Patents Issued the Week of January 26-30

1.28.26

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. 12,534,304 entitled “Processing Plant” issued January 27, 2026 to Kleemann GmbH of Göppingen, Germany. Invented by Monika Wagner of Rechberghausen, Germany and Benjamin Kazmaier of Owen, Germany. Abstract: A processing plant includes a screen unit for screening out processing material, which can be routed to the screen unit from a crusher unit. The screen unit includes at least one screen deck and a discharge area via which the processing material exits the screen unit. A transfer belt located in a working position is disposed in the discharge area to receive processing material from the screen unit. To simplify maintenance the transfer belt is movable in a direction from the working position to a maintenance position wherein the transfer belt is at least partially moved out of the discharge area. A lifting device supports the transfer belt in the maintenance position by a hoist.