Patents Issued the Week of April 1-5

4.8.24

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. 11,944,981 entitled “Crusher” issued April 2, 2024 to Kleemann GmbH of Goppingen, Germany. Invented by Reiner Köpf of Gingen an der Fils, Germany and Steffen Häberle of Herbrechtingen, Germany. Abstract: The invention relates to a crusher (10), in particular a rock crusher, having a crusher unit (40), to which a band conveyor unit (60) having an endlessly circulating band conveyor is indirectly or directly assigned, wherein a magnetic separator (70) having a magnet (79) is held in the area of the band conveyor unit (60) above the band conveyor in the direction opposite from the direction of gravity, and wherein an adjustment unit (80) is provided, which can be used to change the height of the magnet (79) above the band conveyor. To enable the reliable operation of such a crusher, it is provided according to the invention that the magnetic separator (70) is suspended from at least two limp ties (81, 82, 84, 85), and that the limp ties (81, 82, 84, 85) can be adjusted by means of at least one actuator unit (90) to change the height of the magnet (79).