ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,385,232, issued on Aug. 12, was assigned to Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, Ill.).

"Adapter with thru-hole and rail" was invented by Douglas C. Serrurier (Morton, Ill.), Eric T. Sinn (Tremont, Ill.), Jason Grant Jura (Tremont, Ill.) and Corey Michael Wells (East Peoria, Ill.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A base includes a male portion including a first projection, and a second projection facing in a diametrically opposed manner to the first projection. A stepped bore extends from the first projection to the second projection that has a large diameter portion that is at least partially formed by the first projection."

The patent was filed on ...