Patents Issued the Week of August 26-30

8.28.24

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. 12,073,815 entitled “Switch Lock Apparatus and Method Thereof” issued August 27, 2024 to Switchlock, LLC of Hendersonville, Tennessee. Invented by Joshua John Misko of Decantur, Georgia and Adam Samuel Mendel of Bend, Oregon. Abstract: A switch lock apparatus for a guitar having a pickup selector switch is disclosed herein for locking a position of the pickup selector switch. The switch lock apparatus may include a body plate, a mounting hole, a switch opening defined in the body plate which is configured to receive the pickup selector switch. The switch lock apparatus may also include at least one first side receptacle positioned along the first switch opening side and at least one second side receptable positioned along the second switch opening side. The at least one second side receptacle may be offset from the at least one first side receptacle along the switch opening length to define a central passageway that enables free movement of the pickup selector switch. The switch lock apparatus may define a locked position when the pickup selector switch is received by one of the first or second side receptacles.

U.S. Patent No. 12,071,746 entitled “System and Method for Assisted Positioning of Transport Vehicles Relative to a Work Machine During Material Loading” issued August 27, 2024 to Deere & Company of Moline, Iowa. Invented by Jonathan Spendlove of Bettendorf, Iowa; Alex J. Anhalt of Davenport, Iowa; Giovanni A. Wuisan of Epworth, Iowa; Zimin W. Vilar of Dubuque, Iowa; Sean A. Mairet of Dubuque, and Andrew W. Kahler of Davenport, Iowa. Abstract: A system and method are provided for assisted positioning of a loading container of a transport vehicle with respect to a work machine during material loading operations. A target loading position is determined for at least the loading container relative to at least an undercarriage of the work machine. The target loading position may be based on user input, and/or automatically determined based on a selected swing angle or range for an implement (e.g., boom assembly), a distance from the work machine, etc. Output signals are generated corresponding to the target loading position, and optionally to a determined route of travel corresponding to a current position of the transport vehicle and the target loading position for at least the loading container.

U.S. Patent No. 12,071,733 entitled “Milling Attachment with Adjustable Cover” issued August 27, 2024 to Wirtgen GmbH of Windhagen, Germany. Invented by Marcel Joisten of Neuwied, Germany and Stefan Abresch of Dierdorf, Germany. Abstract: A milling attachment for a work machine includes a frame including first and second frame side walls and a frame top. The frame top includes a movable front cover portion. A first adjustable side plate has a first ground engaging portion for engaging the ground surface. A first actuator is operably associated with the first adjustable side plate for raising and lowering the first adjustable side plate relative to the first frame side wall. A first actuator extension connects the first actuator to the movable front cover portion, the first actuator extension being configured such that the movable front cover portion is moved relative to the frame when the first adjustable side plate is raised or lowered relative to the frame.