Patents by Inventor Melissa Tolson

Melissa Tolson 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: 10356971
    Abstract: A front attachment lift mechanism includes a front hitch weldment connectable to a lawn tractor frame and having a pair of side plates for supporting a front attachment. A hitch arm extends upwardly and rearwardly on each side of the frame. A rear weldment includes a pair of rear brackets connected by support bars to each other. Each rear bracket has an upper portion connectable to one of a pair of lift arms on a lawn tractor, and a forward end extending forwardly and downwardly from the upper portion. A wireform assembly is connected between each of the hitch arms and the forward end of one of the rear brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Alexandra K. DeVries, Kyle T. Ressler, Melissa Tolson
  • Patent number: 9924633
    Abstract: A mower deck gauge wheel support includes a one-piece sheet metal bracket mounted to a mower deck, having a sleeve mounted thereto outside a skirt of the mower deck, a wheel shaft inserted through the sleeve, and a J-pin having a first end that engages the wheel shaft at a desired cutting height, and a second end that is engaged by and retained by a coil spring within the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Kyle T. Ressler, Melissa Tolson, Patrick Shaver
  • Patent number: 9699963
    Abstract: A mulch kit control lever with a detent plate attached to the top surface of a mower deck, and a vertically oriented pivot pin extending through the detent plate and through the mower deck and engaging a mulch gate. A pivoting handle connected to the pivot pin moves the mulch gate between a side discharge position and a mulching position. A detent pin on the handle abuts a first stop on the detent plate in the side discharge position and a second stop on the detent plate in the mulching position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Kyle T. Ressler, Derek M. Woody, Melissa Tolson
  • Patent number: 9699966
    Abstract: A mower deck spindle cover includes a panel that covers a spindle pocket on a mower deck in a lowered position. The spindle cover is attached to a mounting arm for pivoting between the lowered position and a raised position. A torsion spring biases the panel to the lowered position. The spindle cover cannot be removed from the mower deck unless the mower deck is separated from the tractor or vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Patrick Shaver, Melissa Tolson, Kyle T. Ressler
  • Publication number: 20170079188
    Abstract: A front attachment lift mechanism includes a front hitch weldment connectable to a lawn tractor frame and having a pair of side plates for supporting a front attachment. A hitch arm extends upwardly and rearwardly on each side of the frame. A rear weldment includes a pair of rear brackets connected by support bars to each other. Each rear bracket has an upper portion connectable to one of a pair of lift arms on a lawn tractor, and a forward end extending forwardly and downwardly from the upper portion. A wireform assembly is connected between each of the hitch arms and the forward end of one of the rear brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Alexandra K. DeVries, Kyle T. Ressler, Melissa Tolson
  • Publication number: 20170020068
    Abstract: A mower deck gauge wheel support includes a one-piece sheet metal bracket mounted to a mower deck, having a sleeve mounted thereto outside a skirt of the mower deck, a wheel shaft inserted through the sleeve, and a J-pin having a first end that engages the wheel shaft at a desired cutting height, and a second end that is engaged by and retained by a coil spring within the bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Kyle T. Ressler, Melissa Tolson, Patrick Shaver
  • Publication number: 20160360693
    Abstract: A mulch kit control lever with a detent plate attached to the top surface of a mower deck, and a vertically oriented pivot pin extending through the detent plate and through the mower deck and engaging a mulch gate. A pivoting handle connected to the pivot pin moves the mulch gate between a side discharge position and a mulching position. A detent pin on the handle abuts a first stop on the detent plate in the side discharge position and a second stop on the detent plate in the mulching position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Kyle T. Ressler, Derek M. Woody, Melissa Tolson
  • Publication number: 20160113198
    Abstract: A mower deck spindle cover includes a panel that covers a spindle pocket on a mower deck in a lowered position. The spindle cover is attached to a mounting arm for pivoting between the lowered position and a raised position. A torsion spring biases the panel to the lowered position. The spindle cover cannot be removed from the mower deck unless them mower deck is separated from the tractor or vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: Patrick Shaver, Melissa Tolson, Kyle T. Ressler