3 patents currently held
66 more in force are now held by other companies
Held is read from USPTO's recorded assignments; a transfer never recorded there does not appear.
2 more records may belong here and await a decision; they are not counted.
The next term ends in Dec 2028. from the record
Of the 66 now held by other companies, 48 name Airbus Defence and Space GmbH as their current owner, and 18 more name another party. Each row says which.
Free plan: 3 watched companies. Pro: unlimited.
Alerts on its grants, lapses and transfers.
1
Ending by 2030
Dec 2028
Next term end
3
Patent families
When these terms end
Held patents by the year their term ends
notable patents
all others
Updated Nov 14, 2026 · includes USPTO assignment & status data published Nov 14, 2026 and grant & fee data published Nov 10, 2026 (weekly) · how we know
Notable: the highest-ranked patents in this portfolio by citations and family size.
Notable patents
Ranked by citations and family size, against patents of the same kind granted the same year. How we rank
Notable
Ends Dec 2028 · High confidence
Also notable
Ends Apr 2035 · High confidence
Also notable
Ends Oct 2032 · High confidence
Tank with a Gas Extraction Device for Storing Cryogenic Liquid or Fuel for Spacecraft
US 8,048,211
Renewed at every maintenance window since the 2011 grant; no more fees are due before its term ends in 2028.
Rocket Stage Having Engine Thrust Frame Integrated With Tank
US 9,347,400
Granted 2016 and renewed at every maintenance window due so far. Protection runs to 2035.
Fuel Tank with Separating Membrane
US 9,052,062
Granted 2015 and renewed at every maintenance window due so far. Protection runs to 2032.
Formerly held, still cited
Notable
Ends Sep 2034 · High confidence
The most cited patent in this portfolio, cited by 47 later US patents, top 10% of utility patents granted in 2016 in our data. Protection runs to 2034.
now held by Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
Also notable
Ends Jun 2032 · High confidence
Cited by 25 later US patents, top 25% of utility patents granted in 2015 in our data, and renewed at 3 of 3 maintenance windows. Protection runs to 2032.
now held by Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
Also notable
Ends May 2033 · High confidence
Granted 2015 and renewed at every maintenance window due so far. Protection runs to 2033.
now held by Airbus Defence and Space SAS
Fee deadlines
Maintenance fees fall due 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years after grant. A missed fee ends a patent at the end of the six month grace period that follows, not on the due date.
- 1 fee due Dec 9, 2026The maintenance fee for Fuel Tank with Separating Membrane (US 9,052,062) comes due Dec 9, 2026. Unpaid by Jun 9, 2027, it lapses early.
Recent changes
- 1 term has ended since Aug 16, 2026
Patents held now
Soonest term end first.
Showing 1 to 3 of 3
| Patent | Title | Status | Expires | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 8,048,211 | Tank with a Gas Extraction Device for Storing Cryogenic Liquid or Fuel for Spacecraft In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 9,052,062 | Fuel Tank with Separating Membrane In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence | |
| US 9,347,400 | Rocket Stage Having Engine Thrust Frame Integrated With Tank In force · High confidence | In force | High confidence |
Also on record, not counted in the 3: 66 patents in force now held by others · 146 patents ended · 45 applications abandoned. List them
Sources and methods
Compiled from USPTO application file histories, grants and recorded assignments, with the company's own names reviewed by hand. How this record was built
Portfolio grouped automatically from ownership conveyances to the names matched to this company, usually every name that begins with its own, so it counts patents an affiliate holds; each list row names the holder of record. Security interests are excluded and ambiguous records are not reviewed by hand.
Computed patent terms end on the dates shown. Related patents and pending applications may cover overlapping subject matter.