The present invention relates generally to agricultural equipment and, more particularly, to a system having a roller device for preparing a field with leftover residual plant matter.
As plant matter is leftover on a field from one season to the next, farming operations continue to struggle with residual stubble when preparing the field for a new crop. These challenges are especially evident in no-till farming, which has become more popular over the recent years. For example, planting seeds between rows of leftover corn stalks is difficult without removing or minimizing the presence of the corn stalks in the planted rows.
Thus, it would be desirable to develop a system that overcomes the problems and limitations associated with leftover residual plant matter.
In accordance with one embodiment, an agricultural system includes a tow bar for attachment to a towing vehicle in a trailing position relative to a direction of movement along a field. The agricultural system further includes a first row-cleaning device attached via a first frame to the tow bar, the first row-cleaning device including at least one first furrow-opener disk and a first roller device. The first roller device is in a trailing position relative to the at least one first furrow-opener disk and has a first longitudinal axis perpendicular to a direction of movement V along the field. The first roller device is configured to crush standing residual plant matter along a first path on the field.
The agricultural system further includes a second row-cleaning device attached via a second frame to the tow bar, the second row-cleaning device including at least one second furrow-opener disk and a second roller device. The second roller device is in a trailing position relative to the at least one second furrow-opener disk and has a second longitudinal axis perpendicular to the direction of movement V along the field. The second longitudinal axis of the second roller device is offset from the first longitudinal axis of the first roller device. The second roller device is configured to crush standing residual plant matter along a second path on the field.
In accordance with another embodiment, an agricultural system includes a first row-cleaning unit having a first frame configured for mounting to a tow bar, at least one first furrow-opener disk attached to the first frame in a leading position and being configured to form a first furrow, and a first roller device attached to the first frame in a trailing position relative to the at least one first furrow-opener disk. The first roller device is configured to crush standing residual plant matter along a first path in a field, and has a first longitudinal axis perpendicular to a direction of movement V along the field. The first row-cleaning unit further has a fertilizer injector that is attached to the first frame in a trailing position relative to the first roller device and that is configured to deposit fertilizer into the first furrow.
The agricultural system further includes a second row-cleaning unit having a second frame configured for mounting to a tow bar, at least one second furrow-opener disk attached to the second frame in a leading position and being configured to form a second furrow, and a second roller device attached to the second frame in a trailing position relative to the at least one second furrow-opener disk. The second roller device is configured to crush standing residual plant matter along a second path in a field, and has a second longitudinal axis perpendicular to a direction of movement V along the field. The second longitudinal axis of the first roller device is offset from the first longitudinal axis of the first roller device. The second row-cleaning unit further has a fertilizer injector that is attached to the second frame in a trailing position relative to the second roller device and that is configured to deposit fertilizer into the second furrow.
The invention may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Although the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to those particular embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalent arrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Turning now to the drawings and referring first to
The row unit 103a includes a row-cleaning device 104 and a rigid frame 106 for attachment to the tow bar 102 The row-cleaning device 104 includes a leading coulter 108 and a pair of furrow-opener disks 110 that are attached in a trailing position relative to the leading coulter 108, each of the furrow-opener disks 110 having a leading edge 110a adjacent to a trailing edge 108a of the leading coulter 108. Only one of the furrow-opener disks 110 is visible in
More specifically, the furrow-opener disks 110 have the respective leading edges 110a adjacent to each other and near the trailing edge 108a of the leading coulter 108. The leading coulter 108 is positioned such that the leading edges 110a of the two furrow-opener disks 110 are obscured by the trailing edge 108a of the leading coulter 108 from a front farming position. The front farming position is forward of the row-cleaning device 104 along the direction of movement V along the field 130.
The row-cleaning device 104 is attached to the agricultural system 100 in a respective strip position B of a plurality of parallel strip positions along the tow bar 102. As further illustrated in
A pivotable row-cleaning linkage 112 is attached to the rigid frame 106. The leading coulter 108 and the furrow-opener disks 110 are coupled to the rigid frame 106 via the pivotable row-cleaning linkage 112. Additionally, a supplemental force for up-down movement is provided via a row-cleaning actuator 113. The row-cleaning linkage 112 is a parallel linkage according to one exemplary embodiment.
