A Better Mouse Trap #28

A patent for a better mouse trap features a fake cat that has an apparatus inside that entices mice to enter the mouth of the cat and become trapped inside of a vacuum like box that kills the mouse. The device dispenses an odor that smells like cheese to capture the attention of the prey. This device attempts to kill mice by catering to one of their most powerful instincts, an addiction to smelly cheese. This device, although is much more complicated than a typical mouse trap, can definitely be considered useful, nonobvious, and novel. That being said, it's silly. Why would you create a mouse trap made of a scary looking cat when mice are genetically predisposed to fearing sharp teeth on cats?

Take a look at the youtube video that was created here as a satirical description of the patent. The other issue I'd like to raise is about requiring short video clips to become a part of the patent filing process. In an age where technology and efficiency are keys to success, I believe the patent system could be vastly improved by requiring a 3-4 minute video as a part of the patent process. This added requirement could serve as a good and simple synopsis of any filed patent, one that explicitly states the structure and function and ultimate use case of any intellectual property in a single video clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fLe8rIy_FeY

Silly Patent: Optical Illusion Wear #27

On September 19, 2006, the US Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for optical illusion wear. Filed under bathing suits and exercise wear, this patent protects any clothing that has optical illusions on it to deceive someone into thinking the person who is wearing said clothing is slimmer. There are many ways to become thinner: exercise, dieting, dietary supplements. But even those methods might require too much work. Sometimes, creating a "false or deceptive visual impression" is all you need to achieve that ideal look.

In order to assess this patent objectively, we must recall the three pillars of a good patent: novel, nonobvious, and useful. Sometimes they can qualify for all three characteristics but are not feasible and are seemingly ridiculous. In this case, although the USPTO determined this idea as worthy of a patent, I think it falls under the "seemingly ridiculous" category. Furthermore, I actually think that although this product is novel, and nonobvious, I believe it is not useful at all. Perhaps my misunderstanding of the fashion industry does not make me a credible critic, but I truly do not see a world in which people would go out a buy "optical illusion wear" just so they could look slimmer. But then again, people do some innovative and sometimes crazy things to lose weight, or at least look like they've lost weight.