Patents by Inventor Scott Funke
Scott Funke 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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Publication number: 20250295062Abstract: A lawnmower includes an electric motor configured to operate a component of the lawnmower, a user interface configured to display operational parameters of the lawnmower, and a controller configured to receive input from an operator of the lawnmower via the user interface, the input comprising a selection of an operational mode of a plurality of operational modes, and control the electric motor differently in response to a selection of each operational mode, wherein the electric motor is connected to the controller via a network communication bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2025Publication date: September 25, 2025Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Bryan Keith Dandridge, Scott Funke, Jacob Schmalz, Mark Noller
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Publication number: 20250162397Abstract: A riding lawn mower includes a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade. a plurality of battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, and a battery management system configured to control a plurality of switching elements associated with the plurality of battery packs. The plurality of switching elements configured to control a current flow from each of the plurality of battery packs. The battery management system comprises a master battery management system configured to issue control commands to a plurality of slave battery management systems. Each of the plurality of slave battery management systems is configured to internally control operation of one of the plurality of battery packs.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2025Publication date: May 22, 2025Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Patent number: 12291091Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprising, a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade, and multiple battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, each battery pack graspable and removable by a user, wherein the multiple battery packs sequentially provide power to the riding lawn mower.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: May 6, 2025Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Patent number: 12145674Abstract: Ride-on outdoor power equipment includes one or more batteries, one or more electric traction motors electrically connected to the one or more batteries, one or more user input devices, a plurality of sensors, and a controller in communication with the one or more batteries, the electric traction motors and the one or more user input devices, the controller configured to control the electric traction motors to operate the ride-on outdoor power equipment based on inputs received via the user input devices.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, David Schulenberg, Scott Funke, Steve Avery, Steve Weber, Brian Poirier, Jacob Schmalz
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Publication number: 20240172587Abstract: A lawnmower includes a cutting deck including an aperture extending through the cutting deck, the aperture comprising a first motor portion, a second motor portion, and a central portion joining the first motor portion and the second motor portion. The lawnmower further includes a first electric motor received within the first motor portion and coupled to a first cutting blade positioned below the cutting deck and a second electric motor received within the second motor portion and coupled to a second cutting blade positioned below the cutting deck.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2024Publication date: May 30, 2024Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey ZEILER, Bryan Keith Dandridge, Scott Funke, Jacob Schmalz, Mark Noller
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Patent number: 11820218Abstract: A scalable power unit for powering one or more electric motors of a riding vehicle and/or a piece of outdoor power equipment includes a number of interconnected battery packs. The battery pack are received in a battery tray or stacked to form the scalable power unit. Each battery pack is configured to be removed and used separately or added to a combination of battery packs. A control unit selectively opens and closes switching elements to separately control the connections between the battery packs and an electrical load, such as a motor. During charging, the control unit opens and closes switching elements to control the charging rate of the individual battery packs. When the battery packs are connected to an electrical load, the control unit controls the state of the switching elements to selectively discharge the battery packs to power the riding vehicle and/or electric loads.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Publication number: 20230234432Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprising, a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade, and multiple battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, each battery pack graspable and removable by a user, wherein the multiple battery packs sequentially provide power to the riding lawn mower.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Publication number: 20230200296Abstract: Systems and apparatuses include a lawn mower including a frame, a deck coupled to the frame, and an electric power take off outlet coupled to the frame and structured to electrically couple with a battery. The electric power take off outlet including a power port structured to electrically couple to a peripheral device, and a data port structured to communicate with the peripheral device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2020Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Scott Funke, Mark Noller, Warren Corrado
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Publication number: 20230180657Abstract: Outdoor power equipment including a frame, a battery, multiple wheels, a cutting deck, multiple chore motors, and multiple blades. The cutting deck is coupled to the frame and has a discharge opening. The electric chore motors are attached to the cutting deck and are selectively powered by the battery. Each of the blades is powered and rotated by one of the multiple electric chore motors. A first blade of the multiple blades is rotated in a first direction and a second blade of the multiple blades is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Scott Funke, Warren Corrado, Mark Noller, Nick Zeidler, Joshua Kowalski
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Patent number: 11642952Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprising, a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade, and multiple battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, each battery pack graspable and removable by a user, wherein the multiple battery packs jointly provide power to the riding lawn mower.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLCInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Publication number: 20210354541Abstract: A riding lawn mower comprising, a pair of rear drive wheels, a pair of front wheels, a deck positioned between the pair of front wheels and the pair of rear drive wheels, a rotatable cutting blade, and multiple battery packs removably coupled to the riding lawn mower and structured to provide power to the riding lawn mower, each battery pack graspable and removable by a user, wherein the multiple battery packs jointly provide power to the riding lawn mower.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLCInventors: Jeffrey ZEILER, Robert John KOENEN, Jacob SCHMALZ, Albert LIU, Nick ZEIDLER, Scott FUNKE, David PROCKNOW
