They Invented What? (No.96)
U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,493: Retractable table top for a toilet.
What is claimed is:
1. A device for providing a working surface while a user is seated on a toilet, said device comprising:
a table having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a centrally disposed longitudinal axis, said table including a plurality of opposed edge portions equally spaced from the axis and extending substantially parallel thereto, said table further including a plurality of opposed end portions integral with said plurality of edge portions, said table further including a plurality of elongated legs having opposed end portions attached thereto and engageable with a ground surface respectively, said table further having a plurality of elongated support rods secured to said bottom surface and adjacent said plurality of end portions respectively; and
a support member positionable on alternate sides of a toilet seat and comprising
a rear…
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They Invented What? (No. 95)
U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,159: Continuous wave generating apparatus for simulated surfriding.
What is claimed is:
1. A wave-generating apparatus, wherein a continuous wave is formed suitable for various
surfriding sports including surfing, boogie-boarding and bodysurfing, said apparatus comprising:
a carriage-support means having a carriage frame structure including a base frame on which said carriage frame structure is mounted;
an elongated tube rotatably cradled in said carriage support means and having oppositely disposed open ends;
a cap member mounted over each of said open ends of said tube and including an access opening;
a reservoir formed in said tube by said cap members to hold a given amount of water within said tube during the rotation thereof;
means for rotatably supporting said tube in a horizontal position within said carriage support means; and
drive means for rotating said tube to create a…
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The IP Section: A Comedy Series
JW Note: A number of people have recently asked me about this new series. All about a patent lawyer who dreams of being a stand-up comedian. Some very funny stuff – check it out!
Via the IP Section Website:
The official trailer for a new comedy series about a patent attorney who decides to secretly pursue his dream of becoming a stand-up comedian. Created by and starring a real patent attorney, Wes Austin, who dreams of being a stand-up comedian.
Trademark Funny: SpongeBoy Ahoy?
Via Wikipedia, a story on the importance of trademark clearance searches:
Initially, Hillenburg wanted to use the name SpongeBoy—the character would have had no last name, and the series would have been called SpongeBoy Ahoy![33][39]However, the Nickelodeon legal department discovered—after voice acting had been completed for the original seven-minute pilot episode—that the name “SpongeBoy” was already in use for a mop product.[39]A character of the same name was also already trademarked by Flaming Carrot Comics creator Bob Burden.[40]In choosing a replacement name, Hillenburg felt that he still had to use the word “Sponge”, so that viewers would not mistake the character for a “Cheese Man”. He settled on the name “SpongeBob”. “SquarePants” was then chosen as a family name after Kenny saw a picture of the character and remarked, “Boy, look at this sponge in square pants, thinking he can get a job in a fast food place.”[34]Hillenburg loved the phrase upon hearing Kenny say it and felt that it would reinforce the character’s nerdiness.[34][41]
They Invented What? (No. 94)
U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,424: Anti-eating face mask.
What is claimed is:
1. A face mask for preventing the introduction of substances into the mouth of the wearer comprising in combination;
a cup shaped member conforming generally to the shape of the mouth and chin area of the wearer’s face below the nose, said cup shaped member formed of rigid material with openings to allow breathing therethrough,
means for mounting said cup shaped member over the mouth including plural straps extending from said cup over the head of the wearer,
one of said straps provided with a means for separation to allow for placement and removal of said face mask, and a lock at said separation means to prevent removal of said face mask, said mounting means further including a hoop member of rigid material adapted to extend over the user’s head and chin and a flexible strap having…
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They Invented What? (No. 93)
U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,399: Burial structure for the interment of human remains and significant memorabilia.
Having, thus, described the invention, what is claimed is:
1. A burial structure for the interment of human remains and any associated memorabilia therewith while forming a lasting memorial structure thereby to those therein interred, the burial structure comprising: (a) a plurality of individual burial units to hold the human remains, each individual burial unit comprising: (1) an outer container having a plurality of side walls and a bottom formed perpendicular to the plurality of side walls, the side walls and bottom cooperating to define at least one chamber formed therein, the plurality of side walls and bottom defining within each of the at least one chamber an upper opening and a lower opening; (2) an inner container fitted into each of the at least one chamber of the outer container, the inner…
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