US 12,553,715 B2Granted

Mobile turf instrument apparatus

AssigneeThe Toro Company

InventorsTroy D. Carson, Chris A. Wadzinski, Jackie R. Gust

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A probe assembly for measuring a synthetic turf infill profile having a probe, a turf surface contact assembly and a sensor. The probe is configured to extend down through the turf infill profile until a tip of the probe contacts a lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The surface contact assembly is vertically movable relative to the probe while the probe is being moved downwardly into the turf infill profile, wherein the surface contact assembly has a contact area with the turf surface that is large enough to retain the surface contact assembly resting atop an upper boundary of the turf infill profile when the lowermost tip of the at least one probe has contacted the lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The sensor reads the distance between the upper and lower boundaries of the turf infill profile at a sampled location in the turf surface.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A mobile turf instrument apparatus for measuring a turf profile, which comprises:

(a) a frame supported for movement over a surface;
(b) a measurement apparatus carried on the frame for measuring a vertical distance between an upper profile position and a lower profile position, wherein the measurement apparatus comprises:
a first portion configured to coincide with the lower profile position,
a second portion configured to coincide with the upper profile position, and
a sensor configured to measure the vertical distance between the first portion of the measurement apparatus and the second portion of the measurement apparatus;
(c) a computer having a central processing unit, a memory coupled to the central processing unit, and an electronic interface coupled between the measurement apparatus and the memory for transferring the measured vertical distance;
(d) a variable rate particulate application device, wherein the application device outputs a particulate application rate;
and
(e) a control system for varying the particulate application rate.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/514,747Filed 20 Nov 2023 · continuation
Priority: 12 Jan 2017
Published: US 2024/0151523 A19 May 2024
Granted: 17 Feb 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

E01C 19/15
For distributing granular or liquid materials: for laying-down uncoated stone or similar materials, or for striking-off or spreading same without…
G01B 21/20
Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not…:…
A01B 39/12
Machines specially adapted for working soil on which crops are growing: for special purposes , e.g. for special culture
E01C 23/07
Devices or arrangements for working the finished surface ; Devices for repairing or reconditioning the surface of damaged paving; Recycling in…:…

Family

Application62/445,577Us provisional application · filed 12 Jan 2017
PCT/US2018/013478Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Jan 2018
Application17/728,686Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Apr 2022
US 11,320,261 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 3 May 2022
US 2024/0151523 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 May 2024
US 11,821,726 B2Parent of this continuation
Application16/474,295Parent of this continuation
US 2019/0346261 A1Published application
US 2022/0357154 A1Published application
US 12,553,715 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.