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11.19.21

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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. 11,174,111 entitled “Apparatus and System for Transferring Materials and Corresponding Method of Use Thereof” issued November 16, 2021 to JM Technologies, LLC of Gallatin, Tennessee. Invented by Michael Walker of Gallatin, Tennessee and James Elkholm of Alvarado, Minnesota. Abstract: A vacuum nozzle includes a main body (12) and at least one auxiliary body (22). The main body has a first open end (16) and a second open end (18). The first open end is couplable to a vacuum hose (2) and the second open end is configured for receiving materials to be transferred. The auxiliary body (130) has a first auxiliary opening (136) and a second auxiliary opening (138). The first auxiliary opening is positioned closer to the first open end of the main body than the second open end of the main body. The second auxiliary opening covers a portion of the second open end of the main body. The auxiliary body provides a dedicated auxiliary passageway for providing a consistent flow of air to the second open end of the main body when the vacuum nozzle is in use.