Patenting an Invention for Camping

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 make camping-related chores easier.  If you are in the process of inventing a new product for camping, take a look at some of these unique patents.

The Folding Camp Stove (U.S. Patent No. 7367332) is designed to take advantage of newer technology available, in order to create a more lightweight, compact cooking tool for campers to use. The inventors explain that while there are many portable stoves that have been invented in the past, there are drawbacks to the existing types, particularly among those types that are intended for a larger basis of service. The application explains, “While these larger, suitcase-style portable stoves work well for their intended purpose, there are some limitations to their use. Generally, the suitcase-style portable stoves require a separate table on which to rest, and must be level or near level on that table. In addition, although the suitcase-style portable stoves fold into a box configuration, they are still somewhat bulky for travel and storage. Care must be taken with the devices because there are often objects that extend outside the box configuration, such as gas line attachments or control knobs, which may need protection during storage and/or transport.” The folding camp stove incorporates a construction of lightweight materials, which makes it more readily carried on its own. However, the design of the stove is important as well. The stove is built into a clamshell configuration when folded, meaning that instead of a large rectangular “suitcase” that must be carefully carried separately, the folding stove provides a small, circular package that can be packed in with other items for carrying. The ability to collapse the stove comes in part from the clamshell shape, wherein each burner is set into a circular body, with pivoting hinges allowing the opening and folding of the elements. The burner elements are also designed such that, while symmetrical when the whole apparatus is unfolded, they are slightly offset so that they nest together when the stove is closed.

The Adjustable Fishing and Camping Chair (U.S. Patent No. 4772068) was approved for patent in September of 1988; while it is not precisely a recent invention, it provided for a need that existed long before the item. The chair is a collapsible seat which includes a means of adjusting the distance between the bottom of the chair and the surface on which it rests, which enables the chair to remain a safe seating arrangement even with the presence of an incline. The chair also has a means for selectively adjusting the front end of the chair accordingly. The frame of the chair is constructed of a lightweight material, such as aluminum, which makes it more highly portable than other adjustable chairs available on the market. The invention deals with an issue that long plagued campers and fishermen; namely the need to have seating available in all terrains. The adjustable chair provided means for the seat to be made stable in a variety of different inclined positions, and locking mechanisms for keeping the adjustments in place until the chair should be collapsed or until further adjustments need to be made. The chair’s lightweight materials, including the plastic strips that form a lattice-mesh to hold the sitter, make it ideal for the purposes of camping; being easy to carry and compact to store, it is an ideal item of camping furniture.

The Collapsible Camping Trailer (U.S. Patent No. 4165117) is an invention intended to not create a new item, but to improve on existing products. The application explains that “many multi-purpose units are described which may be utilized for transportation and or living space. In general these prior devices comprise a single unit not detachable from the frame, and they are typically quite bulky when in a traveling position. Furthermore, these prior art devices permit only limited space to transport materials or equipment inside. Additionally, many of these devices are quite complicated or unreliable to operate in changing the device from a collapsed to an expanded condition or the reverse.” The invention creates a new type of camping trailer that is easily collapsed both by mechanical means and by manually folding down the components; when traveling, the collapsed camper is able to carry and store several items, or a reasonable amount of gear, while also being easy to transport and efficient in size. When the user arrives at the campsite, a locking device releases four spring-loaded lifting devices located at the corners of the camper, while also unlocking the hinged roof. The roof is lifted up such that it forms equal angles against all of the walls. A brace slides in a channel and hydraulic pressure is used to push the walls outward to the fully open position, with brackets to lock them in place once they achieve that expanse.  When the trailer must be collapsed, the front and back walls need only to be given sufficient pressure to unlock the brace, which activates the fold-down of the roof. All sides of the structure can then be collapsed inward.

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.