Slashdot Mirror
Lawyer Loses It In Letter To Patent Office
bizwriter writes "Nobody would ever say that the world of patent law is a roller coaster of excitement but every now and then something interesting happens. Take this attorney who was angry over a patent examiner's rejection of his client's application. Here are a few snippets from the lawyers letter to the examiner: 'Are you drunk? No, seriously... are you drinking scotch and whiskey with a side of crack cocaine while you "examine" patent applications? (Heavy emphasis on the quotes.) Do you just mail merge rejection letters from your home? Is that what taxpayers are getting in exchange for your services? Have you even read the patent application? I'm curious. Because you either haven't read the patent application or are... (I don't want to say the "R" word) "Special."....Your job is not a joke, but you are turning it into a regular three ring circus. If you can't motivate yourself to take your job seriously, then you need to quit and let someone else take over what that actually wants to do the job right.'"
A tripod sprinkler. Seriously, a tripod sprinkler with telescopic legs.
I agree with the patent office worker in this case, maybe the lawyer should try and patent a method of getting a patent application rejected, consisting of plurality of idiotic patent application and an angry letter by the said lawyer to the patent office.
MY OTHER COMMENTS
Would have been nice to know what the patent application was for and why it was rejected to provide context to see whether the lawyer was justified.
http://www.patentbuddy.com/Patent/20120286075;jsessionid=01F66ADD5B77B6F5B576659888D85D1B
here you go. products on the market look just like this
with all the horrible patents coming around today, automatically rejecting everything would be a boon for society in general.
As usual, the better article is not the one linked to in TFA, but in a deeper link:
http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2013/04/dont-write-this-letter-to-the-patent-office.html
Has a picture. Looks like a sprinkler on a tripod and you can raise or lower the sprinkler head. Somehow I'm guessing this is not the first such sprinkler.
What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
http://www.google.com/patents/US20120286075
The clever bit, you see, is that you film it. And then you watch it ... backwards!
Wonderful way to relax.
https://www.google.com/search?q=tripod+sprinkler#q=adjustable+tripod+sprinkler&source=univ&tbm=shop
Indeed, many such things exist, though it looks like the difference is that in the ones on the first page of google shopping, you adjust the height by adjusting the leg length rather than raising or lowering the center column as in this patent. Adjusting the leg length would better handle uneven ground.
What changed under Obama? Nothing Good
Telescoping is useful for a portable device. It allows you to use it in between bushes to shoot over them. I have a few spots like that around my house. Normally you'll want the head low to not create a central dead-spot, but when that area might be something else already (e.g. non-grass ornamental shrubs, mulch, shells) a higher spray is desired, a telescopic function on a portable device is a boon. The benefit of a portable device is that you can use it to cover just the area(s) you need without having to dump 100s or even 1000s of gallons of water on everything in that particular watering zone.
Two links from the summary: http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2013/04/dont-write-this-letter-to-the-patent-office.html
It contains the letter and an excerpt of the patent application. This is a case of the USPTO doing it's job.
Brueske; David November 15, 2012
Telescoping tripod sprinkler cart
Abstract
A Telescoping Tripod Sprinkler Cart comprising a tripod junction unit, a plurality of support members, a sprinkler support assembly, and a telescoping assembly. In some preferred embodiments, the Telescoping Tripod Sprinkler Cart may also include a carriage assembly to enable the portability of the Telescoping Tripod Sprinkler Cart.
Inventors: Brueske; David; (Olympia, WA)
Serial No.: 068530
Series Code: 13
Filed: May 12, 2011
Current U.S. Class: 239/722
Class at Publication: 239/722
International Class: B05B 3/00 20060101 B05B003/00
Claims
1. A Telescoping Tripod Sprinkler Cart comprising a tripod junction unit, a plurality of support members, a sprinkler support assembly, and a telescoping assembly; the tripod junction unit comprises a first leg, and a second leg, and a hose conduit; the plurality of support members are sized to mate with the legs; the legs comprise a detent orifice sized to mate with a detent on a support member; the support members comprise a detent for the purpose of fastening the support member to the tripod junction; the sprinkler support assembly is disposed upon the hose conduit of the tripod junction.
2. The Telescoping Tripod Sprinkler Cart of claim 1 further comprising a carriage assembly; the carriage assembly comprises an axle, an axle housing, a pair of wheels, and a pair of struts.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is in the area of lawn sprinklers, and more particularly pertains to an apparatus for irrigation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One of the most common chores for a homeowner to address is watering or irrigating a lawn. While some people may use a simple lawn hose to manually irrigate their lawns, most people use various irrigation systems. These irrigation systems can be used to cover large swaths of landscape quickly and efficiently.
[0003] However, the problem with sprinkler systems is their relative high cost and attendant installation. Their relative high cost can stem in large part from the installation thereof. Effective installation requires that underground tunnels or troughs be dug. In many instances, these distances can exceed 50 yards in length. As a consequence, this installation can require a substantial amount of back-breaking work.
[0004] Therefore, what is clearly needed in the art is an apparatus which enables someone to irrigate a large lawn, orchard, or garden and cover a large diameter of space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus to elevate an irrigation sprinkler to increase the surface area to be covered. By manually adjusting the height of the sprinkler head above ground, a person will be enabled to cover wide areas of lawn, landscape, gardens, orchards, or other areas where constant irrigation is required.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable apparatus with pneumatic wheels to place an elevated tripod sprinkler cart in its desired destination. Oftentimes, long hoses can become heavy, and with the wheels, the towing thereof can be made substantially easier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
You picked a bad example, because this is actually the one that the patent is applied for. Notice "PATENT PENDING: Copyright 2011 Slip Fit Manufacturing." A search will show applicant David Brueske as a representative of "Yelm Farm & Pet And Slipfit Manufacturing". http://transportation-services.findthedata.org/l/1413764/Yelm-Farm-And-Pet-And-Slipfit-Manufacturing
Ok ok, guys, message received
Maybe I've been spending too much time on Facebook, getting sick while new parents gush about their kids.