The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 1990
Filed:
Apr. 15, 1988
Richard A Thorud, Bloomington, MN (US);
Henry B Tillotson, Minneapolis, MN (US);
The Toro Company, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A snowthrower (10) having an improved impeller (20). Impeller (20) preferably includes a central rotating shaft (34) which fixedly supports at either end thereof an end member (46) and rotatably supports proximate its center a center bracket (48) wherein elements (46) and (48) support one or more one-piece flexible curved paddles (36). In operation, when rotating impeller (20) encounters a foreign object (70), shaft (34) and end members (46) continue to turn while center bracket (48) rotates to some degree on shaft (34) to allow the center sections (38) of paddles (36) to twist and flex relative to shaft (34) and end members (46), thereby permitting center sections (38) of paddles (36) to easily ride up and over obstruction (70). This minimizes the shock associated with impact of the rotating impeller (20) with obstruction (70), and prevents stalling of the prime mover (18) of snowthrower (10).