A first roller device 114a has a first end 116a and a second end 118a. The first end 116a is attached to the rigid frame 106 via a pivotable roller linkage 120. More specifically, the first end 116a is directly attached to a separator frame 121, which, in turn, is attached to the roller linkage 120. The second end 118a is attached in a similar manner as the first end 116a, near the parallel strip position A, illustrated in
A second roller device 114b has a first end 116b and a second end 118b. The second roller device 114b is attached similarly to the first roller device 114a, with the first end 116b being attached to an opposite side of the separator frame 121, for indirect attachment to the rigid frame 106 via the roller linkage 120. The second end 118b of the second roller device 114b is near a respective parallel strip position C, illustrated in
Each of the roller devices 114a, 114b includes a plurality of roller protrusions 128 that extend outwardly from a peripheral surface of the respective roller device 114a, 114b. The roller protrusions 128 are attached, for example, to the respective peripheral surface via welding or mechanical fasteners. One advantage of the roller protrusions 128 is directed to reducing the amount of force required to crush residual plant matter, based on the reduction of surface area of contact surfaces between the roller devices 114a, 114b and residual plant matter. Alternatively, the roller protrusions 128 are integrally formed from a single piece of material, for example, by machining the roller devices 114a, 114b with the roller protrusions 128 in a unitary construction. Alternatively yet, the roller devices 114a, 114b lack any roller protrusions 128 and are generally cylindrically shaped segments with substantially smooth surfaces.
The roller devices 114a, 114b are generally cylindrically shaped with a hollow (or partially hollow) interior 129 through which a supporting axle is mounted (as illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the roller devices 114a, 114b are mounted in a trailing position relative to the row-cleaning device 104. However, in an alternative embodiment the roller devices 114a, 114b are mounted in a forward position relative to the row-cleaning device 104.
In yet other alternative embodiments, at least one of the roller devices 114a, 114b is a crimping device attached to an agricultural device having one or more separators. The crimping device is described in more detail in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0000535 to Charles H. Martin and Dominic R. Martin, titled “Agricultural Field Preparation Device,” published on Jan. 3, 2013, and which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The agricultural system 100 is movable in a direction V along a field 130 in which standing residual plant matter 132 forward of the row-cleaning device 104 is leveled by the roller device 114a into crushed residual plant matter 134. The residual plant matter, such as small grain cover crop, can include (for example) barley, wheat, oats, spelt, rye, clover, weeds, etc.
The cover crops are typically planted after a primary crop has been harvested, such as corn, in order to reduce compaction of the soil. The type of field preparation that typically occurs simultaneously with crushing of the standing residual plant matter 132 is typically planting of a primary crop, such as corn. However, the agricultural system 100 is not limited to planting, and may include spreading fertilizer or other type of field preparation associated with “no-till” or other types of reduced tillage techniques, such as strip-tilling, if desired.
Referring to
The mini-roller device 115 can be a miniature version of the roller device 114a, being attached to the row-cleaning linkage 112 (instead of the leading coulter 108 and the furrow-opener disks 110). Optionally, the mini-roller device 115 can be any size that sufficiently covers the surface area otherwise left uncovered between the first and second roller devices 114a, 114b.
Referring to
The roller actuator 125 has a movable piston end 127 mounted to the separator frame 123 and a fixed end 129 mounted to the rigid frame 106. According to some examples, the roller actuator 125 is a hydraulic actuator or a pneumatic actuator. The force and movement of the roller actuator 125 and the roller linkage 120, relative to the rigid frame 106, is achieved independently of the row-cleaning linkage 112.
A roller actuator 125 is coupled at each end of a respective roller device, such as the first end 116b and the second end 118b of the second roller device 114b illustrated in
Referring to
For example, the second roller device 114b extends between a first row unit 103a and a second row unit 103b. The first roller device 114a extends between the first row unit 103a and an adjacent row unit that is mounted (but not shown) along the tow bar 102 at the strip position A. The third roller device 103c extends between the second row unit 103b and an adjacent row unit that is mounted (but not shown) along the tow bar 102 at the strip position D. The row units at strip positions A and D are similar and/or identical to the first and second row units 103a, 103b.
