Thomas Kenneth Bricko, Age 7414854 Cannon City Blvd, Waterford, MN 55057

6415532, Jul 9, 2002

Jul 31, 2000

09/628372

Thomas K. Bricko - Lakeville MN
David A. Murray - Eagan MN

The Toro Company - Minneapolis MN

E02F 920

37361, 37352

A sprocket is disclosed for driving a chain with a plurality of chain rollers. The sprocket may be used to drive a material removal chain of a trencher. The sprocket has various cut-aways or reliefs on each face thereof to more effectively clear particulate debris from beneath chain rollers during cutting or digging operations. The sprocket also has asymmetrical teeth designed to help minimize changes in pitch diameter due to debris entrained beneath chain rollers. Reducing changes in pitch diameter greatly reduces premature wear of the sprocket and its chain. Reducing changes in pitch diameter also greatly reduces the tendency for the chain to bind.

6485036, Nov 26, 2002

May 18, 2001

09/861997

Thomas K. Bricko - Lakeville MN

The Toro Company - Minneapolis MN

B62D 6300

280 327, 280 63, 172677, 56 159

A sulky for a self propelled, outdoor power equipment unit, such as a wide area mower or WAM, comprises independent left and right foot platforms to support a standing operator. A ground engaging caster wheel is carried on each foot platform to allow the foot platforms to roll over the ground during operation of the mower. The foot platforms are mounted to the mower by an axle with each foot platform being pivotally carried on the axle using a separate pivot hub. Thus, the foot platforms can pitch up and down separately from one another during operation of the mower over uneven terrain. Latches are provided for selectively holding the foot platforms in raised transport positions.

8112976, Feb 14, 2012

Oct 26, 2006

11/588114

Jeffrey B. Kallevig - Eden Prairie MN, US
Thomas K. Bricko - Lakeville MN, US

The Toro Company - Bloomington MN

A01D 34/00

56 174, 56 1, 56 167, 56DIG 20

A rotary cutting deck has a roller striper along a rear side thereof. The roller striper comprises a pivotal frame that rotatably journals a roller made from a plastic roller body. Torsion springs surround the pivots for the frame. The springs put enough downforce on the plastic roller body to lay the cut grass over in a rearward direction as the cutting deck moves forwardly over the ground. The roller striper can be selectively moved into and out of engagement with the ground by a pivotal handle that can be manipulated by an operator from a seat of the lawn mower on which the cutting deck is installed.

8262104, Sep 11, 2012

May 14, 2009

12/466109

Jeffrey B. Kallevig - Eden Prairie MN, US
Thomas K. Bricko - Lakeville MN, US

The Toro Company - Bloomington MN

B62D 63/00

280 327, 172433, 172434

An outdoor power equipment unit, such as a mower, includes a foot platform for supporting a standing operator who operates the unit while standing atop the foot platform. The foot platform can be pivoted upwardly from a substantially horizontal orientation into a substantially vertical, folded up orientation against the rear of the traction vehicle. A thigh pad engages against the thighs of the operator and is pivotally linked to the foot platform to pivot on the traction vehicle with the pivotal motion of the foot platform. When the foot platform is horizontal, the thigh pad is pivoted to be angled downwardly and rearwardly relative to the rear of the traction vehicle. When the foot platform is folded up, the thigh pad is pivoted inwardly relative to the rear of the traction vehicle to be sandwiched between the rear of the traction vehicle and the folded up foot platform.

4327539, May 4, 1982

Dec 16, 1980

6/216885

Thomas K. Bricko - Apple Valley MN
Jeffrey B. Kallevig - Eden Prairie MN

The Toro Company - Minneapolis MN

A01D 7520

56113

Control system (2) for an outdoor power equipment unit includes a pivotal control member (10) having a pivotal traction drive link (20) for actuating a traction drive of the unit and a pivotal clutch link (22) for actuating an active element of the unit. A latch (40) rotatively couples the clutch link (22) to control member (10) only when control member (10) has first been moved from a neutral position to a cocked position. Rotation of control member (10) from the cocked position towards the fully engaged position then rotates the clutch link (22) to actuate the clutch. The traction drive link (20) can be operated either alone or in combination with the clutch link (22). Any rotation of control member (10) from its neutral position towards its fully engaged position will rotatively couple the traction drive link (20) thereto to actuate the traction drive.

5177942, Jan 12, 1993

Aug 15, 1991

7/745317

Joseph P. Hager - Burnsville MN
Thomas K. Bricko - Lakeville MN

The Toro Company - Minneapolis MN

A01D 3500

56 116

An improved mower cutting deck (30) includes a main deck section (38), pivotal wing deck sections (40), and belt drive system (80) with electric clutch/brake units (131, 132) connected therebetween which allow constant belt tension to be maintained while minimizing belt wear and related maintenance. If desired, breakaway assemblies (150) may also be connected between the deck sections (38, 40). Shroud and baffle arrangements (162) are also provided for better grass dispersion.

5177888, Jan 12, 1993

May 14, 1991

7/699876

Richard A. Thorud - Bloomington MN
Thomas K. Bricko - Lakeville MN
John R. Hacker - Burnsville MN
David E. Larsen - Minnetonka MN
Dean R. Toensing - Minnetonka MN
Donald M. White - Chanhassen MN

The Toro Company - Minneapolis MN

E01H 508

37260

A discharge chute assembly (30) includes a chute (32) and a pivotal deflector (34), the overlapping end portions of which define a partial spherical or ball joint (40) which maintains a tight seal against backflow and leakage over the entire range of rotation and deflection of the assembly. The assembly (30) is preferably secured to a rotatable base (54) by means of lower pivots (70) and a releasable fastener (72) for collapsibility.

5623817, Apr 29, 1997

Jan 20, 1995

8/376333

Thomas K. Bricko - Lakeville MN
Joseph P. Hager - Burnsville MN
Daniel G. Stiller - Savage MN

The Toro Company - Bloomington MN

A01D 3462

56 7

A steering operating unit joint (22) for connecting an operating unit (20) to a lift arm (18) of a turf maintenance machine (10). Operating unit (20) can be a reel-type turf cutting unit. Cutting unit joint (22) preferably includes a pivot knuckle (50) having a snout (66), suitably secured to the free end of lift arm (18); and a snout receiver (94) suitably secured to cutting unit (20). A pair of resilient elements (100) is interposed between snout (66) and snout receiver (94). Elements (100) act between snout (66) and snout receiver (94) to resist "yawing" of cutting unit (20), whereby cutting unit (20) can be automatically straightened once it is raised to its transport position. During transport, cutting unit (20) is maintained in a straight and level orientation so that the turf is not gouged when the cutting unit (20) is lowered to its operating position "on the fly. ".