Announcing 'PatSnap's Silliest Patent' competition!
There's a television show called Shark Tank, where innovators and research engineers get to pit themselves against big name investors to pitch their grand idea and convince them to invest a market share of their profits.
Here at PatSnap, we believe that innovation, whilst it's a serious business, should also be fun!! That's why we're hosting PatSnap's Silliest Patent Competition.
People patent all sorts of strange and wacky inventions, regardless of feasibility or market value. Ear protectors for a poodle, a beer barrel for your head, if you can think of it, it's probably been invented!!
What sort of strange patents have you found in PatSnap recently? See the photos for some inspiration!
Comment below with the weirdest patent you've seen. Tell us what makes it silly and why you think it should win!
On the 10th November, we at PatSnap will pick our favourite. The winner will receive an Amazon voucher worth $50!!
Entry Requirements:
MUST include at least one photo
MUST have a publication/application number so it can easily be found in the Analytics platform
Nothing NSFW (basically anything that you wouldn't show to your boss.)
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Official comment
Thank you for all your entries! It was a tough competition but ultimately we had to pick one winner.
The patent with the most votes from our judges was:
US5023850A "Clock for keeping time at a rate other than human time"
Congratulations to Kukka Miikkulainen for their submission!
A HUGE thank you to everyone who has entered, we loved seeing the variety of entries!
Stay tuned for future competitions coming very soon here in the PatSnap Community!!!
Comment actions -
US3552388ABaby patting machine
A device for patting a baby to sleep by means of periodic pats upon the rump or hind part of the baby, the device comprising a bracket supporting a motor having pulley on the motor shaft, and the pulley supporting an arm having a soft pad at one end which pats the baby.
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US10808211B2
Disposable wipes with treatment agent safely formed insitu
This is a patent for everyone working in the healthcare system who wants to feel like a marvel superhero/villain while killing germs with a powerful disinfecting-gauntlet.
Alternatively, you can iron them away:
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Anything filed by Gerard Voon. Word salad stream of consciousness pro se filed omnibus patents.
IN:(Voon, Gerard) - 126 filings, 126 abandonments.One of the few with drawings - CA2636886A1 - Models, methods, techniques to make things work better, and automating these operations (m&t) -
Excerpt -
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NL1023816C
Abstract:
A man chooses a woman and the latter chooses a man, the couple then gradually get to know each other over a period of more than 4 years, during which they get to see a lot of the world, and then the couple openly admit that they are very happy together, after which they live together for at least one more year before getting married. An Independent claim is also included for publications or other means for promoting the marriage arrangement method.
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CA2160721A1
the wonderful world of gas collection in these methane worrisome times.
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US20210065313A1 Method and system for interaction with political figures
A method and system are disclosed which calculates a consistency score for a political figure based on social media, speeches, news articles, or other information sources, as well as the political figure's voting record. The method and system determine the political representatives for a user based on the user's geographical location, and present information on various political figures to the user. The method and system are also capable of providing communication between multiple users, as well as between users and political figures. The method and system also allow for users to send physical letters to political figures, and for political figures to send messages to users.
With a little help from AI we can do without any human intervention, and focus on peaceful living, without to much political or social interference. Thanks Klint, for your contribution to human evolution,
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While the concept itself isn't silly, there was that time an Australian guy patented the wheel. Yes, the wheel. And the description (particularly the background) is pure gold.
AU2001100012A4
Circular transportation facilitation device
ABSTRACT: In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transportation facilitation device including a circular rim, a bearing in which a hollow 5 cylindrical member is rotatable about a rod situated within the hollow cylindrical member, and a series of connecting members connecting the circular rim with the hollow cylindrical member to maintain the circular rim and the hollow cylindrical member in substantially fixed relation, wherein the rod is positioned on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the circular rim, and substantially central of the circular rim.
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US4353225A - "Jewelry for Animals" from 1979 is for pierced ears of dogs, cats, and even horses!
ABSTRACT: Decorative devices for pierced ears having two decorative sides and interchangable"add on" decorative parts is disclosed. The decorative ear devices "or earrings" of this invention are primarily for use for "show" animals such as dogs, cats and horses, but could also be used by humans. The "earrings" of this invention are for use for pierced ears and comprise a first decorative end having a permanently attached shaft. A first protective washer fits over the shaft and against the first decorative end. The shaft is made of a material suitable for passing through a pierced ear of an animal, such as for example, a poodle and preferably includes a male thread on the end thereof. A second protective washer is placed around the shaft after it is passed through the pierced ear. A second decorative end is secured to the end of the shaft, thereby also securing the earring to the pierced ear. For an earring having a threaded shaft, the second decorative end includes a snug fitting female thread. Either one or both of the two decorative ends further include means for attaching additional decorative parts such that the earrings may be selectively changed from a basic earring having two simple decorative ends for every day wear to an earring having elaborate decorative ends for an animal ready for a show.