Referring to
Furthermore, as the agricultural system 100 advance in the direction V along the field 130, the row-cleaning device 104 moves up-down independent of the roller device 114a because each is independently attached to and actuated from the rigid frame 106. The roller device 114a moves pivotably and is actuated in response to a supplemental force provided by the roller actuator 125, as described above in reference to
The row-cleaning actuator 113 is coupled between the row-cleaning linkage 112 and the rigid frame 106 to provide the desired supplemental force to the respective. The row-cleaning actuator 113, by way of example, is a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator.
One benefit of the agricultural system 100, in which the row-cleaning device 104 is combined with the roller device 114a is directed to preparing in a single pas strips of soil despite the presence of standing residual plant matter 132 in the field 130. Such agricultural actions like separating residual plant matter 132, crushing stems of the residual plant matter 132, and planting seeds in an open furrow of the strips, all occur within the same pass of the agricultural system 100.
Additional benefits of the agricultural system 100 are directed to the crushed residual plant matter 132. For example, the crushed residual plant matter 134 is effectively terminated or destroyed and remains in contact or in close proximity with the surface of the soil, returning nutrients to the soil, such as nitrogen, and thereby reducing the amount of fertilizer that must be subsequently applied to grow the primary crop. In another example, the crushed residual plant matter 132 remains in contact with or in close proximity with the surface of the soil helps maintain moisture in the soil. It has been shown that such increased moisture retention directly results in an increased yield of the primary crop. In yet another example, by virtue of the crushed residual plant matter 132 remaining in contact or in close proximity with the surface of the soil, a toxin is released as a result of which weed growth is substantially diminished without (or reduced) application of herbicides. In yet another example, the presence of residual plant matter 132 or cover crop, by virtue of the root mass of the residual plant matter 132, significantly reduces soil erosion that would otherwise occur without such ground cover after harvest of the primary crop.
Referring to
For example, the first row unit 103a moves up to advance past the rock 144 when the second roller device 114b encounters the rock 144. The rock 144 causes the second roller device 114b to flex upwards. The second roller device 114b pivots about the central roller bearing 140 and relative to the central axle 142, with the first end 116b moving upwards and the second end 118b moving downwards. The movement of the second roller device 114b causes movement of the first row unit 103a, which, in turn, causes movement of the first roller device 114a. The first roller device 114a, similar to the second roller device 114b, pivots about its central roller bearing and relative to its central axle 142, with the first end 116a moving upwards and the second end 118 a moving downwards. The second and third row units 103b, 103c, and the third and fourth roller devices 114c, 114d remain generally unaffected by the movement of the first row unit 103a and the first and second roller devices 114a, 114b.
Optionally, instead of a single roller bearing 140, two roller bearings are centrally located along one or more of the roller devices 114a-114d. Each of the two roller bearings is mounted on a respective, opposite side of the supporting bracket 143.
Referring to
Referring to
The residue-clearing sub-assembly 202 includes a forward coulter wheel 220 flanked by a pair of toothed wheels 222, 223 overlapping a rear edge portion of the forward coulter wheel 220. Thus, the residue-clearing sub-assembly 202 is similar, but necessarily identical, to the row-cleaning device 104. The forward coulter wheel 220 cuts through the residue on the soil, such as stalks from a previous year's planting, and cuts a shallow slit in the soil. The trailing toothed residue-clearing wheels 222, 223 then kick the cut residue off to opposite sides of the slit cut by the forward coulter wheel 220, thus clearing a row for planting (e.g., strip rows A-C illustrated in
The tillage and depth-control sub-assembly 204 includes a pair of rearward coulter wheels 230, 231 that are offset from each other both laterally and fore and aft, and two gauge wheels 232, 233. The rear edges of the rearward coulter wheels 230, 231 are tilted inwardly toward the slit cut by the forward coulter wheel 220, and the lower edges of the rearward coulter wheels 230, 213 are tilted outwardly away from the slit. Thus, each of the rearward coulter wheels 230, 231 makes contact with the soil at an angle in two planes, causing each of the rearward coulter wheels 230, 231 to apply a force to the soil that is upward and toward the center of the row. The aggregate effect of this angular relationship on the soil is a turbulent swirling and mixing of the soil in the space between the two rearward coulter wheels 230, 231. The turbulent swirling and mixing of the soil incorporates air and residue into the soil, and, further, breaks the soil into finer pieces. Soil thrown laterally by the leading coulter wheel 230 is caught by the trailing coulter wheel 231 to retain that soil in the tilled area between the two rearward coulter wheels 230, 231 and to form a ridge for planting.
