Just another good patent

Looks like we're all now guilty of infringement and liable for payment to use this idea. This continual patenting and re-patenting of any old rubbish has debased the concept and brought the patent system into disrepute. For most of the time the only beneficiaries are the lawyers and they laugh all the way to the bank. It would be a joke for the rest of us but these patents have support of the law and in this particular instance, we are -all- liable for court action and dues, until we prove prior art. It's now time the patenting process was reformed.

In future all patent applications will be voted on by a peer group familiar with that area (at a cost of course) . If that peer group returns a majority verdict then the idea can be pursued for further consideration. No majority vote and the idea is dead in the water. Split voting and appeal can be made to higher levels. Due process should then kill about 99.99% of all present day applications.

Who though then guards/selects the guardians?. I cringe to think that an MS hack or Dijkstra be allowed to vote on any software ideas.

After that hogwash, here is a classic patent:

I wonder if Himan G. Dexter had one of those laughs like Louis from Revenge Of The Nerds?

Dave.

Wikipedia has links to a 1947 pocket proector patent as well as various other web sites with a detailed history -->

Funny how pocket protectors became nerdy in the '80s whereas a contemporary cell phone probably would have been considered ultra-nerdy if carried around by the average person in, say, 1970.

Only claims 1, 7, 9, 11, 18, 24 and 26 are independent; all others stand or fall on these. And those claims are so obvious - especially to those skilled in the art, that one might ask how much of a bribe was used to get it awarded.

This looks like a nerd custom for Halloween.

D from BC British Columbia Canada.

oops...wrong word. 'costume'

D from BC British Columbia Canada.

Costume? I thought that was a picture of you, in your lab. ;-)

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I\'ve got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

A doctor, a lawyer and a nerd where at a bar talking about having a wife or a girl friend.

The doctor ways get a girl friend, shes good for exercise and your heart. If it does not work out, you can get another girl friend.

The lawyer says get a wife, sign a pre-nup and protect yourself.

The nerd says get a wife and a girlfriend. So the wife thinks your with the girlfriend and the girlfriend thinks your with the wife.

And you can go to the lab.

;-)

'80s? They were considered nerdy in the '60s. Heaven forbid one wore a slip-stick scabbard in the '60s or a calculator holster in the '70s. Those genes are going nowhere.

I thought about that too when I first started wearing it on my belt. I guess it's OK to wear such things if the jocks even know how to use it.

--
Keith

Jocks? They can't even remember how to put on their 'straps'! ;-)

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I\'ve got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida