Patents Issued the Week of July 6-10

7.8.26

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. 12,674,042 entitled “Rubber Compounds for use in Producing Vehicle Tires” issued July 7, 2026 to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA of Zaventem, Belgium. Invented by Rafaelle Di Ronza of Roma, Italy, Yoshihiro Morishita of Tokyo, Japan, Anke Blume, Rafal Anyszka and Maria del Pilar Bernal-Ortega all of Enschede, Netherlands. Abstract: The invention provides diene rubber-silica compounds comprising a diene rubber matrix having dispersed therein a silica filler, wherein said silica filler is surface-modified by attachment of a π system-containing moiety which forms a π-π interaction with the diene rubber matrix. In particular, it provides such compounds in which the diene rubber is styrene-butadiene rubber. Such compounds can be vulcanized and are suitable for producing vehicle tire components, such as tire treads.

U.S. Patent No. 12,673,329 entitled “Crusher Unit and Method for Adjusting the Crushing Gap of a Crusher Unit” issued July 7, 2026 to Kleemann GmbH of Göppingen, Germany. Invented by Felix Löhr of Welzheim, Germany, Christian Schlecht of Aalen, Germany and Christian Weller of Esslingen, Germany. Abstract: The invention relates to a crusher unit (10), in particular an impact crusher, having an impact rotor (11), having at least one swivel-mounted impact rocker (20), wherein a crushing gap (15) is formed between the impact rotor (11) and the impact rocker (20), wherein the impact rocker (20) can be swiveled along an adjustment path by means of at least one gap-adjusting means (30) to set a gap width of the crushing gap (15), wherein the impact rocker (20) is mounted such that its weight force acts in the direction of a reduction of the crushing gap (15). For a high degree of operational safety, the crushing gap can be readjusted during operation in that at least one retaining device (50) is provided, which uses a retaining force to flexibly counteract a swiveling of the impact rocker (20) in the direction of the impact rotor (11). The invention also relates to a method for setting the crushing gap (15) of a crusher unit (10).

U.S. Patent No. D1,132,648 entitled “Stacked Shelf” issued July 7, 2026 to Nashville Wire Products Manufacturing Company, LLC of Nashville, Tennessee. Invented by John Nicholas Phy of Pegram, Tennessee, Jammie Todd Allbert of White Bluff, Tennessee, Dorcas Jane Engelman of Primm Springs, Tennessee, Phillip Kent Rollins of Nashville, Tennessee and William Jacob Johnson of Springhill, Tennessee. Claims: The ornamental design for a stacked shelf as shown and described.