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This looks as simple as a paper clip and I think in years to come many people will wonder why they didn't think of it first. True genius
EDIT: I stand corrected by HN. There are number of bags that use similar techniques and apparently airplane evacuation slides inflate using that physical phenomena as well.
So how does this work?
"The secret behind the Windcatcher's amazing speed of inflation is its ability to leverage the awesome properties of air. Simply put, the two most important properties are:
- Fast moving air has lower air pressure than slow moving air
- Air with higher pressure will be drawn to areas of lower pressure
When you blow into the Windcatcher you create a stream of fast moving, low pressure air. Because it has a higher air pressure, the surrounding air is sucked into the low pressure air stream. As a result, the air entering the Windcatcher is at least 10 to 15 times greater than the air you expelled from your lungs."
So, what about patents ? Is there any patent that product violate and may cause later any problem ?
So how does this work?
Scroll down the Kickstarter page for a very readable explanation: "The secret behind the Windcatcher's amazing speed of inflation is its ability to leverage the awesome properties of air. Simply put, the two most important properties are: - Fast moving air has lower air pressure than slow moving air - Air with higher pressure will be drawn to areas of lower pressure When you blow into the Windcatcher you create a str…
Just mentioning it in case the project owners drop by. Cool project, by the way!
Ok, i'll play devil's advocate : Windcatcher works as same principle as evacuation slides on planes and even if it's about physics i think it's somehow ( design ? ) patented. So, what about patents ? Is there any patent that product violate and may cause later any problem ?
Nice concept, but I'm wondering how inflating a mattress in this manner will allow you to achieve the pressure needed to support your weight.
Nice concept, but I'm wondering how inflating a mattress in this manner will allow you to achieve the pressure needed to support your weight.
These guys have taken the same physical phenomena used in the newish Dyson fans and hand dryers and found a radically different way to use it. This looks as simple as a paper clip and I think in years to come many people will wonder why they didn't think of it first. True genius EDIT: I stand corrected by HN. There are number of bags that use similar techniques and apparently airplane evacuation slides inflate using…
Ok, i'll play devil's advocate : Windcatcher works as same principle as evacuation slides on planes and even if it's about physics i think it's somehow ( design ? ) patented. So, what about patents ? Is there any patent that product violate and may cause later any problem ?
Patents in the U.S. since 1995 have had a term of 20 years, prior to 1995 it was a term of 17 years.
The slides were initially patented in 1956. In 1956 the U.S. patent term was 17 years; those patents expired in 1973.
But, let's suppose some advances were made and the specific valving mechanism was patented later. It would have had to have been invented and patented some time after 1995 to still be covered by a patent.
If it were patented any earlier, its term will have expired and the idea is now in the public domain, which means anyone can use the idea without paying anything.