The gauge wheels 232, 233 control the depth to which the row unit 201 penetrates into the soil, and also intercept soil and residue thrown upwardly and laterally by the trailing coulter wheel 231, to retain that soil in the strip being tilled. This prevents soil loss form the tilled area and facilitates the creation of the ridge, or berm, which is desirable for planting. Because the height of the axes of rotation of all the wheels 220, 222, 223, 230, 231 is fixed relative to the height of the axes of rotation of the gauge wheels 232, 233, the interaction among all the wheels remains essentially the same at all times. Alternatively, instead of gauge wheels, the row unit 201 includes small-belted caterpillar tracks or similar devices for controlling the depth.
Each of the gauge wheels 232, 233 includes a swirl device 240 having multiple tines 242 and being attached to a central portion of the inboard side of each respective gauge wheel 232, 233. As such, the swirl device 240 is located rearwardly of the of the tillage device (e.g., rearward coulter wheels 230, 231) and is positioned to intercept soil and residue displaced upwardly by the tillage device. The swirl device 240 rotates with the respective gauge wheel 232, 233 and helps to control the distribution of soil moving toward the respective gauge wheel 232, 233 from the rearmost of the coulter wheels 220, 230, 231.
The swirl device 240 intercepts a portion of the soil and residue thrown upwardly and laterally towards the gauge wheels 232, 233 by the trailing coulter wheel 231 and distributes the intercepted soil and residue across the tilled strip adjacent the gauge wheels 232, 233. The swirl device 240 also helps to break up clumpy soil. Because the outside diameter of the swirl device 240 is smaller than the outside diameter of the gauge wheels 232, 233, the swirl device 240 operates above ground level and does not dig into the earth. Another benefit of the swirl device 240 is that it produces thorough incorporation of fertilizer, especially dry fertilizer, with the soil within the worked strip where it is needed by the plants, rather than leaving the fertilizer in concentrated ribbons. This allows the application of more fertilizer in the strip, possibly just ahead of the planter by a few hours, without burning the seed, and may eliminate a second trip to side dress. The total amount of fertilizer applied to produce optimum crop yields may even be reduced. Fertilizer that is not thoroughly incorporated in the soil may be lost to the atmosphere or runoff, which is costly and may pollute both ground water and surface water.
In the embodiment described above, all the coulter wheels 220, 230, 231 are corrugated or fluted coulter wheels, but a wide variety of different coulter wheels are well known in the agricultural industry, and any of them may be used. The same is true of the toothed residue-clearing wheels 222, 223—a wide variety of different configurations of toothed wheels are well known in the agricultural industry for residue clearing, and any of them may be used.
The illustrative row unit 201 is urged downwardly against the soil by its own weight. If it is desired to have the ability to increase this downward force, or to be able to adjust the force, a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and/or one or more springs may be added between the common frame 206 and the four-bar linkage assembly 208, or between the common frame 206 and the front frame 210, to urge the common frame 206 downwardly with a controllable force. Such a hydraulic cylinder may also be used to lift the row unit off the ground for transport by a heavier, stronger, fixed-height frame that is also used to transport large quantities of fertilizer for application via multiple residue-clearing and tillage row units.
The agricultural system 200 further includes a roller device 250 that is mounted for crushing residual plant matter. The configuration and/or attachment of the roller device 250 is similar to and/or identical to the roller devices 114a-114d described above in reference to
Referring to
In alternative embodiments one or more of the wheels described above are forged blades with an induction hardened edge. The forged blades are beneficial because they are ductile and, as such, are not prone to shatter. Furthermore, in addition to being resisting to shattering, the forged blades maintain a hardened edge. In a further optional embodiment, one or more of the coulters described above is made of cast iron and includes a beveled edge.
In other alternative embodiments, various hydraulic configurations are included in one or more of the agricultural systems 100, 200. For example, hydraulic cylinders are mounted to any movable components of the agricultural systems 100, 200 in which a controllable down/up pressure is desired for maintaining a required component-to-ground pressure.
