Patents by Inventor Lennie D. Rhoades

Lennie D. Rhoades 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: 9445541
    Abstract: Riding lawn mowers may utilize friction drives configured with a variable normal force between frictional components. In a riding lawn mower, an internal combustion engine may be coupled to a differential via a friction drive, wherein the friction drive is configured with a variable normal force in order to provide improved power transfer and/or shifting performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Matthew Elder, Brad Graham, Justin Warner, Eric Canonge, Warren W. Pendry, Lennie D. Rhoades, Jeffrey C. Hickman, Darren Chandler, Duncan Burns, Jr., Rick Nelson, Alex Evrard, Jeremy Hansen, Chris Roth
  • Patent number: 9414539
    Abstract: A mower for cutting grass includes a platform with a motor located thereon. A door on the platform has a first position blocking a discharge and a second door position away from the discharge. A bag has an inlet that mates to a discharge. A support is connected to the platform and a door prop is movably mounted on the support. The door prop has a first position not in engagement with the door to permit the door to be in the first position and having a second position in which a segment of the door prop engages with the door to retain the door in the second position. A handle extends up from the platform. An operable member is mounted on the handle. A connector extends between the door prop and the operable member to transmit force to move the door prop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Clint N. Lahey, Lennie D. Rhoades, Nicholas B. Hansen, Matthew M. Lambert
  • Patent number: 9307696
    Abstract: A lawn mower has a dual-tubular frame for shock absorption. The dual-tubular frame has two parallel, longitudinally-extending tubular structures with curved portions allowing for flexion. A seat bracket interconnects the tubular structures. An engine is mounted to the tubular structures rearward of the seat bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Matthew Elder, Justin Warner, Warren Pendry, Eric Canonge, Jeffrey C. Hickman, Lennie D. Rhoades, Roger J. Leon, David Bonner, Darren Chandler, Jake Fiser, Brad Graham, Duncan K. Burns, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9010077
    Abstract: A riding lawn mower may include a cutting deck coupled to a cutting blade, an engine, a deck drive coupled to the engine to receive power for operating the cutting blade, a ground drive coupled to the engine to receive power for movement of the riding lawn mower over ground, and a friction drive coupling the deck drive to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Matthew Elder, Justin Warner, Warren Pendry, Eric Canonage, Jeffrey C. Hickman, Lennie D. Rhoades, Roger J. Leon, David Bonner, Darren Chandler, James F. Dayton, Jr., Jake Fiser, Travis Lyons, Brad Graham, Duncan K. Burns, Jr., David Hypes
  • Publication number: 20150006025
    Abstract: A riding lawn care vehicle may include a docking station and a detachable information unit. The docking station may include a receiving cavity disposed at a portion of the riding lawn care vehicle. The receiving cavity may include an electrical contact in communication with one or more devices of a device network of the riding lawn care vehicle. The detachable information unit may include a user interface, a memory for storing data received via the device network, and processing circuitry in communication with the user interface and the memory. The processing circuitry may be configured to control operation of the detachable information unit and generate information for operator viewing at the user interface. The detachable information unit may be configured to detachably connect to the device network via operable coupling with the docking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: HUSQVARNA AB
    Inventors: Lennie D. Rhoades, Steven C. Brinkman
  • Publication number: 20140373499
    Abstract: A mower for cutting grass includes a platform with a motor located thereon. A door on the platform has a first position blocking a discharge and a second door position away from the discharge. A bag has an inlet that mates to a discharge. A support is connected to the platform and a door prop is movably mounted on the support. The door prop has a first position not in engagement with the door to permit the door to be in the first position and having a second position in which a segment of the door prop engages with the door to retain the door in the second position. A handle extends up from the platform. An operable member is mounted on the handle. A connector extends between the door prop and the operable member to transmit force to move the door prop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Clint N. Lahey, Lennie D. Rhoades, Nicholas B. Hansen, Matthew M. Lambert
  • Patent number: 8857142
    Abstract: A mower for cutting grass includes a platform with a motor located thereon. A door on the platform has a first position blocking a discharge and a second door position away from the discharge. A bag has an inlet that mates to a discharge. A support is connected to the platform and a door prop is movably mounted on the support. The door prop has a first position not in engagement with the door to permit the door to be in the first position and having a second position in which a segment of the door prop engages with the door to retain the door in the second position. A handle extends up from the platform. An operable member is mounted on the handle. A connector extends between the door prop and the operable member to transmit force to move the door prop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Husqvarna AB
    Inventors: Clint N. Lahey, Lennie D. Rhoades, Nicholas B. Hansen, Matthew M. Lambert
  • Publication number: 20140080670
    Abstract: Riding lawn mowers may utilize friction drives configured with a variable normal force between frictional components. In a riding lawn mower, an internal combustion engine may be coupled to a differential via a friction drive, wherein the friction drive is configured with a variable normal force in order to provide improved power transfer and/or shifting performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: HUSQVARNA CONSUMER OUTDOOR PRODUCTS N.A., INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Elder, Brad Graham, Justin Warner, Eric Canonge, Warren W. Pendry, Lennie D. Rhoades, Jeffrey C. Hickman, Darren Chandler, Duncan Burns, JR., Rick Nelson, Alex Evrard, Jeremy Hansen, Chris Roth
  • Publication number: 20140047811
    Abstract: A mower for cutting grass includes a platform with a motor located thereon. A door on the platform has a first position blocking a discharge and a second door position away from the discharge. A bag has an inlet that mates to a discharge. A support is connected to the platform and a door prop is movably mounted on the support. The door prop has a first position not in engagement with the door to permit the door to be in the first position and having a second position in which a segment of the door prop engages with the door to retain the door in the second position. A handle extends up from the platform. An operable member is mounted on the handle. A connector extends between the door prop and the operable member to transmit force to move the door prop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Husqvarna Consumer Outdoor Products N.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Clint N. Lahey, Lennie D. Rhoades, Nicholas B. Hansen, Matthew M. Lambert
  • Publication number: 20130227923
    Abstract: To achieve a particular price point and/or to utilize a particular engine, riding lawn mowers may be configured with reduced size, weight, and/or power requirements, in order. A riding lawn mower may comprise a cutting deck coupled to a cutting blade, and an internal combustion engine having a displacement of less than 225 cubic centimeters. The internal combustion engine may be coupled to the cutting blade via a friction drive, wherein the friction drive is configured with a neutral bearing in order to reduce flat spotting of components of the friction drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: HUSQVARNA CONSUMER OUTDOOR PRODUCTS N.A., INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Elder, Justin Warner, Warren Pendry, Eric Canonge, Jeffrey C. Hickman, Lennie D. Rhoades, Roger J. Leon, David Bonner, Darren Chandler, James F. Dayton, JR., Jake Fiser, Travis Lyons, Brad Graham, Duncan K. Burns, JR., David Hypes
  • Patent number: D799718
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: JELD-WEN, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Kowash, Lennie D. Rhoades, Mark E. Riechmann