Patents by Inventor Matthew A. Martinek

Matthew A. Martinek 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).

  • Automatic choking mechanism for internal combustion engines
    Patent number: 9945326
    Abstract: An air/fuel mixing apparatus configured for use with an internal combustion engine including a carburetor including a body defining a passageway therethrough and a choke valve positioned in the passageway, a solenoid, and a thermal switch configured to energize or de-energize the solenoid. The solenoid is configured to move the choke valve between the choke open position and the choke closed position, wherein the solenoid includes a rotary shaft coupled to a choke lever, and a thermostatic element coupled to the rotary shaft. The thermostatic element expands and constricts based on a temperature of the engine and restricts the movement of the choke valve between the choke closed position and a partially-open position when the solenoid is not energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Halfmann, Kyle Clasen, Matthew Martinek
  • AUTOMATIC CHOKING MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
    Publication number: 20160326988
    Abstract: An air/fuel mixing apparatus configured for use with an internal combustion engine including a carburetor including a body defining a passageway therethrough and a choke valve positioned in the passageway, a solenoid, and a thermal switch configured to energize or de-energize the solenoid. The solenoid is configured to move the choke valve between the choke open position and the choke closed position, wherein the solenoid includes a rotary shaft coupled to a choke lever, and a thermostatic element coupled to the rotary shaft. The thermostatic element expands and constricts based on a temperature of the engine and restricts the movement of the choke valve between the choke closed position and a partially-open position when the solenoid is not energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron Halfmann, Kyle Clasen, Matthew Martinek
  • Engine air/fuel mixing apparatus
    Patent number: 7628387
    Abstract: An air/fuel mixing apparatus, configured for use with an internal combustion engine, includes a body defining a passageway therein, a throttle lever including a cam surface, a throttle valve positioned in the passageway and responsive to movement of the throttle lever, a choke lever including a follower surface configured to be engaged by the cam surface, and a choke valve positioned in the passageway and responsive to movement of the choke lever and the throttle lever. The air/fuel mixing apparatus also includes a solenoid configured to disengage the choke lever from the throttle lever, and move the choke valve to a substantially-opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Briggs and Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Max W. Clouse, Aaron Halfmann, David Roth, James J. Dehn, Kyle R. Clasen, Donald Szopinski, Matthew A. Martinek, Brian R. Paul, James D. Makiya
  • Engine
    Patent number: D671559
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew A. Martinek, William M. Kindness, Brian R. Paul, Jully H. Sieglaff