Patents Issued the Week of September 22-26

9.30.25

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. 12,420,444 entitled “Track Saws with Self-Adjusting Rib-Guide Assemblies and Methods of Operating Self-Adjusting Rib-Guide Assemblies of Track Saws” issued September 23, 2025 to Festool GmbH of Wendlingen am Neckar, Germany. Invented by Tobias Hoefer of Urbach, Germany. Abstract: Track saws with self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies and methods of operating self-adjusting rib-guide assemblies of track saws are disclosed herein. The track saws include a motor, an arbor, and a base plate. The base plate defines an arbor-facing side and an arbor-opposed side. The base plate includes a rib-receiving channel and a self-adjusting rib-guide assembly. The self-adjusting rib-guide assembly at least partially defines the rib-receiving channel and is configured to automatically accommodate a range of raised rib transverse widths. The methods include positioning a raised elongate rib of the track within a rib-receiving channel of a base plate of the track saw. During the positioning, the methods also include establishing a contact force between the raised elongate rib and the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly. Responsive to the contact force, the methods further include moving at least a portion of the self-adjusting rib-guide assembly relative to a remainder of the track saw.

U.S. Patent No. 12,420,445 entitled “Circular Saws with Pivot Assemblies and Pivot Bias Mechanisms” issued September 23, 2025 to Festool GmbH of Wendlingen am Neckar, Germany. Invented by Wolfgang Spengler of Neidlingen, Germany and Martin Werbach of Stuttgart, Germany. Abstract: Circular saws are disclosed herein. The circular saws include a cutting assembly, a base plate, a pivot assembly, and a pivot bias mechanism. The cutting assembly includes a motor and an arbor. The base plate defines an assembly-facing side and an assembly-opposed side. The pivot assembly operatively attaches the cutting assembly to the base plate. The cutting assembly and the base plate are configured to operatively rotate, relative to one another and about a pivot axis of the pivot assembly, to selectively vary a region of the circular saw blade that extends on the assembly-opposed side of the base plate. The pivot bias mechanism is configured to apply a linear force between the cutting assembly and the base plate in a linear bias direction that urges the cutting assembly and the base plate in opposed directions along the pivot axis.

U.S. Patent No. 12,420,506 entitled “Method and Application Unit for Applying a Sound-Absorbing Material in an Inner Cavity of a Pneumatic Tire” issued September 23, 2025 to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA of Zaventem, Beligum. Invented by Alessio Ciarnella and Paolo Straffi of Rome, Italy. Abstract: Method and application unit (3) for applying a sound-absorbing material (2) to an inner cavity of a pneumatic tyre (1) using a strip (4) of sound-absorbing material (2) provided on one side with an adhesive layer (6) covered with a protective lining (7). The following steps are provided: attaching an initial part of the protective lining (7) to a recovery drum (26); partially winding the strip of sound-absorbing material onto the applicator roller (24); pressing, by means of the applicator roller (24), the strip (4) of sound-absorbing material (2) against the inner cavity of the pneumatic tyre (1) whilst the pneumatic tyre (1) is caused to rotate; and rotating the recovery drum (26) synchronously with the pneumatic tyre (1), such as to wind the protective lining (7) around the recovery drum (26), step-by-step, as the protective lining (7) is separated from the strip (4) of sound-absorbing material (2).

U.S. Patent No. 12,420,595 entitled “Tire with Improved Snow Performance” issued September 23, 2025 to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA of Zaventem, Beligum. Invented by Guiseppe Rodriquez and Davy Ruggiero both of Roma, Italy. Abstract: The present invention relates to a tire (1) having an external surface (10) with innovative profile at perimetral walls (2, 3, 4, 5) of the tread blocks (a, b), for improving snow performances. The perimetral walls present a 3-dimensional voids/protrusions (9, 8) pattern, configured to improve snow digging and snow trapping effects.

U.S. Patent No. 12,421,427 entitled “Patterned Surfaces with Suction” issued September 23, 2025 to BVW Holding AG of Cham, Switzerland. Invented by Lukas Bluecher of Eurasberg, Germany and Michael Milbocker of Holliston, Massachusetts. Abstract: A microstructured pressure-sensitive surface is described comprising a Wenzel-Cassie hydrophilic-hydrophobic zone structure and capillary action with improved peel strength. The capillary action is enhanced by the Wenzel-Cassie zone creation, and the barrier energy to disruption of the Wenzel-Cassie zone is increased by the capillary action. The micro-structured surfaces of the present invention create water zones of exclusion, where entropic effects reinforce Wenzel-Cassie zone stability, creating a suction effect that conforms the microstructure surface to a target surface.

U.S. Patent No. 12,420,286 entitled “Overload Protection Device for the Hydraulic System of a Mineral Material Machining Plant” issued September 23, 2025 to Kleemann GmbH of Göppingen, Germany. Invented by Steffen Häberle of Herbrechtingen and Gerd Meyer of Amstetten, Germany. Abstract: A mineral material machining plant includes a hydraulic element including a connection area and a passage opening. An overload protection device includes a replaceable burst panel covering the passage opening. The burst panel includes a rear face, at least one bore, and at least one recess having a lateral insertion section open towards one side of the burst panel. A burst panel holder engages the rear face. In an assembled condition at least one fastening bolt passes through a bolt mount of the burst panel holder, the bore of the burst panel, and is threaded into a threaded mount of the connection area. In a disassembled condition at least one retaining element connects the burst panel holder to the hydraulic element and can be inserted laterally into and removed from the recess transversely to a plate plane of the burst panel.

U.S. Patent No. 12,421,695 entitled “Scraper Control Method Having Variable Operating Modes Corresponding to Operator Experience Levels” issued September 23, 2025 to Deere & Company of Moline, Illinois. Invented by Jake J. Baker of Dubuque, Iowa. Abstract: A system and method including a scraper may include an operator training routine using in-cylinder position sensing to notify the operator via an operator interface (e.g., mounted onboard display, smartphone, etc.) when they are doing something potentially damaging to one or more scraper components or otherwise injecting inefficiency into work operations. Audible and/or visual notifications may for example be enabled for operators of/below a specified skill level, for specified movement speeds, etc. In an embodiment, to utilize advanced automation capabilities of in-cylinder position sensing, a calibration sub-process is executed to specify a location of the ground plane. The scraper ground plane calibration is requested through an operator interface and prompts lowering of the blade to the ground. Once the blade is detected on the ground plane, e.g., using measured movement characteristics of the blade to determine that the blade has stopped, the in-cylinder position sensor reading is recorded.

U.S. Patent No. D1,094493 entitled “Milling Tool” issued September 23, 2025 to Betek GmbH & Co. KG of Aichhalden, Germany. Invented by Sebastian Bugdoll of Lauterbach, Germany. Claims: The ornamental design for a milling tool as shown and described.