Patents Issued the Week of November 17-21

11.21.25

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. 12,473,698 entitled “Roll Control During Slip Form Paving” issued November 18, 2025 to Wirtgen GmbH of Windhagen, Germany. Invented by Michael Engels of Montabaur, German, Gunnar Ramseger of Borod, Germany and Christoph Weigel of Sankt Augustin, Germany. Abstract: A slip form paving machine includes a machine frame, a plurality of ground engaging wheels or tracks, and front and rear height adjustable lifting columns supporting the machine frame from the ground engaging wheels or tracks, the lifting columns being adjustable to adjust a longitudinal inclination of the machine frame in a paving direction. A slip form mold is supported from the machine frame for molding a mass of concrete into a formed not yet hardened concrete slab as the paving machine moves forward in the paving direction. An oscillating beam is supported from the machine frame behind the slip form mold for engaging and oscillating transversely to the paving direction upon an upper surface of the formed not yet hardened concrete slab to smooth the upper surface. A roll size sensor is configured to detect a size of a roll of not yet hardened concrete created in front of the oscillating beam.