Patents Issued the Week of July 28-August 1

8.1.25

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. 12,370,837 entitled “Tire Tread with Improved Sipe on Three Levels and Tire” issued July 29, 2025 to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA [BE/BE] of Zaventem, Belgium. Invented by Guiseppe Rodriquez, Pasquale Agoretti, and Antonio Tirone all of Roma, Italy. Abstract: The present invention relates to a tread for tyres. Specifically, it refers to a tread that features a 3-level tread geometry that is optimised in such a way as to ensure long-term high performance on wet and/or snow-covered surfaces, whilst maintaining the handling characteristics and braking capacity on dry and/or smooth surfaces under new tyre conditions.

U.S. Patent No. 12,372,859 entitled “Illumination Apparatus and Method of Controlled Beam Divergence for Aerial Vehicles” issued July 29, 2025 to Opti-Logic Corporation of Tullahorma, Tennessee. Invented by Johnathan Murphy also of Tullahorma, Tennessee. Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprises a housing configured to be coupled to an aerial vehicle. Coupled to the housing are a light source and a lens system at least partially covering the light source and configured to adjust an angular divergence of light therefrom. At least one position sensor is positioned within the housing and generates signals corresponding to an altitude of the illumination apparatus, a distance between the illumination apparatus and a ground surface, and/or a multi-axis angular position of the illumination apparatus relative to the ground surface. A controller within the housing adjusts the angular divergence of the light from the light source using the lens system based at least in part on monitored data from the at least one position sensor and a selected spot size of the light on a target wherein an actual spot size on the target is approximately equal to the selected spot size.

U.S. Patent No. 12,372,448 entitled “Wear Prognosis Method and Maintenance Method” issued July 29, 2025 to Wirtgen GmbH of Windhagen, Germany. Invented by Sven Paulsen of Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Germany; Stefan Wagner of Bad Honnef and Cyrus Barimani of Konigswinter, Germany. Abstract: A wear prognosis method and a maintenance method for an earth working machine are disclosed, along with an apparatus for performing the method. Provision is made that the current wear state of one or more earth working tools is sensed. The residual wear capacity until the wear limit is reached is then ascertained from the current wear state.

U.S. Patent No. 12,372,331 entitled “Device for Achieving Frictionless Linear Movement in a Single Direction and Stiffness in all other Directions” issued July 29, 2025 to Inno Invent ApS of Vipperød, Denmark. Invented by Glenn Arthur Jørgensen also of Vipperød, Denmark. Abstract: A device for achieving linear movement in a single direction and stiffness in all other directions. As an example, a recoil causes strong forces in a linear movement, but any ridges will produce errors as two units each try to return to its original position. The device is a damper. The linear displacement by a recoil is mitigated using two set of blades, one absorbing the linear recoil, and a second for hindering the linear parallel deflection of the first set by the recoil or for increasing the stiffness provided by the first set of blades. The produced errors are much smaller or none as the recoil is mitigated using the very strong damper.