chore motors are attached to the cutting deck and are selectively powered by the battery. Each of the blades is powered and rotated by one of the multiple electric chore motors. A first blade of the multiple blades is rotated in a first direction and a second blade of the multiple blades is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Scott Funke, Warren Corrado, Mark Noller, Nick Zeidler, Joshua Kowalski
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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: 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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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: 20220354049Abstract: A ZTR mower includes a pair of rear drive wheels, a mowing deck including multiple cutting blades, an electric storage battery, a pair of electric wheel motors each configured to rotate one of the rear drive wheels, multiple electric blade motors each configured to rotate one of the multiple cutting blades, and a master controller in communication with each of the pair of wheel motors and the multiple blade motors. The master controller is configured to control a rotational speed of each of the pair of wheel motors and the multiple blade motors. The master controller is configured to send voltage pulses to the multiple blade motors.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert J. Koenen
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Patent number: 11425856Abstract: A zero turn radius mower including a pair of rear drive wheels, a mowing deck including multiple cutting blades, an electric storage battery, a pair of electric wheel motors each operable to rotate one of the rear drive wheels, multiple electric blade motors each operable to rotate one of the multiple cutting blades, and a master controller in communication with each of the pair of wheel motors and the multiple blade motors. The master controller is operable to control a rotational speed of each of the pair of wheel motors and the multiple blade motors. The master controller is operable to stop rotation of the cutting blades when the wheel motors are operating below a threshold speed.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert J. Koenen
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Publication number: 20220190426Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2020Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Kyle Harvey, Bryan Keith Dandridge, Ryan Hahn, Ryan Jaskowiak, Nick Zeidler, Jacob Schmalz, Mark Noller, Todd Johnson
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Publication number: 20220173445Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2022Publication date: June 2, 2022Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
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Patent number: 11258114Abstract: 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: October 10, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Jacob Schmalz, Nick Zeidler
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Publication number: 20210384746Abstract: A battery assembly includes a housing having a handle, rechargeable battery cells disposed within the housing, and a mating feature configured to selectively connect the battery assembly with a receptacle of at least one of a power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature includes a connector having at least two electrical ports electrically connected to the battery cells, and a data port configured to provide data communication between the battery assembly and at least one of a power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature also protrudes away from a side portion of the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2019Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Christopher Krajewski, Kyle Harvey, Ryan S. Jaskowiak, Nicholas Zeidler, Mark Noller, Todd Johnson