Patents by Inventor William E. Colber

William E. Colber 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: 20240081181
    Abstract: A mower including a handle assembly and a grip coupled to the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a cross member. The grip is moveable longitudinally relative to the cross member. The mower also includes a sensor operable to generate an output signal based on a position of the grip relative to the cross member, and a drive assembly configured to operate based on the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: TECHTRONIC OUTDOOR PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: James C. Ferrell, William E. Colber, Dayu Feng
  • Patent number: 11856888
    Abstract: A mower including a handle assembly and a grip coupled to the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a cross member. The grip is moveable longitudinally relative to the cross member. The mower also includes a sensor operable to generate an output signal based on a position of the grip relative to the cross member, and a drive assembly configured to operate based on the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC OUTDOOR PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: James C. Ferrell, William E. Colber, Dayu Feng
  • Publication number: 20230413725
    Abstract: A power tool may have features for varying height or speed. The power tool may include a base chassis, one or more wheels mounted to the base chassis, and a handle frame attached to the base chassis. A slider assembly or support rail may further be included with the power tool to, for instance, aid in varying speed or height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: William E. Colber, Dayu Feng, James C. Ferrell, Jonathan R. Feldkamp, Dongyu Wang
  • Publication number: 20230232738
    Abstract: A mower including a handle assembly and a grip coupled to the handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a cross member. The grip is moveable longitudinally relative to the cross member. The mower also includes a sensor operable to generate an output signal based on a position of the grip relative to the cross member, and a drive assembly configured to operate based on the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: James C. Ferrell, William E. Colber, Dayu Feng
  • Patent number: 11690319
    Abstract: A mower including a handle assembly, a grip moveable relative to the handle assembly, a sensor operable to generate an output signal based on a position of the grip relative to the handle assembly, a drive assembly, and a controller coupled to the sensor and the drive assembly. The controller receives the output signal and controls the drive assembly according to the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Techtronic Outdoor Products Technology Limited
    Inventors: James C. Ferrell, William E. Colber, Dayu Feng
  • Publication number: 20220256767
    Abstract: A handle assembly can include a handle extending from a work portion of the power tool. The handle can include a handle member configured to be engaged by a user when operating the power tool and at least one elongated member extending between the work portion of the power tool and the handle member. A multi-position interface can be spaced apart from the handle member and define a plurality of engagement interfaces. An engagement element can be configured to move relative to the multi-position interface and be selectively engageable with the plurality of engagement interfaces. A user engageable interface can be configured to selectively move the engagement element into and out of engagement with the plurality of engagement interfaces. The handle assembly can be angularly repositionable between a plurality of angular orientations when the engagement element is not disposed within any of the plurality of engagement interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: William E. Colber, JR., Joel Harbin, Ronald J. Hoffman, Christopher Holman
  • Patent number: 10774879
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for selectively rotationally coupling a prime mover to an output comprises an input member including an input clutch protrusion, an output member including an output clutch protrusion, and an intermediate member positioned between the input member and the output member. The intermediate member includes a first clutch member engaged with the input clutch protrusion and a second clutch member axially spaced from, but engagable with, the output clutch protrusion. The intermediate member is axially displaceable toward the output member to engage the second clutch member with the output clutch protrusion in response to rotation of the input member relative to the intermediate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
    Inventors: William E. Colber, Jr., Michael Feng
  • Publication number: 20200245555
    Abstract: A power tool may have features for varying height or speed. The power tool may include a base chassis, one or more wheels mounted to the base chassis, and a handle frame attached to the base chassis. A slider assembly or support rail may further be included with the power tool to, for instance, aid in varying speed or height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: William E. Colber, Dayu Feng, James C. Ferrell, Jonathan R. Feldkamp, Dongyu Wang
  • Publication number: 20200107497
    Abstract: A mower including a handle assembly, a grip moveable relative to the handle assembly, a sensor operable to generate an output signal based on a position of the grip relative to the handle assembly, a drive assembly, and a controller coupled to the sensor and the drive assembly. The controller receives the output signal and controls the drive assembly according to the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: James C. Ferrell, William E. Colber, Dayu Feng
  • Publication number: 20180223913
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for selectively rotationally coupling a prime mover to an output comprises an input member including an input clutch protrusion, an output member including an output clutch protrusion, and an intermediate member positioned between the input member and the output member. The intermediate member includes a first clutch member engaged with the input clutch protrusion and a second clutch member axially spaced from, but engagable with, the output clutch protrusion. The intermediate member is axially displaceable toward the output member to engage the second clutch member with the output clutch protrusion in response to rotation of the input member relative to the intermediate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: William E. Colber, JR., Michael Feng
  • Patent number: 9951824
