Patents Issued the Week of December 1-5

12.8.25

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. 12,485,556 entitled “Flexible Sheet End Effector for Robot” issued December 2, 2025 to MSS, Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee. Invented by Arthur G. Doak, also of Nashville, Tennessee, Caleb H. Blackwell of Goodlettsville, Tennessee and Gregory J. Thibado of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Abstract: A robotic end effector apparatus and method of replacing a first flexible gripper sheet of a robotic end effector apparatus for grasping an article using a suction effect is disclosed herein. The robotic end effector may include a suction tube having an open lower end, a mounting flange fixed to the suction tube adjacent the open lower end, a clamping ring slidable received around the suction tube above the mounting flange, a biasing spring biasing the clamping ring downward toward the mounting flange, and a flexible sheet having a center opening smaller than the mounting flange in a relaxed state of the flexible sheet, the flexible sheet being stretchable so that the flexible sheet can be pulled upward over the mounting flange. The flexible sheet may be clamped between the clamping ring and the mounting flange with the flexible sheet extending radially outward beyond the mounting flange.

U.S. Patent No. 12,486,766 entitled “Milling Machine and Method for Operating a Milling Machine” issued December 2, 2025 to Wirtgen GmbH of Windhagen, Germany. Invented by Christian Berning of Zuplich, Germany, Thomas Lehnert of Oberraden, Germany, Philip Verhaelen of Koln, Germany. Abstract: The invention relates to a milling machine having a replaceable milling drum, different types of milling drums being capable of being associated with the milling machine; and having a control unit for controlling the milling machine, machine parameters of the milling machine being settable by way of the control unit. Provision is made that the milling machine has associated with it at least one means that is designed to detect at least one characteristic feature of the milling drum; that the at least one means is connected to the control unit; and that the control unit is designed to specify for at least one machine parameter, indirectly or directly from the characteristic feature, a value to be set, and/or a setting range. The invention further relates to a corresponding milling drum and to a corresponding method. The milling machine, milling drum, and method allow the selection of machine parameters for operation of the milling machine to be simplified.

U.S. Patent No. 12,486,908 entitled “Cryogenic Ball Valve” issued December 2, 2025 to Buti Research S.r.L. of Cenate Sotto, Italy, Stefano Lecchi of Bolgare, Italy, and Pierangelo Scaglia of Voghera, Italy. Abstract: A cryogenic ball valve is provided, particularly for cold box applications, which allows high flow rates with low pressure drops, which is easily serviceable even in a condition installed in a line, and in which heat transfer between valve parts at different temperatures under operating conditions is as low as possible.

U.S. Patent No. 12,485,452 entitled “Screening Machine having a Screen Tray” issued December 2, 2025 to Kleemann GmbH of Göppingen, Germany. Invented by Florian Nägele of Hüttisheim, Germany and Emil Scheurer of Wangen, Germany. Abstract: A screening machine (10) has a screen tray (60), in which at least one screen lining (20) is disposed between two side walls (61) wherein a screen tensioner (40) is assigned to the screen lining (20), which screen tensioner (40) extends, with its longitudinal ends, through a respective feedthrough (62) of the side wall (61). At least one of the feedthroughs (62 is covered, at least in part, on its outer face facing away from the screen lining (20) by a removable cover (70), wherein the cover (70) is supported on the outer face of the side wall (61) by a sealing surface (72) of a sealing element (74), the sealing surface (72) facing the side wall (61), such that dust is prevented from escaping and the operating safety and occupational safety is improved.