Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today

#31

Post by JoshuaRedmond » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 3:59 PM UTC

justusthane wrote: post #10

ffjffsfr wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm trying to understand what it does by looking at pictures and reading this description but I have no idea: https://patents.google.com/patent/US5588162 is it just raising and lowering toilet seat based on input? So I can sit on toilet manipulate some handle and it will lower my seat level?

> 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to devices for assisting infirm or injured individuals to move from a standing position to a sitting position and from a sitting position to a standing position. More particularly, the instant invention is directed to a toilet seat which is configured to assist infirm individuals in lowering themselves to and raising themselves from the sitting posit…

Sounds like a toilet version of a riser chair such as [0], which I could see being really useful for people.

[0] - http://stairlift-suppliers.co.uk/mobility-aids/riser-recline... (no association with them whatsoever, just first site I found)

Re: Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today

#32

Post by dsp1234 » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 4:03 PM UTC

adtac wrote: post #22

warriorkitty wrote: post #7

You get interesting things when you type Linux[0]. [0] - https://patents.google.com/?q=linux

Question: Aren't Android phones a violation of this [0]? [0] - https://patents.google.com/patent/US20040244008A1/en?q=linux

Using the instructions I previously provided on how to investigate patents[0], it can be seen that this is a patent application (not an actual patent), and its status is "Abandoned -- Failure to Respond to an Office Action" after a non-final rejection in 2008. This doesn't say anything about whether or not they refiled or not, just that this application was abandoned, and never granted.

So save some trouble, the application number is "10/797557"

Edit: Even more context. This application was rejected on claims 1-4 due to "rejected under 35 USC 102(b) as being anticipated by IBM RedBook, 'Linux For S/360', 2000", and claim 5 is rejected under 35 USC 102(c) from the same source.

[0] - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12981882

Re: Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today

#33

Post by donquichotte » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 4:13 PM UTC

was_boring wrote: post #26

donquichotte wrote: post #23

I can't believe that this was a patent [1]. Surgical gown? Really? In 1995? A suit with a ventilator? [1] https://patents.google.com/patent/US5588153

How about this one, a shirt with reflective material on it! https://patents.google.com/patent/US5588156

This patent, owned by George S. Panton, Jr., also includes Pants.

Edit: Mr. Panton, firmly rooted in the clothing industry, has other inventions, like this spandex necktie: https://patents.google.com/patent/US4839925A/en?inventor=Geo....

Re: Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today

#34

Post by nashashmi » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 4:14 PM UTC

ctdonath wrote: post #20

bencollier49 wrote: post #16

"Mole Gassing Device"- https://patents.google.com/patent/US5588252 Brilliant stuff.

Better mousetrap: https://patents.google.com/patent/US5588249

This is one of the better written patents I have seen.

Re: Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today

#35

Post by eriknstr » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 4:16 PM UTC

logicallee wrote: post #28

niko001 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks, I'm glad you like it :) I've kept it really simple - the patentsview.org API spits out JSON, which I'm feeding into the (awesome!) DataTables jQuery-plugin. The site is hosted on GitHub Pages. I'm planning a HN-style voting system so that interesting patents trickle to the top.

2017, when "really simple" is a jQuery plugin. ;)

Simple from a development point of view.

Re: Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today

#36

Post by miguelrochefort » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 4:20 PM UTC

Is it just me (it's not) or are 80% of these fairly trivial?

Patents don't make sense when you think about it.

Re: Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today

#37

Post by traviswingo » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 4:23 PM UTC

This is a great idea! There are undoubtedly many great solutions to be found through here that were either before their time, or simply ignored after filing.

Great work!

Re: Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today

#38

Post by sfifs » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 4:23 PM UTC

swalsh wrote: post #4

Fellow hackers, a word of advice... always start with the marketing before building a product. I too think a power actuated toilet seat sounds like a fantastic foundation for a business, but it's what the market things... not what your gut thinks.

> I too think a power actuated toilet seat sounds like a fantastic foundation for a business

I take it you haven't been to Japan or the more trendy hotels and condos in China (where Japanese stuff are significant influence). In this comment, you appear to be equally gut based on what appears to be Western cultural influence.

Re: Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today

#39

Post by donquichotte » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 4:24 PM UTC

miguelrochefort wrote: post #36

Is it just me (it's not) or are 80% of these fairly trivial? Patents don't make sense when you think about it.

I thought the same. It's interesting that this kind of comment gets downvoted without explanation. Is there some kind of culture on HN that implicitly forbids us to voice criticism?

Re: Show HN: Explore ideas whose patent protection expires today

#40

Post by wolfgang42 » Tue, Jan 03, 2017, 4:24 PM UTC

logicallee wrote: post #30

jandrese wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The whole point of the patent system is to make sure ideas aren't locked up so we can advance as a society (something the Copyright office has forgotten), so once they expire they are in the Public Domain forever.

This is not the only point of the patent system: you seem to think that any good patents could have been kept as trade secrets. But that's not the case. Sometimes there would be no way to use a patent as a trade secret, because, for example, it's simply given to the consumer and they can see how it works, easily. So another important point is to allow people to research and innovate and make it to market under a stat…

I think what jandrese meant is that's the whole point of the modern patent system with fixed expirations.

This is as opposed to the earlier system of letters patent, which had the advantages you cite but no requirement of invention or fixed term; Elizabeth I of England, for example, famously issued a patent for salt.