Michigan Inventors Coalition – Virtual Summit and Expo to be held September 10th-12th.

This year’s Michigan Inventors Coalition Expo will be held virtually on Thursday, September 10th-12th! This virtual summit will help you gain new ideas and help you invent your way out of a pandemic! For more details, click on the link! https://bit.ly/3k8TIMN

About this Event

Please note: This is an online event! Access details will be provided prior to the event date. The program will run on September 10th from 1 PM to 4 PM, September 11th 1 PM to 4 PM, and on September 12th from 9 AM to 12 PM. All times are Eastern Standard.

Scheduled speakers include:

– Jake Ward / Patent Attorney – Ward Law Office

– Kedma Ough, MBA / Business Development and Business Funding Expert

– Karen Waksman – Founder of Retail MBA

– Mary Cozin / Chicago Toy Show

– Aimee Carroll / Edison Nation

– Representative / US Patent and Trademark Office

– Karen Smoots / Inventor – Green Glove Dryer

USPTO Nearing 17 Million Utility Patent Applications.

JW Note: Hat tip to fellow patent attorney @RyanAlley on Twitter for noticing this milestone yesterday.

Those in the patent practice know that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) assigns patent applications numbers based on a series code and a serial number. In general, these patent application numbers are assigned chronologically to patent applications as they are filed at the USPTO.

A rough guide and some application serial numbers are shown on the USPTO website here. For utility patent applications, the first series code “1” was assigned in the year 1915. The serial number begins at 000,000 and ends at 999,999. Therefore, the completion of each series involves the filing of one million applications.

It now appears that the USPTO either has, or shortly will be, moving on to the series code “17.” This means that there have now been 17 million utility patent applications filed since 1915. Quite a milestone.

They Invented What? (No. 143)

Anticipate This!™ | Patent and Trademark Law Blog

U.S. Pat. No. 3,656,459:  Excrement receptacle device for animals.

 

I claim:

1. An excrement receptacle device for an animal comprising: a harness for support of the device on an animal, a hollow conduit tube having forward and rearward portions and constructed of a material which provides a normal self-sustaining shape for said tube in which an open tubular passageway is formed in the tube extending from the said forward to the said rearward portion of the tube, means on said harness for supporting said conduit tube in a fixed operative position in which the said forward portion of the tube is adjacent the anal region of the animal and entirely below the tail thereof, a flexible container, means attaching the flexible container to the conduit tube such that the flexible container extends from the said rearward portion of the tube and is in communication with the interior of…

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They Invented What? (No. 142)

Anticipate This!™ | Patent and Trademark Law Blog

U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,607: Scented doll with the appearance of an aged person.

 

What is claimed is:

1. A doll comprising: a permeable body covering, wherein said permeable body covering includes a torso portion, a pair of arm portions, a pair of leg portions, and wherein said permeable body covering is sewn to form a closed structure; an internal structure within said closed structure of said permeable body covering emitting a perfume fragrance through said permeable body covering; and a head portion including a core and a flexible cover stretched over said core, wherein said flexible cover includes a lower portion stretched and gathered together to form a narrowed neck attached to said torso portion, and wherein said flexible cover includes external folds emulating an appearance of an aged person including folds formed within said lower portion of said flexible cover.

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They Invented What? (No. 141)

Anticipate This!™ | Patent and Trademark Law Blog

U.S. Pat. No. 260,379:  Grave-signal.

 

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is –

1.  A grave signal the essential features whereof are a tube leading to the coffin or casket, a signal-flag therein, a spring by which said signal-flag may be forced vertically upward above the top of said tube, and means for releasing said spring which may be operated from the inside of the coffin, substantially as set forth.

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Ask the Expert – Keep Calm and Keep Inventing, hosted by SBDC at Kent State University at Tuscarawas, August 13, 2020 at Noon.

