Patents Issued the Week of October 19-23

10.26.26

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. 12,767,294 entitled “Accumulator Module and Swimming and Diving Aid Having Such an Accumulator Module” issued October 20, 2026 to Cayago Tec GmbH of Bad Salzuflen, Germany. Invented by Marc Stumpe and Hans-Peter Walpurgis, also both of Bad Salzuflen, Germany. Abstract: The invention relates to an accumulator module (26) comprising a moisture-proof housing (28), in which a plurality of accumulator cells (31) is disposed, the contacts of which are electrically interconnected and which are routed to external contacts (30) of the accumulator module (26) disposed at the outer face of the housing (28). To be able to detect a short circuit between the external contacts (30) of the accumulator module (26) in the simplest and most efficient manner possible, it is proposed that a protection device (35) is disposed inside the housing (28), which protection device comprises a detection device (36), which is designed to detect a short circuit between the external contacts (30). Furthermore, the invention relates to a swimming and diving aid (10) comprising such an accumulator module (26).

U.S. Patent No. 12,766,887 entitled “TBR Pneumatic Tire” issued October 20, 2026 to Bridgestone Europe NV/SA [BE/BE] of Zaventem, Belgium. Invented by Gianluca Forte, Luca Spiri, Valeria Riccio and Brenda Cecilia Barrios Perez all of Roma, Italy. Abstract: A TBR pneumatic tyre comprising a carcass, a tread and at least one “high elongation belt” formed from a single cord with a laying angle ε of between 0.03° and 0.1° and comprising an axial extension CW wherein the ratio thereof to the axial extension of said tread (TW/CW) is between 1.1 and 1.4. The tread is made of a rubber compound comprising a cross-linkable unsaturated chain polymeric base comprising at least 50% by weight of natural rubber (NR), a mixture of fillers comprising (a) a carbon black having a surface area of between 99 and 170 m2/g and with a structure of greater than 120 cc/100 g, (b) a first silica having a surface area of less than 100 m2/g, and (c) a second silica having a surface area of more than 190 m2/g.

U.S. Patent No. 12,765,449 entitled “Controlling a Crop Care Implement Based on a Plurality of Sentinel Plant Characteristics” issued October 20, 2026 to Deere & Company of Moline, Illinois. Invented by Noel W. Anderson of Fargo, North Dakota and Gurmukh H. Advani of West Fargo, North Dakota. Abstract: A work vehicle includes an implement coupled to the work vehicle. A global positioning system is communicatively coupled to the work vehicle and is configured for generating a location signal indicative of a location of the work vehicle. At least one sensor is communicatively coupled to the work vehicle and configured for generating first and second sentinel plant characteristic signals indicative of first and second sentinel plant characteristics. A control system is communicatively coupled to the work vehicle and configured to receive the location signal, the first and second sentinel plant characteristic signals, determine an implement action based on a function including the first and second sentinel plant characteristics as variables, and control the implement to execute the implement action in the field.

U.S. Patent No. 12,770,105 entitled “Method and Device for Determining an Area Cut with a Cutting Roll by at Least One Construction Machine or Mining Machine” issued October 20, 2026 to Wirtgen GmbH of Windhagen, Germany. Invented by Sven Paulsen of Brohl-Lützing, Germany, Stefan Wagner of Bad Honnef, Germany and Cyrus Barimani of Königswinter, Germany. Abstract: In a method for determining an area milled by at least one construction machine or at least one mining machine by means of a milling drum (2) by means of working a predetermined area in several milling trajectories by at least one machine (1), determining the length of the milling trajectories along which a milling operation has taken place by evaluating the continuous machine positions, adding up the previously milled partial areas taking into account the length of the milling trajectory and the installed width of the milling drum (2), wherein the partial area currently milled along the milling trajectory is checked, either continuously or subsequently, for overlapping or multiple overlapping with any previously milled partial areas, and any partial areas which overlap are deducted, as overlapping areas, from the added-up previously milled partial areas, the total added-up partial areas milled minus the total overlapping areas established give the milled area.

U.S. Patent No. 12,768,115 entitled “System Comprising Construction Machine, Transport Vehicle with Loading Space and Image-Recording Device, and Method for Displaying an Image Stream During the Loading or Unloading of a Transport Vehicle” issued October 20, 2026 to Wirtgen GmbH of Windhagen, Germany. Invented by Helmut Borkowski of Langerwehe, Germany. Abstract: In a system comprising construction machine, transport vehicle with loading space and image-recording device, wherein the image-recording device is arranged at the construction machine and aligned, as a minimum, also towards the loading space of the transport vehicle, it is specified for the following features to be achieved: that a reception and display device is arranged at or in the transport vehicle, wherein the data recorded by the image-recording device are transmitted to the reception and display device via a transmission device arranged at the construction machine.

U.S. Patent No. 12,768,145 entitled “System and Method for Automating Travel Ready and Work Ready Sequences for a Work Machine” issued October 20, 2026 to Deere & Company of Moline, Illinois. Invented by Laxmikant Wani, Suraj D. Jadhav and Sourabhsingh Yuvarajsingh Rajput all of Pune, India. Abstract: A system and method for automating the transition of a work machine between a travel mode and a work mode are disclosed. The system includes a work implement controllably movable relative to a frame, stabilizers, and a plurality of perception sensors capturing data from ground surfaces and movement trajectories. A controller processes sensor data to determine surface evenness and obstacle states, selectively enabling or preventing transitions based on predefined safety thresholds. In transitioning to work mode, the system assesses terrain stability and stabilizes the machine accordingly. In transitioning to travel mode, the system detects obstacles and generates safe movement trajectories to secure the work implement and stabilizers. The system further provides alerts and may override operator commands if safety conditions are not met. The invention enhances operational efficiency, reduces operator workload, and improves safety by minimizing errors in machine stabilization and movement.

U.S. Patent No. D1,154,100 entitled “Smart Wallet” issued October 20, 2026 to Mia Kaminski of Frankin, Tennessee. Invented by Scott Kaminski also of Franklin, Tennessee. Claims: The ornamental design for a smart wallet as shown and described.