Briggs & Stratton, LLC

Christopher Krajewski

Todd W Johnson

Ryan S Jaskowiak

Nicholas Zeidler

Jeffrey Michael Zeiler

Mark Noller

Kyle Michael Harvey

Robert S Laurin

E Mark Lynch

Jacob Schmalz

Bryan Keith Dandridge

Ryan T Hahn

Matthew S Zurawski

Jeff Zeiler

Scott A Funke

Nick Joseph Zeidler

James Michael Busse

Joshua Kowalski

A battery charging system includes a charging rack comprising multiple receptacle, multiple battery assemblies. Each of the battery assemblies includes a housing having a handle, rechargeable battery cells disposed within the housing, and a mating feature protruding away from the housing, wherein the mating feature is configured to selectively connect the battery assembly with the receptacle of the charging rack and includes multiple ports electrically connected to the battery cells and configured receive power from the charging rack to charge the battery cells, and wherein the handle comprises a release button configured to selectively disengage the battery assembly from the receptacle of the charging rack.

Battery assembly for battery powered equipment

A front independent suspension assembly for outdoor power equipment includes a first joint, a first wheel coupled to the joint, a first longitudinal arm pivotably coupled to the joint, a first lateral arm pivotably coupled to the joint, and a second lateral arm pivotably coupled to the joint. The second lateral suspension arranged substantially parallel to the first lateral suspension arm. The pivotal coupling between the joint and each of the first longitudinal arm, the first lateral arm, and the second lateral arm enables the first wheel to independently displace about a vertical axis.

Outdoor power equipment suspension system

An outdoor power equipment device, such as a lawn mower, includes a main chassis having first and second pivot joints, a first rocker arm having a caster wheel on a first end portion and a drive wheel on a second end portion, and a second rocker arm having a caster wheel on a first end portion and a drive wheel on a second end portion, wherein the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are independently pivotally coupled to the respective first and second pivot joints of the main chassis at a location between the caster wheels and the drive wheels.

Lawn mower with pivotal rocker arm assembly

A battery pack includes a housing defining an upper portion and a lower portion, a first protector portion coupled to a first corner of the housing, a second protector portion coupled to a second corner of the housing, a plurality of battery cells disposed within the housing, and a mating feature including a plurality of ports electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells and structured to supply power from the plurality of battery cells through the ports.

Modular battery assembly for battery powered equipment

A battery assembly includes a housing having a handle, rechargeable battery cells disposed within the housing, and a mating feature configured to selectively connect the battery assembly with a receptacle of at least one of a power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature includes a connector having at least two electrical ports electrically connected to the battery cells, and a data port configured to provide data communication between the battery assembly and at least one of a power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature also protrudes away from a side portion of the housing.

An outdoor power equipment unit includes independent suspension system having a frame, a first wheel assembly, a second wheel assembly, a first laterally-extending suspension arm pair, and a second laterally-extending suspension arm pair. The first wheel assembly includes a first wheel and a first side suspension arm. The first side suspension arm is pivotably coupled at a first end to a first side structural member and is fixedly coupled at a second opposite end to a joint of the first wheel assembly. The second wheel assembly is arranged similarly to the first wheel assembly. Both the first laterally-extending suspension arm pair and the second laterally-extending suspension arm pair are configured to independently pivot about the frame to be vertically displaceable relative to the frame.

A lawn mower includes a chassis, a cutting deck, a chore motor, and a blade. The chassis supports several wheels. The cutting deck is supported by the chassis and defines a cutting chamber. The chore motor is electrically coupled to the battery. The chore motor includes a housing containing a coil assembly, a rotor, and a drive shaft extending out of the housing. The chore motor is attached to the cutting deck so that at least a portion of the housing and the drive shaft are positioned within the cutting chamber. The blade is coupled to the drive shaft and is configured to rotate within the cutting chamber when the chore motor rotates the rotor and drive shaft.

Electric motor for outdoor power equipment

A ride-on vehicle, such as a zero turn radius lawnmower, includes a main chassis having first and second pivot joints, a first rocker arm having a caster wheel on a first end portion and a drive wheel on a second end portion, and a second rocker arm having a caster wheel on a first end portion and a drive wheel on a second end portion, wherein the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are independently pivotally coupled to the respective first and second pivot joints of the main chassis at a location between the caster wheels and the drive wheels. The ride-on vehicle may also include a modular mower deck assembly with a plurality of mower deck modules having a blade assembly, an electric blade motor configured to provide rotation to the blade assembly, and an attachment assembly configured to enable attachment between adjacent mower deck modules.

