Patents by Inventor Keith W. Finlayson

Keith W. Finlayson 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: 11224163
    Abstract: A rotary cutter for cutting grass, brush, shrubs, bushes, trees, and other vegetation, and a method of using the same. The cutter includes a bi-fold door proximate to an open front portion of the cutter's deck, which defines an open cutting area. The bi-fold door moves between a closed position where it shields the cutting area and an open position where it exposes the cutting area. The bi-fold door includes a front cover rotatably coupled to a rear cover via the first hinge, with the rear cover being rotatably coupled to the deck via the second hinge. The cutter also includes a first ramp and second ramp flanking the open front portion of the deck. Protrusions of the bi-fold door slide along inclined surfaces of the ramps as the bi-fold door moves between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith W. Finlayson, Dan Base, Jeff Welsh
  • Publication number: 20210168993
    Abstract: A seed meter for dispensing seed. The seed meter comprises a housing at least partially enclosing an interior space. The housing includes a top surface defining a seed inlet, and further includes a seed outlet. The seed meter additionally includes a metering wheel positioned within the interior space of the housing. The metering wheel is configured to carry seed through the housing when rotating in a first direction or in a second direction. The seed meter further includes a pair of retractable seed guards positioned within the interior space of the housing. The seed guards are each configured to be selectively configured in an operating configuration and in a retracted configuration. In the operating configuration the seed guards are configured to prevent excess seed from passing through the seed meter, and in the retracted configuration the seed guards are configured to permit large obstacles to pass through the seed meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Keith W. Finlayson, Bruce D. Peterson, Jeff Welsh
  • Patent number: 10973164
    Abstract: A seed meter for dispensing seed. The seed meter comprises a housing at least partially enclosing an interior space. The housing includes a top surface defining a seed inlet, and further includes a seed outlet. The seed meter additionally includes a metering wheel positioned within the interior space of the housing. The metering wheel is configured to carry seed through the housing when rotating in a first direction or in a second direction. The seed meter further includes a pair of retractable seed guards positioned within the interior space of the housing. The seed guards are each configured to be selectively configured in an operating configuration and in a retracted configuration. In the operating configuration the seed guards are configured to prevent excess seed from passing through the seed meter, and in the retracted configuration the seed guards are configured to permit large obstacles to pass through the seed meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith W. Finlayson, Bruce D. Peterson, Jeff Welsh
  • Publication number: 20190387665
    Abstract: A seed meter for dispensing seed. The seed meter comprises a housing at least partially enclosing an interior space. The housing includes a top surface defining a seed inlet, and further includes a seed outlet. The seed meter additionally includes a metering wheel positioned within the interior space of the housing. The metering wheel is configured to carry seed through the housing when rotating in a first direction or in a second direction. The seed meter further includes a pair of retractable seed guards positioned within the interior space of the housing. The seed guards are each configured to be selectively configured in an operating configuration and in a retracted configuration. In the operating configuration the seed guards are configured to prevent excess seed from passing through the seed meter, and in the retracted configuration the seed guards are configured to permit large obstacles to pass through the seed meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Keith W. Finlayson, Bruce D. Peterson, Jeff Welsh
  • Publication number: 20190387675
    Abstract: A rotary cutter for cutting grass, brush, shrubs, bushes, trees, and other vegetation, and a method of using the same. The cutter includes a bi-fold door proximate to an open front portion of the cutter's deck, which defines an open cutting area. The bi-fold door moves between a closed position where it shields the cutting area and an open position where it exposes the cutting area. The bi-fold door includes a front cover rotatably coupled to a rear cover via the first hinge, with the rear cover being rotatably coupled to the deck via the second hinge. The cutter also includes a first ramp and second ramp flanking the open front portion of the deck. Protrusions of the bi-fold door slide along inclined surfaces of the ramps as the bi-fold door moves between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Keith W. Finlayson, Dan Base, Jeff Welsh
  • Patent number: 9532498
    Abstract: A seed planting machine for dispensing seed. The seed planting machine includes a transmission with a lockout clutch having an actuator for shifting the lockout clutch between a first configuration and a second configuration. As such, the lockout clutch, in the first configuration, is operable to cause the seed planting machine to dispense seed in response to a roller mechanism of the seed planting machine rotating in a first direction and to not dispense seed in response to the roller mechanism rotating in a second direction. Furthermore, the lockout clutch, in the second configuration, is not operable to cause the seed planting machine to dispense seed in response to the roller mechanism rotating in either the first or second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith W. Finlayson
  • Publication number: 20150342114
    Abstract: A seed planting machine for dispensing seed. The seed planting machine includes a transmission with a lockout clutch having an actuator for shifting the lockout clutch between a first configuration and a second configuration. As such, the lockout clutch, in the first configuration, is operable to cause the seed planting machine to dispense seed in response to a roller mechanism of the seed planting machine rotating in a first direction and to not dispense seed in response to the roller mechanism rotating in a second direction. Furthermore, the lockout clutch, in the second configuration, is not operable to cause the seed planting machine to dispense seed in response to the roller mechanism rotating in either the first or second directions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith W. Finlayson