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US5023850A Clock for keeping time at a rate other than human time
This one has been withdrawn before grant which makes me wonder if Ellie ever said "yes":
US20070078663A1 Method and instrument for proposing marriage to an individual
1. A method for offering marriage to an individual by converting a patent application into an offer to marry an individual, comprising the steps of:drafting a patent application to disclose an invention, wherein the patent application is drafted in a tangible medium;drafting a marriage proposal that proposes marriage to the individual, wherein the marriage proposal is drafted in a tangible medium; andincorporating the marriage proposal into the patent application, wherein the patent application is converted into an offer to marry the individual for offering marriage to the individual during a proposal event.25. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one claim of the offer to marry recites:“Ellie I've been in love with you for the last five years. I've known this since the day we met and the time we've spent together since that day has only made me realize this fact more. You have been by my side in every way a person could possibly hope and I would like nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you please marry me?”And last but not least another one which was withdrawn and presumably even if it works difficult to collect revenue from other than human life forms and if human requires the contractual obligations to carry over. Text in its entirety:US20040005535A1 Process of reincarnationABSTRACTThe invention consists of the process of reincarnation or rebirth resulting in immortality.SUMMARY OF INVENTION:[0001] This invention resulted from my combining Einstein's Theory of Relativity and Newton's Second Law of Physics.[0002] Reincarnation is defined in Webster's Third New Inernational Dictionary as "rebith". Thus my invention is a process of rebirth or in other words immortality.I claim:1. The process of reincarnation or rebirth which results in immortality. -
US3216423A
Apparatus for facilitating the birth of a child by centrifugal force
[col. 1; l. 12-30] It is known, that due Io natural anatomical conditions the fetus needs the application of considerable propelling force to enable it to push aside the constricting vaginal walk, to overcome the friction of the uteral and vagina) surfaces and to counteract the atmospheric pressure opposing the emergence of the child. In the case of a woman who has a fully developed muscular system and has had ample physical exertion all through the pregnancy as is common with all more primitive people nature provides all the neccessary equipment and power to have a normal and quick delivery. This is not the case, however, with more civilized women who often do not have the opportunity to develop the muscles needed in confinement. It is the primary purpose of the present invention to provide an apparatus which will assist the under-equipped woman by creating a gentle, evenly distributed, properly directed, precision-control led force, that acts in unison with and supplements her own efforts.
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CA2929508A1 Smartest cities
"New models for cutting edge technologies to serve interests of super cities better. New products and services that a city should have that is helpful, healthy, and helps people perform and locals and tourists can enjoy."
Unfortunately no drawings, but very detailed claims. The city includes skyscrapers with giant Fabergé eggs on top! Who wouldn't want to live there.
"The roof can have extended needles that fire off fireworks every time the stock market increases by a substantial percentage... to celebrate everyone's increasing riches."
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JP2010165355A "World's newest public project countermeasure device for full payment of debt exceeding nine-hundred trillion yen of nation"
"The present invention describes the patented technology for repaying all the debts of over 900 trillion yen in Japan and the patented technology for repaying all the debts of prefectures and municipalities."
Basically an elaborate plan and various technological ideas to save Japan from all its problems. Judging from the many drawings, the solution is complicated.
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SCENTED BOWLING BALLS AND METHODS
US7803058B2
The drawing isn't that silly (see below), but I like this from the description:
[0007] In use, bowling balls are subjected to the often objectionable smells of a bowling alley, including cigarette smoke, sweat, and shoe odors. After use, bowling balls are often placed into a bag that includes other items, such as gloves, supports, or braces that are used in bowling, as well as bowling shoes. Thus, even when stored, bowling balls are often exposed to somewhat objectionable odors. Further, bowling bags are sometimes stored in the trunks of cars, which may carry other undesirable smells.[0008] Unfortunately, polyurethane, from which bowling balls are typically manufactured, as well as other materials that may be used in the manufacture of bowling balls, often possess some capacity to absorb the odors to which they are exposed. Moreover, some bowlers find the smells of the materials from which bowling balls are made objectionable. In some instances, the scents of such materials may even cause physical reactions, such as nausea or headaches.[0009] In use, a bowler typically positions a bowling ball in close proximity to his or her nose, where the often objectionable smells carried by the bowling ball become readily apparent to the bowler.[0010] Accordingly, there is a need for bowling balls and other articles of manufacture with pleasant scents, as well as for methods for manufacturing such articles.I also loved the fact that this is a continuation, so they felt they could expand on the original patent in the family. (There is also a third family member that was abandoned, so I guess the world only needed two patents for scented bowling balls in the end.)
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