Recently Issued Patents

9.13.22

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. 11,434,622 entitled “Hydraulic Fluid Temperature-Dependent Control of Engine Speeds in Self-Propelled Work Vehicles” issued September 6, 2022 to Deere & Company of Moline, Illinois. Invented by Austin J. Karst of Bloomfield, Iowa. Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein for fluid temperature-dependent control of engine speeds in a self-propelled work vehicle. An engine speed sensor generates signals representing an engine speed, and a temperature sensor generates signals representing a hydraulic fluid temperature. A controller receives the respective signals from the engine speed sensor and the temperature sensor. The controller is further configured, responsive to a startup command, to generate output signals preventing an increase in the engine speed to a target engine speed at least while the temperature of the hydraulic fluid is in a first temperature state. The controller may, e.g., automatically generate output signals for continuous and/or stepwise transitioning of the engine speed to the target engine speed, in accordance with a monitored temperature of the hydraulic fluid and corresponding temperature states.

U.S. Patent No. 11,433,520 entitled “Tool for Installing a Bit on and/or Deinstalling a Bit from a Bit Holder System of a Milling Machine” issued September 6, 2022 to Wirtgen GmbH of Windhagen, Germany. Invented by Christian Berning of Zulpich, Germany; Matthias Bruck of Siegburg, Germany; Lothar Schwalbach of Asbach, Germany and Cyrus Barimani of Konigswinter, Germanay.  The invention relates to a tool for installing a bit on and/or deinstalling a bit from a bit holder system of a milling machine, in particular a road milling machine, having at least one initiator with which installation and/or deinstallation of a bit is initiated. Provision is made that the tool comprises a detection device having at least one counting device; and that the detection device is designed to detect a number of bits deinstalled using the tool and/or a number of bits installed using the tool. The invention also relates to a corresponding bit holder system and to a method for monitoring wear. With the tool and the bit holder system, additional information regarding bit changes that have been carried out is made available to a user.