Patents by Inventor Lee Pratt

Lee Pratt 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: 6935254
    Abstract: A seeding machine comprising a transversely extending main frame and left and right transversely extending wing frames. The main frame and the wing frames are provided with a plurality of planting units. Left and right main seed hoppers are mounted to the main frame. The left and right main seed hoppers are transversely separated from one another by a longitudinally extending gap located along the longitudinal centerline of the seeding machine. A pneumatic seed on demand delivery system automatically directs seed from the left and right main seed hoppers to the planting units. A walkway is positioned in the gap between the left and right main seed hoppers to facilitate operator access to the lids of the main seed hoppers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Jeremy Shane Ostrander, Ronald Lee Pratt, Bradley John Meyer
  • Publication number: 20040025766
    Abstract: A seeding machine comprising a transversely extending main frame and left and right transversely extending wing frames. The main frame and the wing frames are provided with a plurality of planting units. Left and right main seed hoppers are mounted to the main frame. The left and right main seed hoppers are transversely separated from one another by a longitudinally extending gap located along the longitudinal centerline of the seeding machine. A pneumatic seed on demand delivery system automatically directs seed from the left and right main seed hoppers to the planting units. A walkway is positioned in the gap between the left and right main seed hoppers to facilitate operator access to the lids of the main seed hoppers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Jeremy Shane Ostrander, Ronald Lee Pratt, Bradley John Meyer
  • Patent number: 6321852
    Abstract: An agricultural implement frame comprises a main frame having ground engaging wheels, a mast extending upwardly and forwardly from the main frame, a truck slidably mounted on the mast, and a carrier frame pivotally mounted to the truck. Two hydraulic lift cylinders are used to raise and lower the truck on the mast. A hydraulic pivot cylinder is used to pivot the carrier frame relative to the truck on a vertical pivot located on the truck. Rollers forming a bearing facilitates the sliding movement of the truck on the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Ronald Lee Pratt
  • Patent number: 6000315
    Abstract: Frame sections on an implement are supported above the ground by lift wheel assemblies having positive mechanical depth stops and series connected lift cylinders. A pressure responsive bypass valve is installed in series with an orifice between the ports of the series connected cylinders. The valve permits the corresponding cylinder to be retracted and positively held against the depth stop and allows bypass flow to the next cylinder in series for continued retraction of the next cylinder until it bottoms against the stop. The orifice protects the bypass valve poppet from damaging high flows and controls the rate of descent of the other frame sections onto the remaining stops. The system permits the cylinders to positively maintain the down-stopped positions of the sections without unwanted looseness typical with slotted or other lost motion types of connections. A restrictor valve may be added to limit the maximum pressure so that all the bypass valves cannot open at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: William Douglas Graham, Ronald Lee Pratt
  • Patent number: 5992699
    Abstract: A plastic product tank for containing product under pressure has a lower funnel portion including a product outlet and an upper container portion having a product-containing capacity substantially greater than the lower funnel portion. The lower funnel portion and upper container portion are in substantially gas-tight communication with each other and the upper container portion of the tank includes side walls formed by a plurality of substantially planar surfaces adjacent to each other. Each interior angle between adjacent side walls of the upper container portion is greater than ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Lee Alan Johnson, Ronald Lee Pratt
  • Patent number: 5878679
    Abstract: A product disconnect is provided for cutting off product flow between a product tank and an associated metering system. The product is instead directed to a product cleanout where an operator can empty the product tank without sending product through the metering system. The product disconnect may consist of one or more rotary cutoff valves which are selectively movable between an open position allowing product to flow into metering system and a closed position where product is instead directed to a product cleanout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: David Walter Gregor, Ronald Lee Pratt
  • Patent number: 5248607
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method to purify green-plant phytochrome; the production of hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies specific for green-plant phytochrome and that do not cross-react significantly with etiolated-plant phytochrome; a partial amino acid sequence for an immunoaffinity-purified green-plant phytochrome; oligonucleotide probes for cloning green-phytochrome genes from plant genomic DNA and cDNA libraries; and cloned green-phytochrome genes and cDNA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Marie-Michele Cordonnier, Lee Pratt, Sandy Stewart, Alice Montoya
  • Patent number: D427206
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Lee Alan Johnson, Ronald Lee Pratt