# US 12,015,255 B2 · Grounding rod > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,255 B2 - Document ID: US12015255B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/731,925 - Filed: 2022-04-28 - Published: 2022-11-03 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-28 - Applicants: David Donald Behrendt - Inventors: David Donald Behrendt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015255B2 ## CPC - H02G 13/40: {Connection to earth} - B62D 49/00: Tractors (of walk type B62D51/04; endless- track features B62D55/00 {; transport specially adapted for underground galleries E21F13/02}) - H02G 13/80: {Discharge by conduction or dissipation, e.g. rods, arresters, spark gaps} - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A grounding rod having an elongated metal rod, an adjustment member, and a bracket. The bracket is attached to a metal portion of a piece of machinery. The adjustment member is mechanical, electric, or hydraulic and raises and lowers the elongated rod from a transport position where the elongated rod does not engage the ground, to a lowered position where the elongated rod is pushed into the ground. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A grounding rod system, comprising: an elongated metal rod; an adjustment member connected to the elongated metal rod; a bracket connected to the adjustment member; the bracket connected to a metal portion of a machinery; wherein the elongated metal rod is positioned to be selectively pushed into a ground surface and raised out of the ground surface; and the machinery having an ignition switch that raises and lowers the elongated metal rod out of the ground surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The grounding rod system of claim 1 wherein the machinery is selected from a group consisting of a farm equipment and a construction equipment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The grounding rod system of claim 1 wherein the elongated metal rod is made of a material selected from a group consisting of copper, aluminum, and a chrome finish. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The grounding rod system of claim 1 wherein the adjustment member is of a type selected from a group consisting of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The grounding rod system of claim 1 wherein when the ignition switch is transitioned to an off position, the adjustment member automatically lowers the elongated metal rod into the ground surface; and wherein when the ignition switch is transitioned to an on position, the adjustment member automatically raises the elongated metal rod out of the ground surface. ### Claim 6 A grounding rod system, comprising: a machinery having a metal portion; a bracket connected to the metal portion of the machinery; an adjustment member connected to the bracket and an elongated metal rod, wherein the adjustment member is configured to selectively transition between a raised position where the elongated metal rod does not engage a ground surface and a lowered position where the elongated metal rod is inserted into the ground surface by force applied by the adjustment member; and the machinery having an ignition switch that raises and lowers the elongated metal rod. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The grounding rod system of claim 6 wherein when the ignition switch is transitioned to an off position, the adjustment member automatically lowers the elongated metal rod to the lowered position; and wherein when the ignition switch is transitioned to an on position, the adjustment member automatically raises the elongated metal rod to the raised position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The grounding rod system of claim 6 wherein the machinery is selected from a group consisting of a farm equipment and a construction equipment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The grounding rod system of claim 6 wherein the elongated metal rod is made of a material selected from a group consisting of copper, aluminum, and a chrome finish. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The grounding rod system of claim 1 wherein the adjustment member is of a type of operation selected from a group consisting of manual, mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic. ### Claim 11 A grounding rod system, comprising: a machinery having a metal portion; a bracket connected to the metal portion of the machinery; and an adjustment member connected to the bracket and an elongated metal rod; and the machinery having an ignition switch; wherein when the ignition switch is transitioned to an off position, the adjustment member automatically lowers the elongated metal rod into a ground surface in a direction away from the bracket; wherein when the ignition switch is transitioned to an on position, the adjustment member automatically raises the elongated metal rod out of the ground surface in a direction towards the bracket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The grounding rod system of claim 11 wherein the metal portion is positioned on a ladder of the machinery. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The grounding rod system of claim 12 wherein the elongated metal rod is made of a material selected from a group consisting of copper, aluminum, and a chrome finish. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The grounding rod system of claim 13 wherein the adjustment member is of a type of operation selected from a group consisting of manual, mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The grounding rod system of claim 14 wherein the machinery is selected from a group consisting of a farm equipment and a construction equipment. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The grounding rod system of claim 1 wherein the metal portion is positioned on a ladder of the machinery. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) The grounding rod system of claim 6 wherein the metal portion is positioned on a ladder of the machinery.