Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Advanced Agricultural Header: Adaptive Crop Management Tech

Publication ID: 24-11856884_0009_PTD
Published: October 26, 2025
Category:Specialized Variations & Niche Solutions

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Advanced Agricultural Header: Adaptive Crop Management Tech,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11856884_0009_PTD, Published October 26, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11856884_0009_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 provided a general solution for agricultural headers with swath gates for spreading and converging crop material. However, this invention addresses the limitations of the original patent by providing specialized variations for specific, high-value markets or challenging operational environments. These environments require unique features, such as secure locking mechanisms, weather-resistant coatings, compact folding mechanisms, and specialized containers for minimizing environmental impact.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The new claims provide novel and non-obvious solutions by adapting the agricultural header for specific, niche environments. The inventive step lies in the unique features and combinations of components that address the specific challenges of each target environment.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments could include variations in the design of the swath gate, such as adjustable locking mechanisms, modular weather-resistant coatings, or customizable compact folding mechanisms. Additionally, the invention could be implemented with different types of cutters, rolls, or header frames to further adapt to specific environments.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The invention has significant commercial potential in various industries, including agriculture, disaster relief, and environmental conservation. The specialized headers could be marketed to farmers, agricultural companies, and governments operating in high-security areas, disaster relief scenarios, extreme weather conditions, limited access areas, and sensitive ecosystems.

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 and processing, involving mechanical engineering, agricultural engineering, and harvesting equipment design

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

A mechanical engineer with expertise in agricultural equipment design, familiar with crop harvesting technologies, understanding of modular design principles, and knowledge of agricultural vehicle component integration

Obviousness Rationale

A person having ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the published technical disclosure represents predictable variations of the source patent's core agricultural header design by applying known adaptation strategies to specific environmental contexts. The fundamental mechanical structure remains consistent, with modifications representing routine design adaptations addressing specific operational constraints. These variations demonstrate standard engineering problem-solving approaches within agricultural machinery design.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Swath gate coupled to header frame for managing crop material flow
PTD Variation
Adding secure locking mechanism to prevent unauthorized access in high-security areas
Obviousness Reasoning
Implementing access control mechanisms is a predictable design modification for protecting agricultural equipment and harvested materials, representing a known technique for securing valuable resources
Source Patent Element
Header frame with cutter and roll configuration for crop processing
PTD Variation
Incorporating weather-resistant coating to protect harvested crop material
Obviousness Reasoning
Applying protective coatings to agricultural equipment is a standard engineering practice for extending component durability and protecting materials from environmental conditions
Source Patent Element
Agricultural header with standard frame and material conveyance system
PTD Variation
Implementing compact folding mechanism for transportation through narrow passages
Obviousness Reasoning
Modular design and transportability are well-known considerations in agricultural machinery, with folding mechanisms representing a finite set of predictable engineering solutions for improving equipment mobility
Source Patent Element
Crop material conveyance system with rolls and swath gate
PTD Variation
Directing crop material into specialized environmental impact minimization containers
Obviousness Reasoning
Adapting material handling systems for specific environmental requirements represents a routine engineering design choice with predictable implementation strategies
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11856884, the present published technical disclosure demonstrates that the claimed variations represent obvious extensions of existing agricultural header technology through routine engineering modifications. A person having ordinary skill in the art would find the disclosed adaptations to represent predictable design variations achievable through standard problem-solving approaches in agricultural machinery design, thereby rendering potential derivative claims obvious and non-patentable.

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