OT: Hehe, how does he collect royalties? lunch money?
04-30-2002, 07:02 AM
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OT: Hehe, how does he collect royalties? lunch money?
<a href="http://www.randi.org/jr/042602.html" target="_blank">http://www.randi.org/jr/042602.html</a>
From the weekly commentary of the Amazing Randi.
Last week I expressed amazement about yet another patent issued by the US Patent Office, number 6,368,227 on 9 April, for a way of swinging on a child's swing. I received a number of calls and e-mail messages on this item, some from patent attorneys. It turns out that the patent was given to a five-year-old kid, Steven Olson of St. Paul, Minnesota, for a "method of swinging on a swing." Steve's father Peter is a patent attorney. As if Mr. Olson Sr. were working tongue-in-cheek (we've no idea where Junior's tongue was located) his application asserted that "A new method of swinging on a swing would therefore represent an advance of great significance and value." Hmm. Perhaps. He also said that "Children can get bored by swinging back and forth, or by twisting the swing to make it spin." Another hmm.
In an interview with New Scientist Magazine, Peter Olson said, "I had told him that if he [Olson Junior] invented something he could file a patent." Any patent has to pass the "prior art" test, in which the applicant must prove that his invention is new and has not been done before. Thus, the US Patent Office initially rejected the application for prior art, citing two earlier patents on swings, but Peter Olson appealed, noting that neither was a method for swinging sideways, and the patent was then issued.
LOL!
From the weekly commentary of the Amazing Randi.
Last week I expressed amazement about yet another patent issued by the US Patent Office, number 6,368,227 on 9 April, for a way of swinging on a child's swing. I received a number of calls and e-mail messages on this item, some from patent attorneys. It turns out that the patent was given to a five-year-old kid, Steven Olson of St. Paul, Minnesota, for a "method of swinging on a swing." Steve's father Peter is a patent attorney. As if Mr. Olson Sr. were working tongue-in-cheek (we've no idea where Junior's tongue was located) his application asserted that "A new method of swinging on a swing would therefore represent an advance of great significance and value." Hmm. Perhaps. He also said that "Children can get bored by swinging back and forth, or by twisting the swing to make it spin." Another hmm.
In an interview with New Scientist Magazine, Peter Olson said, "I had told him that if he [Olson Junior] invented something he could file a patent." Any patent has to pass the "prior art" test, in which the applicant must prove that his invention is new and has not been done before. Thus, the US Patent Office initially rejected the application for prior art, citing two earlier patents on swings, but Peter Olson appealed, noting that neither was a method for swinging sideways, and the patent was then issued.
LOL!
04-30-2002, 09:07 AM
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Your sig aside, the water cooled, front-engined, four cylinder Porsche content of this is....????
Jim, "Always remember that you are special, just like everybody else....."
Jim, "Always remember that you are special, just like everybody else....."
04-30-2002, 04:40 PM
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[quote]Originally posted by jim968:
<strong>Your sig aside, the water cooled, front-engined, four cylinder Porsche content of this is....????
Jim, "Always remember that you are special, just like everybody else....."</strong><hr></blockquote>
My apologies, Jim. I will learn to keep my mouth and mind shut. Maybe I should get a cooler sig.
<strong>Your sig aside, the water cooled, front-engined, four cylinder Porsche content of this is....????
Jim, "Always remember that you are special, just like everybody else....."</strong><hr></blockquote>
My apologies, Jim. I will learn to keep my mouth and mind shut. Maybe I should get a cooler sig.
04-30-2002, 04:48 PM
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Water,
That last comment was uncalled for. There is a reason that there is an OT foruum <img src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" border="0" alt="[offtopic]" />
That last comment was uncalled for. There is a reason that there is an OT foruum <img src="graemlins/offtopic.gif" border="0" alt="[offtopic]" />
04-30-2002, 05:03 PM
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People post different OT stuff every damn day. This is the first time I have seen such a crap response, even from my lurking days. Even the Yo thread got treated better.
04-30-2002, 05:19 PM
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Water,
I was not slamming your OT post, just your response to Jim(who wasn't really slamming your post either). Seeing how Jim is one of the most laid-back posters (if not THE most) on this board, I thought your reference to "...Jim" was out of line. Kudos for editing it out
I was not slamming your OT post, just your response to Jim(who wasn't really slamming your post either). Seeing how Jim is one of the most laid-back posters (if not THE most) on this board, I thought your reference to "...Jim" was out of line. Kudos for editing it out
04-30-2002, 05:28 PM
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Kudos? for "adding" it back, I just felt like there were some ThreadNazis paying special attention to my posts today.
All of my threads, except this one, WERE somewhat P-car related. I am concerned that civil-liberty infringement could reach as far as my car or persona life. I hope that everyone gets mad about the actions of our government and lets Dubya&Co. know that this is not acceptable to us.
All of my threads, except this one, WERE somewhat P-car related. I am concerned that civil-liberty infringement could reach as far as my car or persona life. I hope that everyone gets mad about the actions of our government and lets Dubya&Co. know that this is not acceptable to us.