Patents Issued the Week of July 3-7

7.11.23

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. 11,696,212 entitled “Beacon and Method for Setting up and for Maintaining a Network” issued July 4, 2023 to M-Way Solutions GmbH of Stuttgart, Germany. Invented by Marius Heil, also of Stuttgart, Germany. Abstract: The invention relates to a method for establishing and maintaining a network having two or more subscribers, based on radio connections between the subscribers in accordance with a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard, each subscriber being uniquely characterized by way of a subscriber identifier (node ID). Provision is made in that context that clusters having one subscriber, or several subscribers connected by means of BLE network connections, are formed; that a unique cluster identifier (cluster ID) is allocated to each cluster; that a first subscriber of a first cluster selects a second subscriber, located within range of a BLE connection, from a second cluster that is smaller or of the same size, and causes it to be detached from the second cluster and integrated into the first cluster by way of a BLE network connection to the first subscriber. The invention further relates to a beacon for carrying out the method.

U.S. Patent No. D991,128 entitled “Trolling Motor Propeller” issued July 4, 2023 to Adam James of Burns, Tennessee. Also invented by Adam James. Claim: What is claimed is the ornamental design for a trolling motor propeller, as shown and described.