Patents Issued the Week of April 21-25

4.28.25

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. 12,279,664 entitled “Protective Helmet” issued April 22, 2025 to Locatelli S.p.A. of Almenno San Bartolomeo, Italy. Invented by Antonio Locatelli of Almenno San Salvatore, Italy. Abstract: A protective helmet as disclosed herein, particularly for sport activities and the like, comprises an outer protective cap, a first outer protective shell positioned inside and coupled to said outer protective cap, a second inner protective shell positioned inside and coupled to said first outer protective shell, and coupling means between said first outer protective shell and said second inner protective shell. The coupling means comprise first damping means and second mechanical retaining means spaced apart from each other and positioned in corresponding seats of said first outer shell and second inner shell.

U.S. Patent No. 12,279,944 entitled “Implantable Superhydrophobic Surfaces” issued April 22, 2025 to BVW Holding AG of Cham, China. Invented by Lukas Bluecher of Eurasurg, Germany and Michael Milbocker of Holliston, Massachusetts. Abstract: Bio-adhesive textured surfaces and methods of making the same are described which allow implants to be localized within a living body. Hierarchical levels of texture on an implantable medical device, some capable of establishing a Wenzel state and others a Cassie state, may be employed to interface with living structures to provide resistance to device migration. Since a gaseous state is traditionally required to establish a Cassie or Wenzel state, and gases do not remain long in living tissue, described herein are tissue/device interactions analogous to the above states with the component normally represented by a gas replaced by a bodily constituent, wherein separation of tissue constituents develops and an analogous Cassie, Wenzel, or Cassie-Wenzel state evolves. Further methods of making molds to produce said devices are described herein.