The SBDC invites you to join Jake Ward as he discusses Intellectual Property. This one hour, live “Ask the Intellectual Property Expert-Keep Calm and Keep Inventing” web chat was created for business owners and professionals who have a patent-able idea. “Ask the Expert – Keep Calm and Keep Inventing” Jake Ward live web-chat – August 13, 2020 at Noon. In this webcast, Jake is going to discuss: ·    Small businesses, entrepreneurs, and inventors are really good at solving problems – and what is the pandemic but one big problem to be solved! ·    Every existing business has Intellectual Property (IP), including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, in one form or another. ·    IP has an inherent value as a form of property, which can be leveraged to ward off competition, or monetized by sale or license. ·    IP is also available as a tool to help entrepreneurs and inventors commercialize and be successful in new ventures. ·    Different types of IP, and the steps that business, entrepreneurs, and inventors can take to secure their IP. Who should attend? Business owners and professionals who have an invention or idea, or anyone interested in learning more on this topic. When: Thursday, August 13, 2020 Time: Noon Price: No Cost Register via email at dmspence@kent.edu for your link and calendar invite. Thank you, Deanna Spencer Program Assistant Ohio Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas Tolloty Technology Incubator Email:  dmspence@kent.edu | Office: 330.308.7522 | www.sbdcksut.org Meet the Expert Jacob “Jake” M. Ward is a registered patent attorney admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, in the State of Michigan, and before the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan. Mr. Ward is also a registered Canadian Patent Agent, non-resident, admitted to practice before the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. Mr. Ward is the Founding Partner with the law firm of Ward Law Office LLC in Tiffin, Ohio. His practice consists of preparation and prosecution of patent applications in various technical arts, including the chemical, mechanical, and electrical arts. Mr. Ward also prepares legal opinions in relation to patentability, infringement, patent validity, and freedom to practice. Mr. Ward received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Dayton and a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Toledo, College of Law. At the University of Toledo, Mr. Ward was also awarded a certificate of concentration in Intellectual Property Law. Mr. Ward was also a Materials Chemist for several years at the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in Findlay, Ohio, prior to starting his legal practice. Mr. Ward is also the founding author of the legal blog “Anticipate This!” which provides light and humorous commentary on the practice of patent law, trademark law, and science & technology. Mr. Ward is an adjunct professor at the University of Toledo, College of Law, where he teaches classes on substantive Patent Law and Patent Practice. He has also previously taught classes on Business and Legal Ethics at Tiffin University. About the Series “Ask the Expert” series is an informational video series brought to you LIVE by the Small Business Development Center at Kent State University at Tuscarawas. The purpose for the initiative is to help small businesses with critical issues during and after COVID-19 and through the business restart process. The SBDC at Kent State Tusc works with small businesses of all stages of growth to provide assistance in business start-up, finance, accounting, human resources, marketing, sales, as well as other subject matter experts available at no cost for SBDC clients. For more information call 330-308-7479 or visit www.sbdcksut.org. FAQ’s How to Access the Webinar? ONLINE FROM YOUR COMPUTER, VIA ACCESS LINK How Do I Get A Live Access Link? RESPOND TO dmspence@kent.edu WITH YOUR DESIRE TO ATTEND & WE WILL SEND YOU A LINK How Long is the Session? THIS IS A ONE HOUR-LONG SESSION The Day Of – What Do I Need to Do? CLICK THE LINK ON THE DAY OF THE SESSION FOR ACCESS. EMAIL TO DEANNA ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 12 Is There A Fee? NO – THIS IS A COURTESY OF YOUR LOCAL SBDC Deadline to Request A Link? THE DEADLINE FOR OBTAINING YOUR LINK TO THE WEBINAR IS AUGUST 12. We look forward to serving you with this important information!

Ward Law Office Welcomes Dr. William “Bill” Ziehler to the Firm.

Ward Law Office is very excited to announce that Dr. William “Bill” Ziehler has now joined the law firm of Ward Law Office LLC, effective August 1, 2020, as an Attorney at Law.

Dr. Ziehler has extensive experience as a Registered Patent Attorney before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). His practice focuses on the drafting and prosecution of patent applications, and provision of legal opinions on freedom-to-practice, infringement, and patentability. He also has substantial appellate experience before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) at the USPTO.

In addition, Dr. Ziehler has extensive technical experience including post-graduate work focused on biochemical, biophysical, and genetic studies of nucleic acid and protein interactions, and corporate research and development where he contributed to the development of a novel means of whole genome amplification. He is further knowledgeable in a wide variety of subjects including biochemistry, organic chemistry, polymers, materials science, coatings and films, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, medical devices, electrochemistry and battery technology, fuel cells, cooling systems, and photovoltaic devices. He has also worked with several university technology transfer offices, and previously taught undergraduate classes in biochemistry.

In his new role at Ward Law Office, Dr. Ziehler will be involved in both management of the firm’s patent legal services, as well as the preparation and prosecution of patent applications for clients. He is a wonderful addition to the law firm, and we expect you will benefit significantly from his expertise.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss the status of any of your matters, do not hesitate to contact us at (419) 408-5500 or info@wardpatent.com. Thank you.

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About Ward Law Office

Ward Law Office LLC is a boutique law firm specializing in the practice of patent and trademark law. We are committed to providing inventors, entrepreneurs, and businesses with personal and professional services. We are flexible to meet your unique needs.

Our clients range from independent inventors and small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. The law firm has extensive experience in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in a wide variety of technical disciplines, including mechanical, chemical, and electrical. We are also experienced in the preparation and prosecution of trademark applications.

Furthermore, Ward Law Office fosters close relationships with intellectual property law firms in many foreign countries. Through these relationships, we are able to provide clients with IP services both in the United States and worldwide.

Ward Law Office LLC was founded to provide an unparalleled level of service in intellectual property protection. It is our goal to both educate our clients on how to secure valuable patent and trademark protection, and to provide high quality services at rates affordable to independent inventors and businesses.