Referring to
The roller units 303a-303c are positioned in a shifted arrangement in which adjacent ones of the roller units 303a-303c are offset relative to each other. For example, the left roller unit 303a is positioned such that its longitudinal axis (which is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement V) is at a first distance D1 from the tow bar 302, while the middle roller unit 303b is positioned at a second distance D2 from the tow bar 302, with the second distance D2 being greater than the first distance D1. The right roller unit 303c, in accordance with this embodiment, is located at the first distance D1 from the tow bar 302 (similar to the first roller unit 303a). However, alternatively, the right roller unit 303c is positioned at a different distance from the tow bar 302 than either the left roller unit 303a or the middle roller unit 303b, with the different distance being shorter than the first distance D1 or longer than the second distance D2.
The roller units 303a-303c are further positioned such that ends of adjacent roller units are overlapping at least in part. For example, a right end of the left roller unit 303a is overlapping by a distance X1 with a left end of the middle roller unit 303b, and a left end of the right roller unit 303c is overlapping by a distance X2 with a right end of the middle roller unit 303b.
Similar to the embodiments described above in reference to
Referring to
As the agricultural system 400 is moved along the field 430, the opener disks 410 form the furrow 454, the roller device 414 crushes standing residual plant matter in its path, and the fertilizer injector 450 deposits the fertilizer 452 into the furrow 454. One benefit of the agricultural system 400 is that the furrow 454 is formed, the residual plant matter is crushed, and the fertilizer is deposited in a single pass through the field 430, increasing efficiency and reducing expenses associated with the preparation of the field 430 for planting or other agricultural purposes.
Referring to
As the agricultural system 500 is moved along the field 530, the leading opener disks 510 form the furrow 554, at least in part, the roller device 514 crushes standing residual plant matter in its path, the fertilizer opener disk 560 prepares the furrow 554 for receiving the fertilizer 552, and the fertilizer injector 550 inserts the fertilizer 552 into the furrow 554. One benefit of the agricultural system 500 is that each of these agricultural operations is achieved during the same (single) pass through the filed 530 to increase operational efficiency.
It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrated embodiment and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/172,905, filed on Feb. 5, 2014, for an “Agricultural System For Field Preparation,” which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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5473999 | Rawson | Dec 1995 | A |
5474135 | Schlagel | Dec 1995 | A |
5477682 | Tobiasz | Dec 1995 | A |
5477792 | Bassett | Dec 1995 | A |
5479868 | Bassett | Jan 1996 | A |
5479992 | Bassett | Jan 1996 | A |
5485796 | Bassett | Jan 1996 | A |
5485886 | Bassett | Jan 1996 | A |
5497717 | Martin | Mar 1996 | A |
5497837 | Kehrney | Mar 1996 | A |
5499683 | Bassett | Mar 1996 | A |
5499685 | Downing, Jr. | Mar 1996 | A |
5517932 | Ott | May 1996 | A |
5524525 | Nikkel | Jun 1996 | A |
5531171 | Whitesel | Jul 1996 | A |
5542362 | Bassett | Aug 1996 | A |
5544709 | Lowe | Aug 1996 | A |
5562165 | Janelle | Oct 1996 | A |
5590611 | Smith | Jan 1997 | A |
5603269 | Bassett | Feb 1997 | A |
5623997 | Rawson | Apr 1997 | A |
5640914 | Rawson | Jun 1997 | A |
