Patents Issued the Week of May 18-22

5.21.26

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. 12,630,164 entitled “Method and System for Detecting and Locating Obstacles/Elements on Road Pavement that are Dangerous or Potentially Dangerous to Tire and/or Vehicle Integrity” issued May 19, 2026 to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA [BE/BE] of Zaventem, Belgium. Invented by  Lorenzo Alleva, Valerio Bortolotto, Roberto Benedetti, and Marco Pascucci all of Roma, Italy. Abstract: A method is provided for detecting and locating obstacles/elements on road pavement, including: acquiring driven wheel speed values, and georeferencing data indicative of corresponding motor vehicle positions; detecting obstacles/elements present on the road based on the wheel speed values by identifying entry time instants at which the wheel meets the obstacles/elements, and exit time instants at which the wheel has gone beyond said obstacles/elements, and by computing normalized peak-to-peak values related to the obstacles/elements based on maximum and minimum wheel speed values related to impact-related time instants comprised between the entry and exit time instants, and an average value of the wheel speed values related to first impact-free time instants immediately before the entry time instants; determining a severity degree for each respective obstacle/element based on the normalized peak-to-peak value; determining and storing a position of the obstacle/element based on the georeferencing data, along with the severity degree associated therewith.

U.S. Patent No. 12,631,002 entitled “Uninterrupted Automatic Position Control of Work Implements During Override of Target Settings” issued May 19, 2026 to Deere & Company of Moline, Illinois. Invented by Todd F. Velde of Dubuque, Iowa. Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatically controlling operating characteristics for a work vehicle such as a dozer having a controllable blade. User-selectable transitions between manual and automatic control modes are enabled, with control based on a settable target value for an operating characteristic, e.g., blade elevation. During the manual control mode, a magnitude of manual adjustment via a user interface tool corresponds to a velocity of adjustment from a previous setting to a new setting for the target value. During the automatic control mode, a magnitude of manual adjustment via the user interface tool corresponds to an amount of adjustment from the previous setting to the new setting. Also during the automatic control mode, control signals associated with the operating characteristic are continuously generated based on at least the first target value and uninterrupted by any manual adjustments via the user interface tool to the first target value.

U.S. Patent No. 12,630,984 entitled “Self-Propelled Ground-Processing Machine and Method for Controlling a Self-Propelled Ground-

Processing Machine, as well as Method for Processing the Ground with One or More Self-Propelled Ground-Processing Machines” issued May 19, 2026 to Wirtgen GmbH of Windhagen, Germany. Invented by Matthias Fritz of Hennef, Germany. Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled ground-processing machine—in particular, road-milling machine—which has a machine frame 3 supported by running gears; and a ground-processing device—in particular, milling drum 10—arranged on the machine frame 3; and lifting devices 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A assigned to the running gears 4, 5, 6, 7. The ground-processing machine is characterized by a transverse inclination model determination device 17 which provides, in a preceding working process, the information, required for performing a working process following the preceding working process, with respect to the transverse inclination α to be set of the machine frame 3 or the milling drum 10, so that the subsequent processing process can be performed even if a suitable reference surface for determining distance values for a milling-depth control is not present on one side of the processed route portion. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling a ground-processing machine and to a method for processing the ground with one or more self-propelled ground-processing machines.

U.S. Patent No. 12,629,758 entitled “Quick Attach Saw Tooth” issued May 19, 2026 to Deere & Company of Moline, Illinois. Invented by Adam Harwood, Justin Benson and Zachary Toman all of Dubuque, Iowa, Clint Auderer of Holy Cross, Iowa and Tyler Kelsch of Sherrill, Iowa. Abstract: A cutting assembly includes a receiver, a mounting shaft, a tooth and a biasing spring. The components are configured such that the tooth may be removed and replaced by manual operation without the use of any tools. The mounting shaft carries a key that is received in a J-slot formed in the tooth. In an installed position the biasing spring holds the key in a blind passage of the J-slot to hold the tooth in place on the receiver. Manual manipulation of the mounting shaft allows the tooth to be released and removed.