They Invented What? (No. 215)
U.S. Patent No. 5,961,986: Anti-wrinkling apparatus.
The invention claimed is:
1. An apparatus for deterring wrinkles of a person’s skin between and above a person’s breast, said apparatus comprising:
a first substrate being unformed and substantially flat prior to application on said skin;
a first pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed along a surface of said first substrate for adhering to said skin between and above said breast, said first substrate deterring folding of said skin to which said apparatus is adhesively bonded said first pressure sensitive adhesive layer having a peel strength lass than 35 ounce inches;
a said first substrate having a skin contacting surface area of at least 16 square inches and being substantially heart-shaped, said first substrate further having a thickness of at least 20 mils such that said skin is deterred from folding within the area to which the apparatus is adhesively bonded; and
a first liner disposed against said first pressure sensitive adhesive layer and being removable prior to adhesion of said first adhesive layer to the skin;
a second adhesive layer adhering to said first substrate opposite from said first adhesive layer;
a third adhesive layer;
a second liner disposed between said second and third adhesive layers, said second liner being removable prior to adhesion of said third adhesive layer to the skin; and
a second substrate adhering to said third adhesive layer;
said substrate, said liners and aid adhesive layers all being disposed in a stack and parallel planer manner in relation to each other, said liners being thinner than said substrates.
They Invented What? (No. 214)
U.S. Patent No. 5,727,565: Kissing shield.
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for preventing the exchange of microorganisms between two persons engaged in the act of kissing, the apparatus comprising:
a frame so dimensioned as to outline the mouth of a person, wherein the frame is a loop formed into a heart shade such that each lobe of the heart shape outlines a corresponding cheek area of the two persons kissing, the noses of the two persons kissing are positioned between the lobes of the heart shape, and the point of the heart shape extends below the chins of the two persons kissing;
a thin, flexible membrane carried by the frame, the membrane being impervious to microorganisms; and
a handle extending from the frame and adapted for being gripped to support the frame and membrane between the mouth of the two persons;
wherein the membrane prevents exchange of microorganisms between the two persons while the two persons are engaged in the act of kissing.
CNNMoney Article – Holy &%$! Inventions.
Interesting article at CNNMoney today, on the topic of transformative technologies - http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/technology/1203/gallery.wild-inventions/index.html . Enjoy!
They Invented What? (No. 213)
U.S. Pat. No. 7,246,054: Discrete event simulation system and method.
JW Note: Many thanks to Patrick Anderson at the Gametime IP blog for bringing this one to our attention. Patrick opines that, although the patent uses very serious language, the crux of the claims deal with time travel in a simulation to avoid violating a causality constraint. Enjoy!
What is claimed is:
1. A method of performing a simulation using a plurality of processing entities, each of the plurality of processing entities maintaining a respective one of a plurality of queues, each of the plurality of queues adapted to store a respective plurality of future events to be processed, each of the plurality of queues having an associated simulation time recording a time of the simulation as events are processed, the method comprising: establishing, for each of the plurality of future events in each queue, a respective virtual look-back time defining an earliest simulation time wherein processing any event having a timestamp later in time will not violate a causality constraint for a respective one of the plurality of future events for which the virtual look-back time is established; and selecting events to be processed from the plurality of queues based, at least in part, on respective virtual look-back times.
They Invented What? (No. 212)
U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,324: Apparatus and method for controlling animal behavior.
JW Note: The adventures of Pookie, the patent drawing dog. Many thanks to Jason Wilson for bringing this one to our attention!
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus for controlling the behavior of an animal comprising:
a sound-processing means for processing one or more specific sound vocalizations produced by said animal distinctly related to the emotional state of said animal, such as whimpering, barking, purring, growling, yawning or other animal vocalization; said sound processing means differentiating between different animal sounds by comparing said animal sounds with data stored in memory;
an actuator means electronically coupled to said sound-processing means, said actuator being actuated by said sound-processing means upon recognition by said sound-processing means of said one or more specific sounds;
a stimulus-generating means coupled to said actuator means, said stimulus-generating means providing a stimulus to said animal upon actuation of said actuator, said stimulus consisting of, or including, a human voice command responsive to the said specific sound vocalization.
USPTO Announces Location for Elijah J. McCoy Satellite Office in Detroit, MI.
Per a press release from the U.S. Patent Office earlier today.
USPTO Announces Location for Elijah J. McCoy Satellite Office in Detroit
Riverfront office space confirmed; Agency targets July 2012 opening
WASHINGTON—The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced on Jan. 11, 2012 that it has concluded a five-year lease agreement through the U.S. General Services Administration’s (GSA) Great Lakes Region for a 31,000 square foot space to be located at 300 River Place Dr. in Detroit, Michigan 48207. The building, listed on the National Historic Registry, was the former home to Parke-Davis Laboratories as well as the Stroh’s Brewery Headquarters.
“Today marks the beginning of an important new chapter in the Agency’s 200-plus year history,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office David Kappos. “We are expanding our operation outside of the Washington metropolitan area as part of our ongoing effort to recruit and retain the nation’s top professionals.”
The agency plans to open the Elijah J. McCoy United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO-Detroit Office) no later than July 2012. The USPTO Detroit Office is expected to create more than 100 high-paying, high-skill jobs in its first year and provide a boost to the region’s innovation economy.
The USPTO will be building out the new facilities to Agency specifications during the next few months and expects to post vacancy announcements for patent examiner positions this spring. Prospective employees should email detroithiring@uspto.gov for more information.
Subject to available resources and as provided for in the America Invents Act, the USPTO intends to establish at least two more satellite offices in addition the USPTO-Detroit office in the next three years.
The USPTO has called for public comments regarding these additional satellite offices. Comments should be submitted by Jan. 30, 2012 to satelliteoffices@uspto.gov or as otherwise dictated in the USPTO’s Federal Register notice.
AT! 2011 Year In Review.
JW Note: Wishing all of our readers a Safe and Happy New Year!
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 36,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 13 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
They Invented What? (No. 211)
U.S. Pat. No. 7,591,569: Christmas holiday access, indicator, and mementos key method and apparatus.
JW Note: Wishing a Happy Holidays to all! See you in 2012!
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Children have believed in Santa Claus (under any the many known names) for hundreds of years. No matter what incarnation, whether it is the Magi King, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, etc., the tradition is still very much alive in the 21st century. One thing that has changed is children’s sophistication. The Santa legend evokes images of the jolly toy maker flying with the reindeer, landing on roofs, and entering homes via chimneys to deliver treasures on Christmas Eve. The problem is that children in modern times, living in an age of apartment complexes, condominiums, and a host of other domiciles without chimneys or fireplaces, tend to be more inquisitive, and want to know just how Santa Claus will pay them a visit if they don’t have chimney access. Will he have to break the door down or pick the lock and trip off the security alarm? Will their homes be bypassed and presents given to other children if Santa Claus can’t find a way in?
Accordingly, there is an established need for a Christmas decoration and associated method, that in addition to remaining true to the decorative parameters of bright, festive ornamentation during the holiday season, also provides children with an explanation for Santa Claus’s ability to enter their homes, allaying their fears and concerns over missing out on their presents on Christmas morning.
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A holiday key entertainment method, the holiday key entertainment method comprising the steps of: illuminating an illumination source, wherein the illumination source is located within a holiday key, the holiday key being an oversized key shaped apparatus comprising a key handle section and a key blade section; securing the holiday key to an object on an outside of a residence; and informing a child that the holiday key is being placed outside such that a holiday persona can utilize the holiday key as a means for unlocking a door to the residence.
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