Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Adaptive Agricultural Header: Precision Crop Harvesting Tech

Publication ID: 24-11856884_0004_PTD
Published: October 26, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Adaptive Agricultural Header: Precision Crop Harvesting Tech,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11856884_0004_PTD, Published October 26, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11856884_0004_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,856,884.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent (Agricultural header with swath gate for spreading and converging crop material) provides a general-purpose solution for agricultural harvesting. However, it does not address the unique challenges and requirements of specialized markets and operational environments. This invention solves the problem of adapting the agricultural header for these niche applications, ensuring efficient and effective crop harvesting in diverse scenarios.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The novelty of this invention lies in the adaptation of the original agricultural header to address specific, high-value use cases. The inventive step is the integration of specialized features and components into the header design to enable efficient and effective crop harvesting in diverse scenarios.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments of this invention could include variations in the swath gate design, such as using different materials or mechanisms to achieve the desired functionality. Additionally, the invention could be implemented with different types of agricultural vehicles or crop harvesting systems.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

This invention has significant commercial potential in various industries, including agriculture, disaster relief, and environmental conservation. The adaptive agricultural headers can be marketed to farmers, agricultural companies, and government agencies operating in diverse environments and scenarios.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A01 A01D34/667
A A01 A01D41/1243
A A01 A01D43/10

Field of Art

Agricultural machinery design, specifically agricultural header systems for crop harvesting, involving mechanical systems for cutting, conveying, and managing crop material flow

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A mechanical engineer with expertise in agricultural equipment design, familiar with harvesting technologies, mechanical adaptations, and crop handling systems, typically holding a bachelor's or master's degree in mechanical engineering with 3-5 years of industry experience

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the published technical disclosure represents predictable variations on the source patent's core agricultural header design by applying known engineering techniques to address specific use case requirements. The fundamental mechanical structure remains consistent, with modifications representing standard design adaptations for specialized environments or operational contexts. These variations demonstrate routine problem-solving within the agricultural machinery design domain.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Header frame with cutter and roll system for crop material handling
PTD Variation
Adding sensor system to detect crop quality and adjust harvesting parameters
Obviousness Reasoning
Integrating sensor technologies for precision agriculture is a known technique, representing a predictable application of electronic monitoring to existing mechanical systems
Source Patent Element
Swath gate mechanism for directing crop material flow
PTD Variation
Implementing locking mechanism for high-security agricultural operations
Obviousness Reasoning
Adding security features to existing mechanical components represents a standard design modification addressing specific operational requirements
Source Patent Element
Agricultural header frame designed for standard crop cutting
PTD Variation
Adapting header for extreme weather conditions with waterproof coating and reinforced structure
Obviousness Reasoning
Environmental adaptation through material selection and structural reinforcement is a routine engineering approach for extending equipment functionality
Source Patent Element
Crop material conveying system with rolls and swath gate
PTD Variation
Implementing wireless communication for remote storage container integration
Obviousness Reasoning
Incorporating wireless communication technologies represents a predictable evolution of agricultural machinery design, solving logistical challenges through standard electronic integration
Source Patent Element
Header system for cutting and conveying crop material
PTD Variation
Modifying header for disaster relief scenarios with specialized storage container routing
Obviousness Reasoning
Repurposing existing mechanical systems for alternative use cases is a standard engineering approach representing obvious design adaptation
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11856884, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the variations disclosed herein to be obvious extensions of the prior art, representing routine engineering adaptations that do not rise to the level of non-obvious innovation. The disclosed modifications represent predictable applications of known mechanical and electronic techniques to the fundamental agricultural header design, thereby rendering potential claims covering such variations unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. Section 103.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,856,884
TitleAgricultural header with swath gate for spreading and converging crop material
Assignee(s)CNH Industrial America LLC