Patents Issued the Week of February 12-16

2.19.24

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. 11,898,597 entitled “Flap Bearing having an Adjustment Aid” issued February 13, 2024 to Samet Kalip Ve Maden Esya San. Ve Tic. A.S. of Istanbul, Turkey. Invented by Artur Hirtsiefer of Neunkirchen-Seelscheid, Germany. Abstract: The invention relates to a flap bearing having a pivot bearing for coupling a control arm of a prestressed lifting device in an articulated manner to a flap, folding flap, door, or the like of an item of furniture, an installation support of the flap bearing being fastened to the flap, folding flap, door, or the like, and a bearing part of the flap bearing supporting the pivot bearing and being supported on the installation support for displacing or pivoting along a displacement path. According to the invention, a positioning element is displaceably or pivotably supported on the installation support, and the positioning element is disposed in a displacement range of the bearing part along the displacement path. The invention further relates to a lifting device having such a flap bearing and a method for adjusting such a flap bearing. The flap bearing can be simply and quickly adjusted to the correct position thereof so that the flap, folding flap, door, or the like closes completely.

U.S. Patent No. 11,897,217 entitled “Method to Manufacture an Electronic Device for a Rubber Article” issued February 13, 2024 to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA of Zaventem, Belgium. Invented by Maria Cristina Caccami, Francesco Iozia, Raffaele Di Ronza, Roberto Lombardi, Maria Cecilia Palumbi and Giacomo Andreini all of Roma, Italy. Abstract: A method to manufacture an electronic device to be applied to rubber article. The device comprises an electronic element, two layers of thermoplastic material which are arranged in a sandwich-like manner so as to contain, between one another, the electronic element, and at least an outer rubber layer arranged to cover an outer surface of at least one of the respective thermoplastic layers. The method comprises a preliminary step comprising (a) a deposition operation, during which an adhesive solution consisting of a basic water solution comprising a latex of an elastomer rubber and a combination of resorcinol and formaldehyde is applied on at least one outer surface of one of the layers of thermoplastic material; and (b) a heating operation, during which the layers of thermoplastic material on which the adhesive solution was applied are kept at a temperature ranging from 120 to 230° C. for an amount of time ranging from 2 to 15 min.

U.S. Patent No. 11,897,569 entitled “Saddle-Riding Vehicle Provided with a Frame having Reduced Stiffness Against Yaw Movements” issued February 13, 2024 to Piaggio & C. S.P.A. of Pontedera, Italy. Invented by Piero Soatti, Damiano Bellan and Massimiliano Piccioli all of Pontedera, Italy. Abstract: The present invention relates to a saddle-riding vehicle, preferably an endurance-type vehicle. The vehicle comprises a steering tube to which a steering assembly that controls a front wheel is rotatingly connected. The vehicle comprises a frame comprising a central part (12) to which is hinged a first end (8A) of a fork (8) which also comprises a second end (8B) rotatingly connected to a rear wheel (4). This frame also comprises a front part (15) extending between the steering tube (11) and said central part (12), wherein this front part (15) comprises a first frame side (15A) and a second frame side (15B) separated in the direction of the width of the vehicle and made of a first metallic material. The vehicle according to the invention is characterised in that it comprises at least a pair of connecting plates (16A-16B) wherein a first plate (16A) connects said engine assembly (2) to said first frame side (15A) and a second plate (16B) that connects said engine assembly (2) to said second frame side (15B). These plates (16A-16B) are made of a second metallic material having a modulus of elasticity lower than that of said first material constituting said frame sides (15A,15B) of said front part (15) of the frame (10).

U.S. Patent No. 11,896,982 entitled “Material Processing Equipment” issued February 13, 2024 to Kleemann GmbH of Goppingen, Germany. Invented by Monika Wagner of Rechberghause, Germany; Christian Knoblich of Stuttgart, Germany and Benjamin Kazmaier of Owen, Germany. Abstract: A material processing device includes a conveyor belt for transporting material from or to a material processing unit. The conveyor belt is swivel connected to a machine body by an articulated link, wherein the conveyor belt can be moved from a folded-down working position into a folded-up transport position by an actuating unit and the articulated link. The articulated link is part of an actuating mechanism which guides a proximal free end of the of the conveyor belt during the swiveling motion from the folded-down working position to the folded-up transport position in such a way that the proximal end of the conveyor belt is swiveled and raised against the direction of gravity.