Patents Issued the Week of March 24-28

3.28.25

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. 12,257,860 entitled “Tread for a Winter Pneumatic Tire and a Winter Pneumatic Tire” issued March 25, 2025 to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA of Zaventem, Belgium Invented by Alessandro Amenta, Emanuela Paciulli, Luca Manfre’ and Pierfrancesco Triboulet all of Roma, Italy. Abstract: Tread (1) for a pneumatic tyre, comprising a sequence of tread elements (5) forming an overall “V” shape with two lateral wings (7, 7′), each of said wings being formed from three tread blocks (11, 21, 31) separated therebetween by first and second grooves (15, 16); said three tread blocks (11,21,31) comprise at least one shoulder block (11) provided with at least a first sipe (111) having a “zig-zag” shape; each shoulder block (11) further comprises a channel (112) with a longitudinally evolution which extends on the shoulder block (11), until it reaches and emerges upon the corresponding second groove (15); the channel (112) with a longitudinal evolution comprises an end portion (300, 301) that opens onto said second groove (15), said end portion (300) having a variable depth, said terminal portion having at least one inclined portion (300) wherein the depth gradually decreases from the outside towards the inside of the pneumatic tyre, as the interface with this second groove (15) approaches.

U.S. Patent No. 12,257,138 entitled “Multifunctional Textured Device” issued March 25, 2025 to BVW Holding AG of Cham, China. Invented by Lukas Bluecher of Eurasberg, Germany and Michael Milbocker of Holliston, Massachusetts. Abstract: A device comprising a microstructured surface wherein in one aspect, the microstructured surface is arranged hierarchically with dual-functioning textured features. The surface may achieve adhesive properties by varying the parameters of the microstructure features. Additionally, the surface may achieve cellular and/or tissues in-growth functionality by varying the same parameters. Generally, the dual-functional aspect includes at least one surface feature having a varied periodicity which may be imposed on at least one other surface feature.