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).

  • Publication number: 20250295062
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2025
    Publication date: September 25, 2025
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Bryan Keith Dandridge, Scott Funke, Jacob Schmalz, Mark Noller
  • Publication number: 20250162397
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
  • Patent number: 12291091
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
  • Patent number: 12145674
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, David Schulenberg, Scott Funke, Steve Avery, Steve Weber, Brian Poirier, Jacob Schmalz
  • Publication number: 20240172587
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey ZEILER, Bryan Keith Dandridge, Scott Funke, Jacob Schmalz, Mark Noller
  • Patent number: 11820218
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
  • Publication number: 20230234432
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
  • Publication number: 20230200296
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Scott Funke, Mark Noller, Warren Corrado
  • Publication number: 20230180657
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Scott Funke, Warren Corrado, Mark Noller, Nick Zeidler, Joshua Kowalski
  • Patent number: 11642952
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
  • Publication number: 20210354541
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey ZEILER, Robert John KOENEN, Jacob SCHMALZ, Albert LIU, Nick ZEIDLER, Scott FUNKE, David PROCKNOW
  • Publication number: 20200113133
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Keith Dandridge, Scott Funke, Jacob Schmalz, Mark Noller
  • Publication number: 20190291779
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: BRIGGS & STRATTON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, David Schulenberg, Scott Funke, Steve Avery, Steve Weber, Brian Poirier, Jacob Schmalz
  • Publication number: 20190160972
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Zeiler, Robert John Koenen, Jacob Schmalz, Albert Liu, Nick Zeidler, Scott Funke, David Procknow
  • Patent number: 6668225
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pahngroc Oh, Scott Funke, Kevin J. Pavlov
  • Publication number: 20020107627
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Funke, Mark W. Plansinis, Pahngroc Oh, Stephen M. Stachowski
  • Publication number: 20020095251
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Applicant: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Pahngroc Oh, Scott Funke, Kevin J. Pavlov
  • Patent number: 5197426
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Frangesch, Scott Funke