Patenting an invention is one of several ways for inventors
to protect their intellectual property. A patent is legal protection of a
design, process or other patentable property that is novel. The protection
lasts for a specified period, at the end of which the invention becomes part of
the public domain. A patent gives the owner the right to exclude others from
making, using, selling, trading or importing the invention or process that the
patent holder has devised.
Patents can be acquired for a wide variety of inventions,
and today there are many ideas and innovations that enhance the function of the
bathroom. If you are in the process of inventing a new product for
bathrooms, take a look at some of these unique patents.
The Bathroom Sauna (U.S. Patent No. 8132795) provides for a
way for individuals to have the luxury of a sauna atmosphere without the
expensive outlay of building a discrete sauna structure. There were devices
that existed before, the application explains, but their functionality was
limited to only heating the air, as opposed to providing the full sauna effect
of heat and humidity. As a result of this, the inventors assert, “When a
bathing person wipes sweat off with a towel, skin surface lipids and the like
components essential for keeping the skin moisture may sometimes be
inadvertently removed together with sweat. Even if he or she applies a cosmetic
lotion to the skin, it might flow down together with the sweat, nullifying the
effect of skin moistening. Further, the skin surface lipids and the like
moisture-keeping component might be washed off by the sweat.” This outcome is
not optimal, the application asserts, because the beautifying aspects of sauna
bathing are supposed to preserve an intrinsic moisture-keeping mechanism of the
skin. This invention, however, provides for both heat and humidity, and
specifically maintains an environmental heat that is just below the level at
which sauna bathers would begin to sweat naturally. The invention includes a
device for heating the air of the bathroom chamber, a device for adding
moisture content to the air, and a pathway system for sending the air into the
bathroom. As well, the invention includes devices that are designed to keep the
temperature and humidity of the air that is sent into the bathroom at a level
that provides the best benefits to the bather, without inducing sweating, and
the exterior controls by which the bather can activate the system.
The Bathroom Vanity with Weigh Scale Storage (U.S. Patent
No. 7355131) addresses an issue that a growing number of health-conscious
individuals have; the desire to have a weigh scale available to track weight,
without taking up the limited space in the bathroom area. The application for
the patent explains that with the growing number of health-conscious
individuals, scales for tracking weight have become an increasingly popular
item. The design of most bathrooms, however, provides for only very limited
floor space, which means that in order to keep one, most users either must
maneuver around the item on the floor to keep it accessible, or store it in a
cupboard or cabinet, which entails with it the need to remove it from the
storage area to use it. This, in turn results in less use of the scale, as well
as decreasing the convenience of having a scale available to monitor weight. In
response to this, the invention would provide a standard-sized bathroom vanity
arrangement, with sink and faucet and storage unit available for regular use;
however, it would differ in providing the owner of the product with a
kick-panel, wherein a scale could be stored. When closed, the kick panel
unobtrusively holds the scale, freeing up the floor space. When the kick panel
is engaged, the scale swings out, and is available for standing on for the
purposes of getting the desired information. The invention also discusses the
preference of the scale providing an output of its readings to a digital
display on the vanity for ease.
The Bathroom Mirror Defogger (U.S. Patent No. 4037079) combined
functionality and form to solve a problem in an innovative way. The application
for the patent accepts that there are already products that existed at the time
that allow for users to remove condensation from bathroom mirrors. However, the
inventor asserts, the previous inventions suffer from an inadequacy of
performance, as well as the fact that the apparatus was aesthetically
unpleasing. The previous inventions were inefficient, the application argues,
and the assembly of the blower portion is not able to maintain the full viewing
surface of the mirror free of condensation. In patenting an invention, as in
this example, it is important to keep in mind specific claims that can be made
for your product. This invention improves upon existing products, rather than
creating an entirely new one; as such, the inventor explains that the
objectives will be to provide for a curtain of heated air, rather than a
non-uniform jet of air, for example. The product is also aesthetically
pleasing, with the design required to blend into standard bathroom fixtures and
become unnoticeable. The concept of this item also serves to not only disperse
the condensation, but also to prevent its recurrence during operation, because
of the mechanism of the blower spreading out a uniform amount of heated air
over the entire reflective surface. Importantly, the invention also conforms to
conventional forms of manufacturing, which means that it is easy to assemble
and install, as well as economically feasible for purchase.
There are many aspiring inventors out there. In order
to spend their time and money wisely, it is crucial for them to understand when
and how to patent, or whether you even need one at all. Many people
believe that patenting their idea right away is what they need to do and this
is not always the best idea. Smart inventors and reputable inventing
companies know that it is best to leave the patenting towards the end of the
inventing process, after the idea has been improved and perfected as much as
possible. Remember that you can also team
up with an inventing company. The experienced
employees of these companies have a better understanding of what it takes to
make your product successful and can be extremely helpful.
A typical project is
not licensed, sold in stores or profitable.
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