Recently Issued Patents

6.17.22

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. 11,357,172 entitled “Silo Grain Level Sensor System” issued June 14, 2022 to Cell Sign Technologies of Manchester, Tennessee. Invented by Eric Casebolt of Manchester, Tennessee and Stephen M. Obsharksy of Jacksonville, Florida. Abstract: A system and method for remotely managing content levels in one or more defined areas includes a computer system communicatively connected to one or more resident sensor units and controllers linked to devices such as content loading drive mechanisms and/or supply reordering modules. When a sensor reports that a content level is or will be lower or higher than desired, the computer system generates an alert and forwards the alert across a wireless communications network to a user’s mobile device. The user may select a user command to send to the computer system, whereupon the computer system may selectively regulate the content levels in accordance with the response action or alternatively override the user command based upon one or more contextual determinations.

U.S. Patent No. 11,358,151 entitled “Feed Hopper for a Material Processing Device” issued June 14, 2022 to Kleemann Gmbh of Goppingen, Germany. Invented by Reiner Kopf of Gingen an der Fils, Germany; Christian Knoblich of Stuttgart, Germany and Elena Burgart of Nurtingen, Germany. Abstract: A feed hopper for a material processing device, in particular for a crusher (10), having two side walls (21) and a rear wall of the hopper (22), wherein the side walls (21) are directly or indirectly coupled to a machine support (12.1) in a swiveling manner and can be converted from a set-up work position to a folded-down transport position and back, wherein a feed area is formed between the side walls (21), and wherein at least one of the side walls (21) is supported relative to the machine support (12.1) in the set-up work position by a supporting device (30). A support lever (31), which in the work position is supported directly or indirectly in relation to the machine support (12.1) by a detachable form-fit connection, wherein the form-fit connection prevents the side wall (21) from folding down, projects into the feed area in the folded-down transport position. In this way, a space-saving design is also achieved in the folded-down transport position.