What the Funny...Patents http://wtfpatents.com wtfpatents.com Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:17:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 en Buying Expired Patents on eBay? http://wtfpatents.com/?p=141 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=141#comments Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:56:22 +0000 Nipper http://wtfpatents.com/?p=141 Fizzure blog on “Hurry! Get your expired patents on eBay!”

Actually, reviewing patent auctions on eBay.com can be quite a hoot…just search for “patent” and then sort by price, high to low. Quite a few multimillion dollar business opportunities listed there…you just need to capitalize on the 10% of the market the inventor is sure is possible. Current eBay listings even include one patent that is offered at $20 Million for a license…the sale price is actually $3 Billion.

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]]> http://wtfpatents.com/?feed=rss2&p=141 Old Tom and Jerry Cartoon on “Build a Better Mousetrap…” http://wtfpatents.com/?p=140 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=140#comments Mon, 08 Oct 2007 18:12:59 +0000 Nipper Begging the Question blog on Entrapment.

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]]> http://wtfpatents.com/?feed=rss2&p=140 Law Firm Recruiting Video - What? http://wtfpatents.com/?p=139 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=139#comments Sun, 16 Sep 2007 18:00:00 +0000 pegleg1538 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=139 I guess it seemed like a good idea at the time, but I wonder if the recruiter or HR person in charge of this monstrosity still has their job?

This is bad… very bad… you have been warned, you will never get this time back.

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]]> http://wtfpatents.com/?feed=rss2&p=139 Pendency Problems? http://wtfpatents.com/?p=138 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=138#comments Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:55:43 +0000 Admin http://wtfpatents.com/?p=138 Filed: Oct. 23, 1936

Issued: Oct. 10, 2000 (some thirty one years after the inventor passed away)

Think I’m kidding? USPN 6,130,946

Why? Not “pendency problems” (I was joking) but secrecy. The inventor, William F. Friedman, is considered by many to be the “father of American cryptology.” [via]

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]]> http://wtfpatents.com/?feed=rss2&p=138 Surf City, Here We Come…and There We Go http://wtfpatents.com/?p=136 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=136#comments Fri, 17 Aug 2007 05:11:05 +0000 Admin http://wtfpatents.com/?p=136 Aren’t surfboards powered by the surf?  Thus, isn’t a “jet powered surfboard” really a boat with a crappy crew compartment?

jet-powered-surfboard.jpg

USPN Des. 289,031.

Want to know what’s more amazing than the fact that he (the inventor) has an patent for a jet powered surf board?  He has TWO!

jet_powered_surfboard2.jpg

USPN Des. 307,258.

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]]> http://wtfpatents.com/?feed=rss2&p=136 You make the call… http://wtfpatents.com/?p=133 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=133#comments Thu, 02 Aug 2007 02:20:05 +0000 Admin http://wtfpatents.com/?p=133 Is it:

(1) a device for keeping your boss from grabbing you;

(2) a whiplash prevention device for librarians;

(3) a towable bag; or

(4) the worlds worst design for a recliner?

towablebag.jpg

U.S. Patent No. 7,246,802.

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]]> http://wtfpatents.com/?feed=rss2&p=133 If you have to invent something… http://wtfpatents.com/?p=132 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=132#comments Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:49:21 +0000 Admin http://wtfpatents.com/?p=132 IMPACT® blog on “Inventive Sex” (talking about the x-rated patents site)

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]]> http://wtfpatents.com/?feed=rss2&p=132 Manventions…The Ten Inventions Men Demand http://wtfpatents.com/?p=130 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=130#comments Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:36:13 +0000 Admin http://wtfpatents.com/?p=130 Hilarious post about “stuff” inventors should invent for guys…Manventions.

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]]> http://wtfpatents.com/?feed=rss2&p=130 Book Recomendation: It’s a Guy Thing http://wtfpatents.com/?p=129 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=129#comments Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:35:44 +0000 Admin http://wtfpatents.com/?p=129 Scott Seegert recently sent me a review copy of his new book, It’s a Guy Thing: awesome real innovations from the underdeveloped male mind, and I’m pleased to report…it’s a hoot! It’s the book I wish I would have written.

Rather than “just another book of funny patents,” Seegrert breaks the inventions down into a number of different categories, including “Neat Ways for Guys to Shoot Each Other,” “Things That Make Guys More Attractive to Women (At Least in the Guy’s Minds),” and “Things Involving Beer,” using his excellent sense of humor to explain why “only a man” would have created such a ludicrous invention. His analysis is sad, but true.

My wife borrowed the book from me…finding humorous consolation in the fact that perhaps some of the stupid ideas I have aren’t my fault…it’s a gene thing. ;-)

If you enjoy this blog, It’s a Guy Thing is right up your alley.

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]]> http://wtfpatents.com/?feed=rss2&p=129 The WTFPatents Store. Now open. http://wtfpatents.com/?p=125 http://wtfpatents.com/?p=125#comments Tue, 24 Jul 2007 05:43:28 +0000 Admin http://wtfpatents.com/?p=125 Every now and then I see a funny patent (or think of another funny IP design) I’d love to have on a t-shirt (or coffee cup).

No more excuses! We’ve set up a store!

helloshirt.jpgOur first design is my tribute to Mr. Et Al. You know him…the poor inventor who always gets bumped from the lead position on the patent by a boss (minimal co-inventor) who MUST have HIS name first. Here’s to you Mr. Et Al!

 

Et Al Coffee Cup

Presuming the three of us are not the only people buying them…more designs will be coming. Design ideas are always welcome (who knows, if we use your idea, maybe we’ll give you the first shirt off the press).

[Thanks to Nathan at developersstudio.com for creating the design for us]

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