5657707 | Dresher | Aug 1997 | A |
5660126 | Freed | Aug 1997 | A |
5685245 | Bassett | Nov 1997 | A |
5704430 | Smith | Jan 1998 | A |
5709271 | Bassett | Jan 1998 | A |
5725057 | Taylor | Mar 1998 | A |
5727638 | Wodrich | Mar 1998 | A |
5852982 | Peter | Dec 1998 | A |
5868207 | Langbakk | Feb 1999 | A |
5878678 | Stephens | Mar 1999 | A |
RE36243 | Rawson | Jul 1999 | E |
5953895 | Hobs | Sep 1999 | A |
5970891 | Schlagel | Oct 1999 | A |
5970892 | Wendling | Oct 1999 | A |
5988293 | Brueggen | Nov 1999 | A |
6067918 | Kirby | May 2000 | A |
6068061 | Smith | May 2000 | A |
6091997 | Flamme | Jul 2000 | A |
6164385 | Buchl | Dec 2000 | A |
6223663 | Wendling | May 2001 | B1 |
6223828 | Paulson | May 2001 | B1 |
6237696 | Mayerle | May 2001 | B1 |
6253692 | Wendling | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6314897 | Hagny | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6325156 | Barry | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6330922 | King | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6331142 | Bischoff | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6343661 | Thompson | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6347594 | Wendling | Feb 2002 | B1 |
6382326 | Goins | May 2002 | B1 |
6389999 | Duello | May 2002 | B1 |
6453832 | Schaffert | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6454019 | Prairie | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6460623 | Knussman | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6516595 | Rhody | Feb 2003 | B2 |
6530334 | Hagny | Mar 2003 | B2 |
6575104 | Brummelhuis | Jun 2003 | B2 |
6644224 | Bassett | Nov 2003 | B1 |
6681868 | Kovach | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6701856 | Zoske | Mar 2004 | B1 |
6701857 | Jensen | Mar 2004 | B1 |
6715433 | Friestad | Apr 2004 | B1 |
6786130 | Steinlage | Sep 2004 | B2 |
6834598 | Jüptner | Dec 2004 | B2 |
6840853 | Foth | Jan 2005 | B2 |
6886650 | Bremner | May 2005 | B2 |
6912963 | Bassett | Jul 2005 | B2 |
6968907 | Raper | Nov 2005 | B1 |
6986313 | Halford | Jan 2006 | B2 |
6997400 | Hanna | Feb 2006 | B1 |
7004090 | Swanson | Feb 2006 | B2 |
7044070 | Kaster | May 2006 | B2 |
7063167 | Staszak | Jun 2006 | B1 |
7159523 | Bourgault | Jan 2007 | B2 |
7222575 | Bassett | May 2007 | B2 |
7290491 | Summach | Nov 2007 | B2 |
7360494 | Martin | Apr 2008 | B2 |
7360495 | Martin | Apr 2008 | B1 |
7438006 | Mariman | Oct 2008 | B2 |
7451712 | Bassett | Nov 2008 | B2 |
7523709 | Kiest | Apr 2009 | B1 |
7540333 | Bettin | Jun 2009 | B2 |
7575066 | Bauer | Aug 2009 | B2 |
7584707 | Sauder | Sep 2009 | B2 |
7665539 | Bassett | Feb 2010 | B2 |
7673570 | Bassett | Mar 2010 | B1 |
7743718 | Bassett | Jun 2010 | B2 |
7870827 | Bassett | Jan 2011 | B2 |
7918285 | Graham | Apr 2011 | B1 |
7938074 | Liu | May 2011 | B2 |
7944210 | Fischer | May 2011 | B2 |
7946231 | Martin | May 2011 | B2 |
8146519 | Bassett | Apr 2012 | B2 |
8151717 | Bassett | Apr 2012 | B2 |
8171707 | Kitchel | May 2012 | B2 |
D663326 | Allensworth | Jul 2012 | S |
8327780 | Bassett | Dec 2012 | B2 |
8359988 | Bassett | Jan 2013 | B2 |
8380356 | Zielke | Feb 2013 | B1 |
8386137 | Sauder | Feb 2013 | B2 |
8393407 | Freed | Mar 2013 | B2 |
8408149 | Rylander | Apr 2013 | B2 |
8544397 | Bassett | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8544398 | Bassett | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8550020 | Sauder | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8573319 | Casper | Nov 2013 | B1 |
8634992 | Sauder | Jan 2014 | B2 |
8636077 | Bassett | Jan 2014 | B2 |
8763713 | Bassett | Jul 2014 | B2 |
8770308 | Bassett | Jul 2014 | B2 |
8776702 | Bassett | Jul 2014 | B2 |