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Publication number: 20200113133Abstract: A lawnmower includes a cutting deck, a cutting blade positioned below the cutting deck, and an electric motor coupled to and configured to drive the cutting blade. The electric motor is positioned at least partially below the cutting deck.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Keith Dandridge, Scott Funke, Jacob Schmalz, Mark Noller
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Publication number: 20190291779Abstract: Ride-on outdoor power equipment includes one or more batteries, one or more electric traction motors electrically connected to the one or more batteries, one or more user input devices, a plurality of sensors, and a controller in communication with the one or more batteries, the electric traction motors and the one or more user input devices, the controller configured to control the electric traction motors to operate the ride-on outdoor power equipment based on inputs received via the user input devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, David Schulenberg, Scott Funke, Steve Avery, Steve Weber, Brian Poirier, Jacob Schmalz
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Publication number: 20190160972Abstract: A scalable power unit for powering one or more electric motors of a riding vehicle and/or a piece of outdoor power equipment. The scalable power unit includes a number of interconnected battery packs. The battery packs can be received in a battery tray or stacked to form the scalable power unit. Each battery pack can be removed and used separately or added to a combination of battery packs. A control unit selectively opens and closes switching elements to separately control the connections between the battery packs and an electrical load, such as a motor. During charging, the control unit opens and closes the switching elements to control the charging rate of the individual battery packs. When the battery packs are connected to an electric load, the control unit controls the state of the switching elements to selectively discharge the battery packs to power the riding vehicle and/or electric loads.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2017Publication date: May 30, 2019Applicant: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
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Patent number: 6668225Abstract: A trailer control system incorporates sensors on both the trailer and a tow vehicle towing the trailer to measure operating parameters of both the trailer and the tow vehicle or prime mover. A computer mounted in the trailer or in the tow vehicle gathers input data from the sensors, including a variety of measurements of force, displacement, and temperature for the tow vehicle, the trailer, and their components. The computer may also be used to apply braking forces to the wheels of the trailer. Using the simulator, a variety of components on the trailer may be tested, their performance measured, and a better trailer may be designed. A trailer may also incorporate such a system for better control of the trailer and the combination vehicle of which it is a part.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2001Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Pahngroc Oh, Scott Funke, Kevin J. Pavlov
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Publication number: 20020107627Abstract: A simulator for a trailer incorporates sensors on both the trailer and a tow vehicle towing the trailer to measure operating parameters of both the trailer and the tow vehicle or prime mover. A computer mounted in the trailer or in the tow vehicle gathers input data from the sensors, including a variety of measurements of force, displacement, and temperature for the tow vehicle, the trailer, and their components. The computer may also be used to apply braking forces to the wheels of the trailer. Using the simulator, a variety of components on the trailer may be tested, their performance measured, and a better trailer may be designed. A trailer may also incorporate such a system for better control of the trailer and the combination vehicle of which it is a part.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2001Publication date: August 8, 2002Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Scott Funke, Mark W. Plansinis, Pahngroc Oh, Stephen M. Stachowski
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Publication number: 20020095251Abstract: A trailer control system incorporates sensors on both the trailer and a tow vehicle towing the trailer to measure operating parameters of both the trailer and the tow vehicle or prime mover. A computer mounted in the trailer or in the tow vehicle gathers input data from the sensors, including a variety of measurements of force, displacement, and temperature for the tow vehicle, the trailer, and their components. The computer may also be used to apply braking forces to the wheels of the trailer. Using the simulator, a variety of components on the trailer may be tested, their performance measured, and a better trailer may be designed. A trailer may also incorporate such a system for better control of the trailer and the combination vehicle of which it is a part.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2001Publication date: July 18, 2002Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Pahngroc Oh, Scott Funke, Kevin J. Pavlov
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Patent number: 5197426Abstract: An integral plastic engine housing is disclosed for small internal combustion engines such as those used on lawnmowers, snowblowers, generators and the like. The integral plastic housing integrates the blower housing, air filter housing, fuel tank, starter rewind housing, carburetor, primer bulb assembly and brake cover into a single unit to reduce the manufacturing and assembly costs. In a preferred embodiment, a plastic carburetor is connected to the remainder of the integral plastic housing via a pair of rails and corresponding slide members. The position of the carburetor with respect to the fuel tank and the air filter housing allows the air filter housing and fuel tank to be directly connected to the carburetor without the need for intervening hoses or lines and their associated clamps. The integral housing is substantially made from a polyethylene plastic material, with the carburetor and parts of the primer bulb assembly being preferably made from nylon.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 1992Date of Patent: March 30, 1993Assignee: Briggs & Stratton CorporationInventors: Richard Frangesch, Scott Funke