Patents by Inventor Rodney D. Lair
Rodney D. Lair 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).
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Patent number: 8292318Abstract: The invention relates to a drawbar support assembly. There is a need for a drawbar support assembly which can adapt to different types of drawbars. An adaptable drawbar support assembly includes a generally U-shaped front support member for coupling to and supporting the front end of the drawbar. A front spacer member mounts in the front support member above or below the front end of the drawbar. A generally U-shaped rear support member couples to and supports the drawbar. A rear spacer member mounts in the rear support member below the drawbar. The rear spacer member is removable from the rear support member when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A ball coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A clevis coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted below the front end of the drawbar.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2010Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
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Patent number: 7717454Abstract: The invention relates to a drawbar support assembly. There is a need for a drawbar support assembly which can adapt to different types of drawbars. An adaptable drawbar support assembly includes a generally U-shaped front support member for coupling to and supporting the front end of the drawbar. A front spacer member mounts in the front support member above or below the front end of the drawbar. A generally U-shaped rear support member couples to and supports the drawbar. A rear spacer member mounts in the rear support member below the drawbar. The rear spacer member is removable from the rear support member when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A ball coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A clevis coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted below the front end of the drawbar.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
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Publication number: 20100109288Abstract: The invention relates to a drawbar support assembly. There is a need for a drawbar support assembly which can adapt to different types of drawbars. An adaptable drawbar support assembly includes a generally U-shaped front support member for coupling to and supporting the front end of the drawbar. A front spacer member mounts in the front support member above or below the front end of the drawbar. A generally U-shaped rear support member couples to and supports the drawbar. A rear spacer member mounts in the rear support member below the drawbar. The rear spacer member is removable from the rear support member when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A ball coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A clevis coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted below the front end of the drawbar.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2010Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: Deere & CompanyInventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath
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Patent number: 7516975Abstract: A drawbar pin adapter which can allow a smaller drawbar pin to be used with a larger drawbar. A drawbar pin adapter is provided for a tractor drawbar having a lower strap, an upper strap and a drawbar pin bore which extends through the upper and lower straps and which receives a drawbar pin. The adapter includes a cylindrical bushing mountable in the drawbar pin bore in the lower strap and a hollow housing which is mountable over the lower strap. The housing includes a lower plate, an upper plate and left and right side plates. The upper plate has an upper bore formed therein, and the lower plate has a lower bore formed therein. The upper and lower bores have a diameter which is smaller than an outer diameter of the bushing so that the upper and lower plates hold the bushing within the drawbar pin bore in the lower strap. The bushing and the upper and lower bores receive the drawbar pin when it is inserted through the upper and lower straps.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2007Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Rodney D. Lair, Michael Carl Harting, Deepak Bhoir, Gerald Ray Kinney, Michael Kollath, Peter Kosmicki, Scott L. Cook, Christopher Alan Schafer
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Publication number: 20090058044Abstract: The invention relates to a drawbar pin adapter. There is a need for a drawbar pin adapter which can allow a smaller drawbar pin to be used with a larger drawbar. A drawbar pin adapter is provided for a tractor drawbar having a lower strap, an upper strap and a drawbar pin bore which extends through the upper and lower straps and which receives a drawbar pin. The adapter includes a cylindrical bushing mountable in the drawbar pin bore in the lower strap and a hollow housing which is mountable over the lower strap. The housing includes a lower plate, an upper plate and left and right side plates. The upper plate has an upper bore formed therein, and the lower plate has a lower bore formed therein. The upper and lower bores have a diameter which is smaller than an outer diameter of the bushing so that the upper and lower plates hold the bushing within the drawbar pin bore in the lower strap. The bushing and the upper and lower bores receive the drawbar pin when it is inserted through the upper and lower straps.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2007Publication date: March 5, 2009Inventors: Rodney D. Lair, Michael Carl Harting, Deepak Bhoir, Gerald Ray Kinney, Michael Kollath, Peter Kosmicki, Scott L. Cook, Christopher Alan Schafer
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Publication number: 20080284133Abstract: The invention relates to a drawbar support assembly. There is a need for a drawbar support assembly which can adapt to different types of drawbars. An adaptable drawbar support assembly includes a generally U-shaped front support member for coupling to and supporting the front end of the drawbar. A front spacer member mounts in the front support member above or below the front end of the drawbar. A generally U-shaped rear support member couples to and supports the drawbar. A rear spacer member mounts in the rear support member below the drawbar. The rear spacer member is removable from the rear support member when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A ball coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted above the front end of the drawbar. A clevis coupler is attached to the rear end of the drawbar when the front spacer member is mounted below the front end of the drawbar.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2007Publication date: November 20, 2008Inventors: Rodney D. Lair, Edwin R. Kreis, Michael C. Harting, Michael D. Kollath