    Abstract: A self-engaging clutch includes an input member, and intermediate member, and an output member. The input member is coupled to a prime mover and includes clutch protrusions. The output member is coupled to an output and includes an output clutch. The intermediate member includes a first side that is engaged with the input member and a second side that is engageable with the output member. Upon rotation of the input member, the intermediate member displaces toward the output member to engage the output member thereby allowing torque to be transferred from the input member to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: TTI (MACAO COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE) LIMITED
    Inventors: William E. Colber, Jr., Michael Feng
  • Publication number: 20170198757
    Abstract: A self-engaging clutch includes an input member, and intermediate member, and an output member. The input member is coupled to a prime mover and includes clutch protrusions. The output member is coupled to an output and includes an output clutch. The intermediate member includes a first side that is engaged with the input member and a second side that is engageable with the output member. Upon rotation of the input member, the intermediate member displaces toward the output member to engage the output member thereby allowing torque to be transferred from the input member to the output member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: William E. Colber, JR., Michael Feng
  • Patent number: 9340938
    Abstract: A snow thrower comprising a frame, a handle coupled to the frame, a chute coupled to the frame and rotatable between a plurality of positions about a chute axis, and a chute control assembly. The chute control assembly comprises an actuator assembly including an actuator movable between a plurality of positions, a rotatable flexible cable having first and second ends, and a gear assembly comprising at least one gear. The first end is coupled to the actuator assembly in a manner that causes the cable to rotate when the actuator is moved between the plurality of positions. The gear is coupled to the second end in a manner that causes the gear to rotate when the cable rotates. The chute is coupled to the gear in a manner that causes the chute to rotate about the chute axis when the gear rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: TECHTRONIC OUTDOOR PRODUCTS TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: James C. Ferrell, William E. Colber, Jr., Benjamin E. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 8499848
    Abstract: A gas tiller including a frame defining a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis spaced a distance from the first pivot axis, a motor coupled to the frame, a set of rotary tines coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the motor, a swing arm pivotably coupled to the frame and rotatable about the first pivot axis between a first and second arm positions corresponding to travel and tilling configurations, respectively, of the tiller, the swing arm including one or more wheels coupled thereto, and a drag stake pivotably coupled to the frame and rotatable about the second pivot axis between first and second stake positions. Movement of the swing arm between the arm positions moves the drag stake between the stake positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Techtronic Outdoor Products Technology Limited
    Inventors: William E. Colber, Jr., James Ferrell, Benjamin Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20130032364
    Abstract: A gas tiller including a frame defining a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis spaced a distance from the first pivot axis, a motor coupled to the frame, a set of rotary tines coupled to the frame and operatively coupled to the motor, a swing arm pivotably coupled to the frame and rotatable about the first pivot axis between a first and second arm positions corresponding to travel and tilling configurations, respectively, of the tiller, the swing arm including one or more wheels coupled thereto, and a drag stake pivotably coupled to the frame and rotatable about the second pivot axis between first and second stake positions. Movement of the swing arm between the arm positions moves the drag stake between the stake positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: William E. Colber, JR., James Ferrell, Benjamin Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20120198732
    Abstract: A snow thrower comprising a frame, a handle coupled to the frame, a chute coupled to the frame and rotatable between a plurality of positions about a chute axis, and a chute control assembly. The chute control assembly comprises an actuator assembly including an actuator movable between a plurality of positions, a rotatable flexible cable having first and second ends, and a gear assembly comprising at least one gear. The first end is coupled to the actuator assembly in a manner that causes the cable to rotate when the actuator is moved between the plurality of positions. The gear is coupled to the second end in a manner that causes the gear to rotate when the cable rotates. The chute is coupled to the gear in a manner that causes the chute to rotate about the chute axis when the gear rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventors: James C. Ferrell, William E. Colber, JR., Benjamin E. Montgomery
  • Publication number: 20120066912
    Abstract: A trimmer and a trimmer head for use with the trimmer, the trimmer head including a body rotatable about an axis, the body defining a plurality of axially spaced channels each sized to receive at least a portion of a trimmer line therein, and a clamping mechanism in operable communication with at least two of the axially spaced channels to selectively retain a trimmer line positioned within any one of the at least two axially spaced channels. The trimmer head may include a wear disk pivotable relative to the trimmer head body. In addition, a release button of the clamping mechanism may be arranged on the body to provide additional clamping force when the trimmer head rotates about the axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: James C. Ferrell, William E. Colber, Benjamin E. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 5842552
    Abstract: A power-driven lawn mower including a push-pull cable having a core connecting a bail arm pivotally supported on the handle and a clutch mechanism which engages and disengages the drive system. A control case is secured to the handle between the bail arm and the clutch assembly and has a side wall which forms a longitudinally extending groove with an open outer side. The handle engages the control case adjacent the outward side of the groove. A self-adjusting mechanism for the cable includes a slider longitudinally movable within the groove of the control case, a spring element, and a lock pin. The slider engages a rear end of a conduit of the cable and has a rack of longitudinally spaced ratchet teeth thereon. The spring element forwardly urges the slider toward the rear end of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Colber, Jr., Charles A. Eakins, Jr.
  • Patent number: D613773
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Techtronic Outdoor Products Technology Limited
    Inventors: William E. Colber, Jr., Clinton C. Thackery, Marion Reynolds, James C. Ferrell