Patents by Inventor Kris Schaffert

Kris Schaffert 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: 20240057498
    Abstract: An assembly for an agricultural planter includes a mounting bracket configured for attachment to a frame of the agricultural planter. The assembly further includes an implements frame configured for mounting rotatable implements of the agricultural planter. The assembly further includes a parallel linkage pivotally connecting the mounting bracket to the implements frame. The assembly further includes biasing device having a first end and a second end. The first end is associated with the mounting bracket, and the second end is associated with the parallel linkage such that the biasing device selectively loads the rotatable implements with a threshold load. The biasing device is configured to manipulate the parallel linkage and load the rotatable implements with additional load in excess of the threshold load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Paul E. SCHAFFERT, Kris SCHAFFERT
  • Publication number: 20240032456
    Abstract: Provided herein is a trailing arm assembly that includes a frame bracket attachable to a planter towing frame, a first frame, and a four bar parallel linkage connecting the frame bracket and the first frame with a first pivot and a second pivot on the frame bracket and a first pivot and a second pivot on the first frame. The trailing arm assembly also includes an adjustable biasing member extending from the parallel linkage to the frame bracket. The parallel linkage is connected between the first frame and the frame bracket such that the parallel linkage maintains a parallel orientation of the first frame. The adjustable biasing member is adjustably connected to a portion of the parallel linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Paul E. SCHAFFERT, Kris SCHAFFERT, Matthew HORNUNG
  • Publication number: 20230380333
    Abstract: A linkage assembly for a trailing arm assembly includes a first coupling bracket configured for mounting to a planter or first sub-assembly of the trailing arm assembly, and a second coupling bracket configured for mounting with a second subassembly of the trailing arm assembly. The linkage assembly may further include a parallel linkage pivotally coupling the first coupling bracket and the second coupling bracket. The parallel linkage may be disposed on a center longitudinal plane of the linkage. The center longitudinal plane may bisect the first and second coupling bracket and the second coupling bracket. The linkage assembly may further include a biasing assembly coupled with the parallel linkage and manipulateable to selectively apply a down force to the second coupling bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Paul E. SCHAFFERT, Kris SCHAFFERT
  • Patent number: 11723301
    Abstract: A trailing arm assembly includes a frame bracket attachable to a planter towing frame, a first frame, and a four bar parallel linkage connecting the frame bracket and the first frame with a first pivot and a second pivot on the frame bracket and a first pivot and a second pivot on the first frame. The trailing arm assembly also includes an adjustable biasing member extending from the parallel linkage to the frame bracket. The parallel linkage is connected between the first frame and the frame bracket such that the parallel linkage maintains a parallel orientation of the first frame. The adjustable biasing member is adjustably connected to a portion of the parallel linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SCHAFFERT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Paul E. Schaffert, Kris Schaffert, Matthew Hornung
  • Publication number: 20230225240
    Abstract: A press wheel includes a hub configured to rotate about an axis. The press wheel may further include a mounting portion removably attachable to the hub and having a center plane substantially perpendicular to the axis upon removable attachment with the hub. The press wheel may further include a plurality of tread portions connected to the mounting portion and configured to define a circumferential portion of the press wheel. The plurality of tread portions may have voids between adjacent tread portions. Each tread portion of the plurality of tread portions may include a tine extending away from the center plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Paul E. Schaffert, Kris Schaffert
  • Publication number: 20220371555
    Abstract: A wheel scraper for an agricultural planter includes a body defining a mounting portion, a biasing portion extending from the mounting portion, and a tine portion extending from the biasing portion opposite the mounting portion. The mounting portion is configured to couple the wheel scraper to an agricultural planter relative to a wheel on the agricultural planter such that the tine portion is arranged extending adjacent to an outer circumferential surface of the wheel and separated from the outer circumferential surface by a clearance. The biasing portion is configured to resiliently bias the tine portion relative to the outer circumferential surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventor: Kris Schaffert
  • Publication number: 20220240439
    Abstract: A trailing assembly for an agricultural planter is attached to a frame element of the agricultural planter with a mounting bracket. A walking beam having a hub at an intermediate position along a length of the walking beam is pivotably attached to the mounting bracket. A first pair of arms extends from the hub in a first direction, with each arm configured with a shaft to rotatably and selectively receive a first rotating implement, for example, a closing wheel or a fertilizer opener disc. A second pair of arms extends from the hub in a second direction parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. Distal ends of the second pair of arms are configured to rotatably and selectively receive and support opposing ends of an axle of another rotating implement, for example, a press wheel, positioned between the second set of arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventor: Kris SCHAFFERT
