Patents Issued the Week of April 15-19

4.19.24

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. 11,960,953 entitled “Method to Manufacture an Electronic Device for a Rubber Article” issued April 16, 2024 to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA of Zaventem, Belgium. Invented by Francesco Iozia of Roma, Italy and Stefano Salieri also of Roma, Italy. Abstract: A method to manufacture an electronic device (1) to be applied to rubber article. The device comprises (i) an electronic element (5, 6, 7), (ii) a covering element made of one or more layers (3) of thermoplastic material and arranged to cover said electronic element (5, 6, 7), and (iii) at least a rubber layer (4) arranged to cover at least part of an outer surface (3a) of the covering element. The method comprises a preliminary step comprising (a) a deposition operation, during which an adhesive solution consisting of a basic water solution comprising a latex of an elastomer rubber and a combination of resorcinol and formaldehyde is applied on at least part of one outer surface (3a) of said covering element; and (b) a heating operation, during which the part of the outer surface of the covering element on which the adhesive solution was applied is kept at a temperature ranging from 120 to 230? C. for an amount of time ranging from 2 to 15 min.

U.S. Patent No. 11,958,668 entitled “Insulated Cooler” issued April 16, 2024 to Tractor Supply Co., of Texas, L.P of Brentwood, Tennessee. Invented by Christian D. Fogg of Columbia, Tennessee; Spencer Carpenter of Lewisburg, Tennessee and Wei Hui of Shanghai, China. Abstract: An insulated cooler having an insulated bottom, an insulated peripheral wall, and an insulated lid is disclosed. The peripheral wall may extend up from the bottom to define an interior space of the cooler. The lid, pivotally attached to the peripheral wall, may be pivotable to a closed position engaging the peripheral wall to close the interior space. A vent passage may extend through the peripheral wall or the lid, communicating the interior space with an exterior of the cooler to prevent formation of a vacuum in the cooler. A retaining frame may be attached to the peripheral wall or the lid at a location on the peripheral wall or the lid corresponding to a location of the vent passage. An air-impermeable, water-impermeable material layer may block the vent passage. The material layer may be positioned between the retaining frame and the interior space of the cooler.