Modular mower deck for use with a lawnmower

A battery assembly including a battery pack having a battery pack housing, an upper modular housing portion coupled to the battery pack housing positioned at a first end of the battery pack housing, a lower modular housing portion coupled to the battery pack housing positioned at a second end of the battery pack housing, and a handle formed as part of the upper modular housing portion. The battery assembly further includes multiple battery cells disposed within the battery pack housing, a mating feature including multiple ports electrically connected to the multiple battery cells and structured to supply power from the multiple battery cells through the ports and is structured to selectively connect the battery assembly with a receptacle of at least one of a piece of power equipment and a charging station. The mating feature is located on the first modular housing portion.

An outdoor power equipment unit includes a front wheel independent suspension system. The front wheel independent suspension system includes a frame, a first front wheel assembly, a second front wheel assembly, a first laterally-extending suspension arm pair, and a second laterally-extending suspension arm pair. The first laterally-extending suspension arm pair includes a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, both coupled to the frame and the first front wheel assembly. The second laterally-extending suspension arm pair includes a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, both coupled to the frame and the second front wheel assembly. Both the first suspension arm pair and the second suspension arm pair are configured to independently pivot about the frame such that each of the first front wheel assembly and the second front wheel assembly are vertically displaceable relative to the frame.

An outdoor power equipment unit having a frame including at least one laterally-extending structural member and at least a pair of opposite, longitudinally-extending side structural members, a first front wheel assembly, and a second front wheel assembly. The unit also includes a first pair of substantially parallel, laterally-extending suspension arms pivotally coupled to the first front wheel assembly to form a first 4-bar linkage arrangement, and a second pair of substantially parallel, laterally-extending suspension arms pivotally coupled to the second front wheel assembly to form a second 4-bar linkage arrangement. The unit further includes at least one longitudinally-extending first side suspension arm coupled to the first front wheel assembly and to a first one of the longitudinally-extending side structural members, and at least one longitudinally-extending second side suspension arm coupled to the second front wheel assembly and to a second one of the longitudinally-extending side structural members.

A system and method for independent suspension for a mower, including a frame having a front structural member and respective side structural members, a first front wheel assembly, and a second front wheel assembly. The system also includes a first suspension arm pair having a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, each pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another end to the first wheel front assembly such that the second suspension arm is vertically offset from the first suspension arm. The system also includes a second suspension arm pair having a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, each pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another end to the second front wheel assembly such that the fourth suspension arm is vertically offset from the third suspension arm.

Mower suspension system and method

Outdoor equipment, such as a lawn mower, includes a frame, a riding area, front wheels, and a wheel assembly. One wheel assembly includes an outer plate, a rotating bracket pivotally connected to the outer plate, a primary wheel supported by the rotating bracket, and a secondary wheel supported by the rotating bracket. The rotating bracket is rotatable about a pivot axis, the primary wheel is axially offset from the pivot axis, and the secondary wheel is axially offset from the primary wheel and from the pivot axis. In use, the rotating bracket consistently provides two points of contact (one by the primary wheel and another through the secondary wheel) by rotating automatically about the pivot axis due to gravity and forces transferred through the wheels. This enhanced distribution of forces may provide a more comfortable, cushioned riding experience.

Wheel assemblies and outdoor power equipment having same

A snow thrower including an auger, a chute, a prime mover, and first and second drive wheels powered by the prime mover configured to be driven at variable speeds. The snow thrower further includes a user interface including a left hand grip and a right hand grip configured to pivot within an angular range of motion relative to an axis of rotation to indicate a direction and a magnitude of a desired turn, a steering sensor, and an electronic control unit configured to control operation of the first and second drive wheels. The user interface is pivoted in a first direction about the axis of rotation, the first and second bumpers are configured to contact the first and second force sensors to apply forces to the first and second force sensors to send first and second signals indicative of the forces to the electronic control unit.

Growing community of inventors

West Allis, WI, United States of America

Christopher Krajewski