Patents Issued the Week of December 4-8

12.8.23

Patent Protection & Registration

Patents grant property rights on new and useful inventions, allowing the patent holder to prevent others from using, making, or selling that invention without permission for a limited time. U.S. patents are permitted by the U.S. Constitution and are designed to promote scientific progress and invention. By allowing inventors to profit from licensing or selling their patent rights, inventors can recoup their research and development costs and benefit financially from their inventing efforts. There are three main types of patents utility, plant, and design. Utility and plant patents can last up to 20 years, while design patents can last up to 15 years. When a patent expires, the patented material enters the public domain, making it free to use by anyone without a license. U.S. patents are issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
​
U.S. Patent No. 11,832,692 entitled “Slack Reducing Device for Modeling a Watch” issued December 5, 2023 to William P. Ortale IV of Nashville, Tennessee. Also invented by William P. Ortale IV. Abstract: An apparatus for positioning between a wristwatch and a user’s wrist is provided to aid in modeling wristwatches. The apparatus includes a spacer and a connection means (e.g., a band, a magnet, or the like). The spacer is configured to be positioned between a lower watchband portion of the wristwatch and a lower wrist portion of the user’s wrist. The spacer may be resilient and may include an arcuate outer support surface configured to rest against an inner surface of a watchband of the wristwatch. The spacer is held in said position using the connection means. The band is implemented to create a passageway for receiving the user’s wrist for holding the apparatus securely around the user’s wrist. The apparatus may further include a cover configured to cover at least the spacer for hygienic, aesthetic, and non-slip purposes.