Help me! A question about copyright laws edit

I wanted to upolad an image to wikipedia that I found on https://patents.google.com/patent/US5801442A/en. The patent has expired, does this mean the images are no longer protected under copyright? Or are they still not acceptable for WikiCommons? It's my first time uploading images on Wiki.
Thanks,
Lauraswikiacount (talk) 11:08, 15 July 2022 (UTC)Reply

The person who drew the images, or their employer (depending on the contract) owns the copyright, so the images would not be suitable for upload to Commons (since it has not been 70 years since the author's death, if they even are dead). If you want more help, change the {{help me-helped}} back into a {{help me}}, stop by the Teahouse, or Wikipedia's live help channel, or the help desk to ask someone for assistance. Primefac (talk) 11:25, 15 July 2022 (UTC)Reply
Thank you so much! Lauraswikiacount (talk) 11:30, 15 July 2022 (UTC)Reply