  • Publication number: 20220078966
    Abstract: A furrow closing assembly includes a mounting bracket attachable to a planter opener frame, a rigid closer frame, and a four bar parallel linkage connecting the mounting bracket and the closer frame with a first pivot bearing and a third pivot bearing on the mounting bracket and a second pivot bearing and a fourth pivot on the closer frame. A screw-driven linear actuator extends between the parallel linkage to the closer frame. A shaft of the linear actuator is pivotably attached to a torsion axle that is further fixed to an upper portion of the parallel linkage. A load cell is positioned between the linear actuator and the closer frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Kris Schaffert, Jerry Graham
  • Patent number: 11266063
    Abstract: A press wheel includes a hub which rotates about an axis. A rim extends generally radially from the axis. The rim has a center plane defined as a plane perpendicular to the axis and generally bisecting the rim and defining the center of the wheel. The press wheel includes a plurality of tread portions extending away from the center plane. The plurality of tread portions have voids between adjacent tread portions on the same side of the rim, which in response to the wheel rotating, operably places consecutive adjacent tread portions proximal to the ground. The rim and tread portions are configured to contact the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Schaffert Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Schaffert, Kris Schaffert
  • Publication number: 20220007568
    Abstract: An agriculture planter includes a planter frame, a seed hopper, and a trailing arm assembly. The planter frame may include a hitch tongue extending forwardly from the planter frame. The trailing arm assembly may be coupled to a rear portion of the planter frame via a parallel linkage and extend rearward from the planter frame, and include separate but adjustable trailing arm assemblies for the opening implements and the closing implements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Paul E. Schaffert, Kris Schaffert
  • Publication number: 20210168994
    Abstract: An agriculture planter includes a planter frame, a seed hopper, and a trailing arm assembly. The planter frame may include a hitch tongue extending forwardly from the planter frame. The trailing arm assembly may be coupled to a rear portion of the planter frame via a parallel linkage and extend rearward from the planter frame, and include separate but adjustable trailing arm assemblies for the opening implements and the closing implements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Paul E. Schaffert, Kris Schaffert
  • Publication number: 20210161063
    Abstract: Provided herein is a trailing arm assembly that includes a frame bracket attachable to a planter towing frame, a first frame, and a four bar parallel linkage connecting the frame bracket and the first frame with a first pivot and a second pivot on the frame bracket and a first pivot and a second pivot on the first frame. The trailing arm assembly also includes an adjustable biasing member extending from the parallel linkage to the frame bracket. The parallel linkage is connected between the first frame and the frame bracket such that the parallel linkage maintains a parallel orientation of the first frame. The adjustable biasing member is adjustably connected to a portion of the parallel linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Paul E. Schaffert, Kris Schaffert
  • Patent number: 10798870
    Abstract: In one embodiment of a trailing arm assembly, the trailing arm assembly includes a frame bracket attachable to a planter towing frame, a first frame, and a four bar parallel linkage connecting the frame bracket and the first frame with a first pivot and a second pivot on the frame bracket and a first pivot and a second pivot on the first frame. The trailing arm assembly also includes an adjustable biasing member extending from the parallel linkage to the frame bracket. The parallel linkage is connected between the first frame and the frame bracket such that the parallel linkage maintains a parallel orientation of the first frame. The adjustable biasing member is adjustably connected to a portion of the parallel linkage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Schaffert Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Schaffert, Kris Schaffert
  • Publication number: 20170208736
    Abstract: Provided herein is a trailing arm assembly that includes a frame bracket attachable to a planter towing frame, a first frame, and a four bar parallel linkage connecting the frame bracket and the first frame with a first pivot and a second pivot on the frame bracket and a first pivot and a second pivot on the first frame. The trailing arm assembly also includes an adjustable biasing member extending from the parallel linkage to the frame bracket. The parallel linkage is connected between the first frame and the frame bracket such that the parallel linkage maintains a parallel orientation of the first frame. The adjustable biasing member is adjustably connected to a portion of the parallel linkage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Paul E. Schaffert, Kris Schaffert
  • Publication number: 20160050837
    Abstract: In one embodiment of an agriculture planter, the planter may include a planter frame, a seed hopper, and a trailing arm assembly. The planter frame may include a hitch tongue extending forwardly from the planter frame. The trailing arm assembly may be coupled to a rear portion of the planter frame via a parallel linkage and extend rearward from the planter frame, and include separate but adjustable trailing arm assemblies for the opening implements and the closing implements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Paul E. Schaffert, Kris Schaffert