Patents Issued the Week of December 23-27

12.27.24

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. 12,171,154 entitled “Work Vehicle Guidance and/or Automation of Turns with Respect to a Defined Work Area” issued December 24, 2024 to Deere & Company of Moline, Illinois. Invented by Michael Torzewski of Waukee, Iowa; Ryan C. Burnley of Ankeny, Iowa and Simon Schaefer also of Ankeny, Iowa. Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for guidance and/or automation of work vehicles operating within defined work areas. Initially, a first (e.g., figure eight) turn type is selected at least to transition between first and second parallel paths across the work area for reciprocal traverse thereof, further for optimizing a footprint with respect to at least an alternative second (e.g., U-turn) turn type. Responsive to said selection, a first turn plan is generated along with associated output signals for the first turn type relative to contours of the defined work area. Sequence points for the turn may be generated based on determined work coverage. If the work vehicle is determined unable to complete the generated first turn plan for the first turn type, based on detected work vehicle conditions relative to contours of the work area, a second turn plan is instead automatically generated and performed for the second turn type.

U.S. Patent No. 12,175,954 entitled “Multi-Guitar Stand” issued December 24, 2024 to Kalen Thompson of Hendersonville, North Carolina. Also invented by Kalen Thompson. Abstract: An article of manufacture for providing an improved multi-guitar stand according to the present invention in which the multi-guitar stand includes a body, a guitar neck support coupled to the top surface of the body, a set of feet coupled to the bottom surface of the body to raise the body above a floor, a first and second guitar base rests coupled to each of the pair of side surface of the body, a first and second pair of guitar base supports coupled to each of the pair of side surface of the body about the bottom surface and below the first and second guitar base rests, each of the guitar base supports extend outward, a storage cavity within the body, a first opening to the storage cavity within the front surface of the body, a second opening to the storage cavity within the front surface of the body, and a set of electronic controls coupled to the front surface of the body above the smaller detachable cover over the first opening. The body has a top surface, a bottom surface, a pair of side surfaces, a front surface and a back surface. The guitar neck support comprises a pair of U-shaped supports extending outward from the guitar neck support towards one of the two side surfaces of the body. The first opening being covered by a smaller detachable cover. The first opening being covered by a larger detachable cover. The set of electronic controls being electrically coupled to electronic circuitry within the storage cavity.