# US 10,945,374 B2 · Combine head skid plate with optimized shape > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,945,374 B2 - Document ID: US10945374B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/160,982 - Filed: 2018-10-15 - Published: 2020-04-16 - Granted: 2021-03-16 - Earliest claimed: 2018-10-15 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Applicants: Deere & Company - Inventors: Shreyas Modak; Mark Schuler; Adam L. Heeren; Sai K. Nandigam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10945374B2 ## CPC - A01D 41/141: {Automatic header control} - A01D 67/00: Undercarriages or frames specially adapted for harvesters or mowers (coupling arrangements between animal or tractor and harvester or mower A01B59/00); Mechanisms for adjusting the frame (adjusting devices for the cutter-bar A01D34/28); Platforms - A01D 41/14: Mowing tables - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING ## Abstract A skid plate for use with a combine harvester head unit moving in a direction of travel. The skid plate includes a body, and a contact surface at least partially defined by the body, the contact surface including a leading edge facing the direction of travel and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, where the contact surface at least partially defines a groove, where the groove defines a groove width, and where the groove width varies as the groove extends away from the leading edge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A skid plate for use with a combine harvester head unit moving in a direction of travel, the skid plate comprising: a body; and a contact surface at least partially defined by the body, the contact surface including a leading edge facing the direction of travel and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, wherein the contact surface at least partially defines a groove, wherein the groove defines a groove width, and wherein the groove width varies as the groove extends away from the leading edge. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The skid plate of claim 1, wherein the groove width increases as the groove extends away from the leading edge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The skid plate of claim 1, wherein the groove includes a first end proximate the leading edge and a second end opposite the first end that is spaced between the leading edge and the trailing edge. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The skid plate of claim 2, wherein the contact surface defines a contact zone, and wherein the groove includes a first end proximate the leading edge and a second end opposite the first end that is positioned between the leading edge and the contact zone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The skid plate of claim 1, wherein the contact surface defines an axis oriented substantially parallel to the direction of travel, and wherein the groove extends parallel to the axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The skid plate of claim 1, wherein the groove includes a pair of sidewalls, and wherein the sidewalls are not parallel to one another over their entire length. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The skid plate of claim 1, wherein the groove includes a pair of sidewalls, and wherein the sidewalls are curvilinear extending away from the leading edge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The skid plate of claim 1, wherein the groove smoothly transitions between a base wall of the groove and one or more adjacent surface portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The skid plate of claim 1, wherein the grooves includes a pair of sidewalls, and wherein at least a portion of the pair of sidewalls is perpendicular to a base wall of the groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The skid plate of claim 1, wherein the contact surface is substantially convex. ### Claim 11 A skid plate for use with a combine harvester head unit, the skid plate comprising: a body; and a contact surface at least partially defined by the body, wherein the contact surface at least partially defines a groove, wherein the groove includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and wherein the first sidewall is not parallel to the second sidewall over the entire length of the first sidewall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The skid plate of claim 11, further comprising a second groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The skid plate of claim 12, wherein the second groove includes a third sidewall and a fourth sidewall, and wherein the third sidewall is not parallel to the fourth sidewall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The skid plate of claim 12, wherein the second groove defines a groove width, and wherein the groove width increases as the groove extends away from a leading edge of the contact surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The skid plate of claim 12, wherein the second groove includes a second end, and wherein the second end is positioned adjacent and open to a trailing edge of the contact surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The skid plate of claim 11, wherein the groove defines a groove width, and wherein the groove width increases as the groove extends away from a leading edge of the contact surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The skid plate of claim 11, wherein the contact surface is convex. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The skid plate of claim 11, wherein the contact surface includes a contact zone defining a contact plane, wherein the contact surface includes a tip portion extending between the contact zone and a leading edge, and wherein the tip portion is non-planar with the contact plane. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The skid plate of claim 18, wherein the contact surface includes a tail portion extending between the contact zone and a trailing edge, and wherein the tail portion is non-planar with the contact plane. ### Claim 20 A skid plate for use with a combine harvester head unit, the skid plate comprising: a body; a contact surface including a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge, wherein the contact surface includes: a first groove having a first end open to the leading edge and a second end opposite the first end, a second groove having a first end open to the leading edge and a second end opposite the first end, and a collection groove having a first end open to the second end of the first groove and the second end of the second groove, and wherein the first groove, the second groove, and the collection groove all have the same depth.