US3765157A — Hinged gathering sheet assembly for a corn header

Claim 1

Independent Claim 123 words

In a row crop harvesting header of the type having a plurality of row units, each row unit including means therein for harvesting crop material of each row; and means for laterally adjusting and consequently varying the width of at least one of said row units such that said header may harvest crops of different row spacing, the improvement comprising an expandable and contractable gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two adjacent row units at least one of which is laterally adjustable, said gathering sheet assembly comprising a series of panel members, and hinge connecting means interconnecting respective panel members such that said gathering sheet assembly may expand or contract in response to the lateral adjustment of said two row units.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 123 words

In a row crop harvesting header of the type having a plurality of row units, each row unit including means therein for harvesting crop material of each row; and means for laterally adjusting and consequently varying the width of at least one of said row units such that said header may harvest crops of different row spacing, the improvement comprising an expandable and contractable gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two adjacent row units at least one of which is laterally adjustable, said gathering sheet assembly comprising a series of panel members, and hinge connecting means interconnecting respective panel members such that said gathering sheet assembly may expand or contract in response to the lateral adjustment of said two row units.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 174 words

In a row crop harvesting header having a plurality of row units, each row unit having means associated therewith for cooperating with an adjacent row unit to harvest a row of crop material, and means for laterally adjusting, at least one row unit such that the row spacing between said adjustable row unit and an adjacent row unit may be varied for harvesting fields of crop material having different row spacing; the improvement comprising a self-adjusting gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two row units, at least one of which is adjustable, said gathering sheet assembly including a multiple panel assembly comprising: a pair of inner panel members; central hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting said inner panel members; a pair of outer panel members each disposed on a respective side of said inner panel members; and an outer hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting each outer panel member with a respective inner panel member, whereby said multiple panel assembly may readily expand and contract in response to the adjustment of the unit thereunder.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 174 words

In a row crop harvesting header having a plurality of row units, each row unit having means associated therewith for cooperating with an adjacent row unit to harvest a row of crop material, and means for laterally adjusting, at least one row unit such that the row spacing between said adjustable row unit and an adjacent row unit may be varied for harvesting fields of crop material having different row spacing; the improvement comprising a self-adjusting gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two row units, at least one of which is adjustable, said gathering sheet assembly including a multiple panel assembly comprising: a pair of inner panel members; central hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting said inner panel members; a pair of outer panel members each disposed on a respective side of said inner panel members; and an outer hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting each outer panel member with a respective inner panel member, whereby said multiple panel assembly may readily expand and contract in response to the adjustment of the unit thereunder.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

A row crop harvesting header, as recited in claim 3, wherein means are provided for fixing said outer panel members relative to the respective row unit, whereby said inner panel members move relative to said outer panel members in response to the lateral adjustment of the row unit.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

A row crop harvesting header, as recited in claim 2, wherein said gathering sheet assembly includes a plurality of similarly compRised multiple panel assemblies, said panel assemblies being fore-and-aft spaced and disposed in generally longitudinal alignment.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

A row crop harvesting header, as recited in claim 2, wherein said multiple panel assembly includes an adjustable inner linkage structure for supporting said panel assembly.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 138 words

In a corn header of the type having a plurality of row units, at least one row unit including snapping rolls, gathering chains, and means for laterally adjusting at least one of said row units in order to vary the row spacing between two respective row units the improvement comprising a laterally adjustable gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two respective row units at least one of which is laterally adjustable, said gathering assembly including a plurality for-and-aft spaced multiple panel assemblies, each panel assembly comprising: a pair of inner panel members; central hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting said inner panel members; a pair of outer panel members each disposed about a respective side of said inner panel members; an outer hinge connecting means pivotally connecting each other panel member with a respective inner panel member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 138 words

In a corn header of the type having a plurality of row units, at least one row unit including snapping rolls, gathering chains, and means for laterally adjusting at least one of said row units in order to vary the row spacing between two respective row units the improvement comprising a laterally adjustable gathering sheet assembly operatively associated and extending between two respective row units at least one of which is laterally adjustable, said gathering assembly including a plurality for-and-aft spaced multiple panel assemblies, each panel assembly comprising: a pair of inner panel members; central hinge connecting means pivotally interconnecting said inner panel members; a pair of outer panel members each disposed about a respective side of said inner panel members; an outer hinge connecting means pivotally connecting each other panel member with a respective inner panel member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

A corn header, as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of multiple panel assemblies include front, intermediate and rear multiple panel assemblies.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 40 words

A corn header, as recited in claim 7, wherein said outer hinge connecting means of said front multiple panel assembly are disposed in forward converging relationship such that the entire front multiple panel assembly becomes wider towards the rear thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 40 words

A corn header, as recited in claim 8, wherein said front multiple panel assembly is pivotally mounted about a transverse axis relative to said row unit, whereby said front multiple panel assembly may float over the ground terrain being traversed.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 37 words

A corn header, as recited in claim 7, wherein at least one of said multiple panel assemblies includes an adjustable inner support linkage for generally supporting that particular multiple panel assembly and providing for lateral adjustment thereof.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 54 words

A corn header, as recited in claim 10, wherein said inner support linkage comprises an adjustable triangular linkage network including a pair of generally vertical side links interconnected at an apex, and a telescopic adjustable base link interconnected between said side links and operative to expand or contract the multiple panel assembly associated therewith.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 57 words

A corn header, as recited in claim 7, wherein one of said multiple panel assemblies includes an inner support linkage comprised of a pair of reinforcing plates each disposed on respective sides of the particular panel assembly and including overlapping portions provided with a series of spaced apart apertures that are adapted to receive securing means therein.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 48 words

A corn header, as recited in claim 10, wherein said adjustable inner support linkage includes a telescopic link extending transversely between said multiple panel assembly and operative to be adjusted to assume various lengths in order that the multiple panel assembly associated therewith may be varied in width.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-10-15	1977-04-16	1977-10-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-10-15	1981-04-16	1981-10-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-10-15	1985-04-16	1985-10-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Hinged gathering sheet assembly for a corn header

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