Recently Issued Patents

5.13.22

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 14 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. 11,325,132 entitled “Processing Plant” issued May 10, 2022 to Kleemann GmbH of Goppingen, Germany. Invented by Wolfgang Schmid of Rechberghausen, Germany; Christian Weller of Esslingen, Germany and Otto Blessing of Bartholoma, Germany. Abstract: The invention relates to a processing plant, in particular a rock crusher (10), having a filler unit (20,), which can be filled with a material to be crushed, wherein a screening unit (30) is arranged downstream of the filler unit (20) in the conveying direction or in the filler unit (20), which screening unit can be oscillated by means of a vibration exciter (38), wherein the screening unit (30) is used to feed a first part of the supplied material to a process unit, in particular a crusher unit (40) and another part of the supplied material is screened-out in the screening unit (30), wherein a flap (72) of a conveyor unit (70) adjustable about a swivel axis (74.1) is used in a bypass position to feed the screened-out part of the material either onto a conveyor device, in particular a crusher discharge conveyor (60), bypassing the process unit, in particular the crusher unit (40), or, in a conveying position, to discharge the screened-out part of the material from a working area of the processing plant by means of a conveyor device (50), wherein bearing segments (75.1) of a bearing (75) are coupled to opposite sides of the flap (72), which are rotatably installed on the conveyor unit (70). It is suggested that at least one detachable clamping segment (80.1, 80.2) is assigned to at least one of the bearing segments (75.1), which acts in a clamping manner on the assigned bearing segment (75.1) and secures the latter in a swivel position of the flap (72) relative to the conveyor unit (70), such that in the swivel position the flap (72) is secured against rotation relative to the conveyor unit (70).

U.S. Patent No. 11,325,745 entitled “Skid Apparatus, System and Method” issued May 10, 2022 to Innovative Steel Works & Fabrication, LLC of Rockvale, Tennessee. Invented by Greg Waltman of Rockvale, Tennessee and William B. McDowell of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided for a skid system including a skid apparatus. The skid apparatus may include a skid frame including at least one lateral member coupled to at least one side member at a coupling location, a skid plate coupleable to at least one of the at least one lateral member or to the at least one side member, at least one skid slot extending through the skid plate, and a pipe support configured to couple to the at least one skid slot.

U.S. Patent No. 11,326,667 entitled “Lockable Shackle Apparatus and Method of Use” Issued May 10, 2022 to Fusion Tools, Inc. of Gallatin, Tennessee. Invented by West Howard also of Gallatin, Tennessee. Abstract: A lockable shackle apparatus, and method of use, is provided herein. The lockable shackle apparatus may comprise a stopper body, a rope, and a flexible lock. First and second passageways extend through the stopper body transverse to a length of the stopper body. The rope is positioned through the first and second passageways with a majority of the rope extending from a first pair of adjacent ends of the first and second passageways. The flexible lock includes a main hole configured to receive the majority of the rope and be positioned adjacent to the stopper body. A distal portion of the majority of the rope is configured to be removably positioned over the stopper block. The flexible lock further includes first and second lock holes configured to be positioned over first and second ends of the stopper body for retaining the distal portion of the rope on the stopper body.

U.S. Patent No. 11,326,312 entitled “Dry-Bulk Tanker, Conveying System for a Dry-Bulk Tanker, Work Train and Method for Conveying Binding Agents for a Work Train” issued May 10, 2022 to Wirtgen GmbH of Windhagen, Germany. Invented by Frederic Hess of Montabaur, Germany; Christoph Menzenbach of Neustadt, Germany; Patrick Schiefer of Hennef, Germany. Abstract: A dry-bulk tanker for the provision of binding agent for soil stabilization for a spreading device, comprising a storage container (10) for binding agent. An intermediate chamber (20) is connected to the storage container and is also connected to a compression chamber (40). A conveying device (22) for conveying of binding agent into the compression chamber (40) is arranged in the intermediate chamber (20). A conveying channel (44) is connected to the compression chamber (40). The conveying channel (44) can be connected to a spreading device (58). Furthermore, a pneumatic line (46) for feeding of conveying compressed air is connected to the compression chamber (40) and/or the conveying channel (44).