Patents Issued the Week of September 23-27

10.1.24

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. 12,096,814 entitled “Protective Helmet with Airbag” issued September 24, 2024 to Locatelli S.p.A. of Almenno San Bartolomeo, Italy. Invented by Roberta Descrovi of London, United Kingdom. Abstract: A protective helmet (1) comprises a cap (10) adapted to be fitted on and around the head of a user, wherein the cap (10) comprises an external shell (101) and at least one housing seat (102) for an airbag (2). At the at least one housing seat (102), the external shell (101) comprises at least a movable portion (103; 103a, 103b, 103c), which is permanently connected to a remaining fixed portion of the external shell (101) and is movable between a closed position, in which it covers the at least one housing seat (102) and an airbag (2) housed therein in a deflated condition, and an open position, in which it releases at least partially the at least one housing seat (102) allowing the airbag (2) to expand outside the cap (10) in an inflated condition.