Patents Issued the Week of May 19-23

5.27.25

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. 12,304,597 entitled “Watercraft” issued May 20, 2025 to CAYAGO TEC GmbH of Bad Salzuflen, Germany. Invented by Hans-Peter Walpurgis also of Bad Salzuflen, Germany. Abstract: A watercraft has a hull which, in the area of the deck, has a support on which parts of the upper body of a user can rest and where the user can hold on to handles. A flow channel is defined on the hull and a propelling screw is disposed in the flow channel. The flow channel has an intake port and, downstream of the propelling screw, a jet outlet in the stern area. A support body is disposed on the stern area in such a way that the support body extends the support by means of its support surface. In such a watercraft, a considerable increase in traveling speed can be achieved if provision is made for at least one sliding surface to be provided on the underside of the support body and for the support body to be rigidly connected to the hull.

U.S. Patent No. 12,303,909 entitled “Quality Monitoring and Controls for a Comminution System Using Imaging of Material in a Discharge Stage” issued May 20, 2025 to Deere & Company of Moline, Iowa. Invented by Francois Stander of Dubuque, Iowa and Jeremy B. Shuler of Polk City, Iowa. Abstract: A method is provided for dynamically monitoring material quality in a comminution system comprising a material crushing stage and a discharge stage. An imaging device captures images of comminuted material in the discharge stage, and characteristic features are extracted from the captured image for analysis with respect to at least one boundary condition. Output signals are accordingly generated corresponding to a determined comminution state of the comminuted material in the discharge stage. In one example, a crushing gap in the crushing stage is adjusted if the comminution state indicates material (or an amount of material) above a threshold size in the discharge stage. In another example, pre-screen settings in a pre-screen stage of the comminution system are adjusted if the comminution state indicates material (or an amount of material) below a threshold size in the discharge stage. Other comminution states and responses may, e.g., correspond to non-compliant material shapes, etc.

U.S. Patent No. 12,307,474 entitled “Programmatic Merchandising System and Method for Increasing in-store Transaction Conversions Via Heuristic Advertising” issued May 20, 2025 to NewsBreak Media Networks, Inc. Knoxville, Tennessee. Invented by Robert Bradley and Brian C. Nelson also of Knoxville, Tennessee. Abstract: An automated advertising scheduling and distribution process reacts to the effectiveness of sales data. A hosted platform creates location-specific playlists based on key consumer variables that impact buying behavior, and dynamically performs data analytics. Utilizing a programmatic system and machine learning algorithmic methodology, the platform gathers data from the retailer’s data warehouse and automatically pulls location-by-location sales data while simultaneously collecting playback data. If sales are not being affected on the particular item that is being promoted, then the platform may be configured to replace that message with a promotional message for another product with a higher likelihood of engagement and conversion. This virtual feedback loop ensures that the platform is optimizing the most effective series of promotional messages for any given location. The content management administrator accordingly delivers relevant advertising/messages to various display screens integrated into fuel pumps, through the store, and to retailer loyalty program applications.