Why get a patent?  A US patent enables the holder to prevent others from copying their idea.  Technically, a patent prevents making, using, selling, offering for sale or importing of an invention.  If you are in a situation where you or your business has a product you can’t have copied, then patent protection may be for you.  In addition to putting a stop to the copying your invention, a patent can be useful for attracting investors, licensing your ideas for royalties, or selling your idea.  Contact a patent attorney with any other questions you might have—they are best equipped to provide sound advice.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued the following United States Patents to South Dakota Inventors from August 30, 2011 to October 4, 2011.

1.       US Patent No. 8,035,735, issued October 11, 2011 with the title “Camera with weather cover”

Inventor: Larry Holmberg, Harrisburg, SD                                      

Assigned: Not listed                                               

Summary: Mr. Holmberg has invented a camera having a camera body, a video camera recorder, a battery compartment and a weather cover.  The weather cover has special threads for mating with threads at a rear end of the camera body, to attach the weather cover to the camera and cover the video camera recorder and the battery compartment.

2.       US Patent No. 8,039,847, issued October 18, 2011 with the title “Printable semiconductor structures and related methods of making and assembling”

Inventors: Ralph G. Nuzzo, Champaign, IL; John A. Rogers, Champaign, IL; Etienne Menard, Durham, NC; Keon Jae Lee, Tokyo, Japan; Dahl-Young Khang, Urbana, IL; Yugang Sun, Westmont, IL; Matthew Meitl, Raleigh, NC; Zhengtao Zhu, Rapid City, SD; Heung Cho Ko, Urbana, IL; Shawn Mack, Goleta, CA           

Assigned: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 

Summary: Mr. Zhu and his co-inventors have invented a method of making a printable semiconductor from low cost bulk materials.

3.       US Patent No. 8,044,278, issued October 25, 2011 with the title “Maize variety inbred PH13JD”

Inventors: Todd Elliott Piper, Mankato, MN; Jay Robert Hotchkiss, Brookings, SD                              

Assigned: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Johnston, IA               

Summary: Mr. Hotchkiss and his co-inventor have developed a variety of maize by crossing one variety of maize with another variety.

4.       US Patent No. 8,043,644, issued October 25, 2011 with the title “Method for exposing comminuted foodstuffs to a processing fluid”

Inventors: Eldon Roth, Dakota Dunes, SD                                                                                                            

Assigned: Freezing Machines, Inc., Dakota Dunes, SD                          

Summary: Mr. Roth has developed a method that includes producing a flowing sheet of comminuted (e.g., consisting of very small particles) foodstuff and then exposing the flowing sheet to a processing fluid for further foodstuff processing .

5.       US Patent No. 8,042,940, issued October 25, 2011 with the title “Opthalmic lenses having reduced base out prism”

Inventors: Larry Holmberg, Harrisburg, SD                                    

Assigned: Jeffrey P. Krall, Mitchell, SD, USA; Hugh McLoughlin, Randalstown Co. Antrim, UK; Trevor Steele, Dromara Co. Down, UK; Andrew Whale, Craigavon, UK                       

Summary: With normal vision, an individual is able to change focus for different distances. Ideally, an individual is able to focus on distant objects, referred to as distance vision, and on near objects, referred to as near vision. Dr. Krall and his co-inventors have invented a new progressive lens that allows the wearer to see items at different distances.

6.       US Patent No. 8,042,227, issued October 25, 2011 with the title “Block and tackle window balance with bottom guide roller”

Inventors: Gary Roger Newman, Valley Springs, SD                                                                         

Assigned: Amesbury Group, Inc., Amesbury, MA                                  

Summary: Mr. Newman invented a block and tackle window balance to be incorporated in single and double hung window assemblies.  According to one example of the invention, a roller is secured within a bottom guide of a window to increase the range of travel of the window sash.

7.       US Design Patent No. 647,814, issued November 1, 2011 with the title “Wearable article with an arrangement of apertures”

Inventors: Robert J. Marking, Brookings, SD                                                                            

Assigned: None listed.                                          

Summary: Mr. Marking invented a wearable article having a dog tag shape.

8.       US Patent No. 8,042,227, issued November 1, 2011 with the title “Method of attaching device to weapon”

Inventor: Larry Holmberg, Harrisburg, SD                                                                                  

Assigned: None listed.                                          

Summary: Mr. Holmberg invented a mount for mounting a device to a firearm.

9.       US Patent No. 8,042,227, issued November 1, 2011 with the title “Electronic sign with multiple direction positionable rear access doors”

Inventors: Kory D. Kludt, Brookings, SD; Jonathan Tremblay, St-Roch de l'Achigan, Canada

Assigned: Daktronics, Inc., Brookings, SD     

Summary: Mr. Kludt and his co-inventor have invented an electronic sign with multiple direction, positionable rear access doors.  The doors are designed to allow access to the inner regions of the electronic sign while maintaining a thin profile.

For information on patents and other intellectual property, or to discuss securing protection for your idea, contact Jared Clark of Cutler & Donahoe, LLP at jared@cutlerlawfirm.com.  Reach him by phone at (605) 335-4950.  

Data Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office. For more information on any of the patents listed in this column, visit http://www.uspto.gov and select “search patents.”