RE45091 | Bassett | Aug 2014 | E |
8863857 | Bassett | Oct 2014 | B2 |
8910581 | Bassett | Dec 2014 | B2 |
8939095 | Freed | Jan 2015 | B2 |
8985232 | Bassett | Mar 2015 | B2 |
9003982 | Elizalde | Apr 2015 | B1 |
9003983 | Roth | Apr 2015 | B2 |
9055712 | Bassett | Jun 2015 | B2 |
9107337 | Bassett | Aug 2015 | B2 |
9107338 | Bassett | Aug 2015 | B2 |
9113589 | Bassett | Aug 2015 | B2 |
9144187 | Bassett | Sep 2015 | B2 |
9148989 | Van Buskirk | Oct 2015 | B2 |
9167740 | Bassett | Oct 2015 | B2 |
9192088 | Bruce | Nov 2015 | B2 |
9192089 | Bassett | Nov 2015 | B2 |
9192091 | Bassett | Nov 2015 | B2 |
9215838 | Bassett | Dec 2015 | B2 |
9215839 | Bassett | Dec 2015 | B2 |
9226440 | Bassett | Jan 2016 | B2 |
9232687 | Bassett | Jan 2016 | B2 |
9241438 | Bassett | Jan 2016 | B2 |
9271437 | Martin | Mar 2016 | B2 |
9307690 | Bassett | Apr 2016 | B2 |
20020162492 | Juptner | Nov 2002 | A1 |
20030141086 | Kovach | Jul 2003 | A1 |
20040005929 | Piasecki | Jan 2004 | A1 |
20060102058 | Swanson | May 2006 | A1 |
20060191695 | Walker et al. | Aug 2006 | A1 |
20060237203 | Miskin | Oct 2006 | A1 |
20070044694 | Martin | Mar 2007 | A1 |
20070272134 | Baker | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20080093093 | Sheppard | Apr 2008 | A1 |
20080173220 | Wuertz | Jul 2008 | A1 |
20080236461 | Sauder | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20080256916 | Vaske | Oct 2008 | A1 |
20100019471 | Ruckle | Jan 2010 | A1 |
20100108336 | Thomson | May 2010 | A1 |
20100180695 | Sauder | Jul 2010 | A1 |
20100198529 | Sauder | Aug 2010 | A1 |
20100282480 | Breker | Nov 2010 | A1 |
20110247537 | Freed | Oct 2011 | A1 |
20110313575 | Kowalchuk | Dec 2011 | A1 |
20120167809 | Bassett | Jul 2012 | A1 |
20120186216 | Vaske | Jul 2012 | A1 |
20120216731 | Schilling | Aug 2012 | A1 |
20120232691 | Green | Sep 2012 | A1 |
20120255475 | Mariman | Oct 2012 | A1 |
20130032363 | Curry | Feb 2013 | A1 |
20130112121 | Achen | May 2013 | A1 |
20130112124 | Bergen | May 2013 | A1 |
20130213676 | Bassett | Aug 2013 | A1 |
20130325267 | Adams | Dec 2013 | A1 |
20130333599 | Bassett | Dec 2013 | A1 |
20140026748 | Stoller | Jan 2014 | A1 |
20140034339 | Sauder | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140034343 | Sauder | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140034344 | Bassett | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140060864 | Martin | Mar 2014 | A1 |
20140190712 | Bassett | Jul 2014 | A1 |
20140197249 | Roth | Jul 2014 | A1 |
20140224513 | Van Buskirk | Aug 2014 | A1 |
20150216108 | Roth | Aug 2015 | A1 |
20150237791 | Bassett | Aug 2015 | A1 |
20150373901 | Bassett | Dec 2015 | A1 |
20160066498 | Bassett | Mar 2016 | A1 |
20160128263 | Bassett | May 2016 | A1 |
20160128265 | Bassett | May 2016 | A1 |
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Number | Date | Country |
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551372 | Oct 1956 | BE |
530673 | Sep 1956 | CA |
335464 | Sep 1921 | DE |
1108971 | Jun 1961 | DE |
24 02 411 | Jul 1975 | DE |
2 196 337 | Jun 2010 | EP |
2 497 348 | Sep 2012 | EP |
1 574 412 | Sep 1980 | GB |
2 056 238 | Oct 1982 | GB |
54-57726 | May 1979 | JP |
392897 | Aug 1973 | SU |
436778 | Jul 1974 | SU |
611201 | Jun 1978 | SU |
625648 | Sep 1978 | SU |
1410884 | Jul 1988 | SU |
1466674 | Mar 1989 | SU |
WO 2009145381 | Dec 2009 | WO |
WO 2011161140 | Dec 2011 | WO |
WO 2012149367 | Jan 2012 | WO |
WO 2012149415 | Jan 2012 | WO |
WO 2012167244 | Dec 2012 | WO |
WO 2013025898 | Feb 2013 | WO |
Entry |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20160100520 A1 | Apr 2016 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14172905 | Feb 2014 | US |
Child | 14975852 | US |