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. 

Patenting an Invention for the Bathroom

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.  

Types of Patents

A smart inventor knows that patenting usually comes near the end of the inventing process.  After you have come up with an idea, checked for other patents that are similar to your idea, talked to manufacturers about what they are looking for, created a working prototype and talked to manufacturers some more, it may be time to consider a patent.  It is important to improve your concept and make sure it’s as good as you can make it before even thinking of trying to get it patented.  

So what is a patent exactly?  A patent is defined as the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to exclude others from making, using, or selling their invention for a certain number of years.   It is one of the ways to protect an invention from unauthorized selling or from being copied.  The following are the three types of patents issued in Unites States of America.

Utility patents
Utility patents are the most common patents obtained by inventors. They are obtained by those who invent or discover a new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter or any new and useful improvement thereof.  This type of patent focuses mainly on how something works. Utility patents could cover mechanical devices, chemical compositions, pharmaceuticals or even software. Another characteristic of a utility patent is that it always involves a detailed written description of the invention. These patents can also be obtained for the functional aspects of an invention.

Design Patents
The second type of patent available to inventors is the design patent. They may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.

Plant Patent
The third and final type of patent obtainable in the United States is the plant patent. The plant patent is the rarest form of patent used. They exist only in a very limited field. For example, if a person invented a new hybrid type of sunflower plant, then they would need a plant patent for their invention.

To better explain all three patents it helps to visualize an invention.  For example, if someone invented a new type of wallet, then the design patent would cover the looks of it, and the utility patent would cover what makes it work (zippers, clasps, or velcro). The plant patent would obviously not apply to this type of invention.

In 2000, the cost of obtaining a patent was an estimated $10,000 to $30,000 per patent in the United States, although they can run more if litigation is forced upon the inventor.

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.  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.  When the time finally comes, understanding these different types of patents will come in handy.

Getting a Patent on Your Own

When someone has an idea for a new invention and they want to pursue it, there are two basic routes they can take.  They can turn to an inventing company to help them create, prepare and present their ideas to corporations, manufacturers and retailers in an effort to get it licensed on store shelves, or they can try to do it on their own.  In some cases inventing a product on your own can be cheaper, but in order to do so successfully, you must know what you are doing.

If you are currently in the process of inventing a product on your own, it is important to do as much research as possible.  There are certain areas of the process that may be more confusing than others, and one wrong move could end up costing you a lot of extra time, effort and money.  

Getting a patent on your own is one of those areas.  One of the most important things to consider before even thinking of getting a patent on your own is whether the timing is right.  Many inventors think that getting their idea patented immediately is the right thing to do.  However, corporations with lots of experience will tell you that may not be the correct approach.  

Smart inventors and most reputable inventing companies will tell you that patenting often comes near the end of their inventing process.  Once you have come up with an idea, checked for other patents that are similar to your idea, talked confidentially to manufacturers about what they are looking for, created a working prototype and talked to manufacturers some more, then it may be time to consider a patent.  It is crucial to improve your concept and make sure it’s as good as you can make it before even thinking of trying to get it patented.  

Before you begin the application process, it is a good idea to do a patent search.  You can begin this online, but you may also want to take a trip to a Patent and Trademark Depository Library. This research will help you navigate your way through the application process and help you come to an agreement with the patent examiner.

Next begins the one to two year process, where the patent application will shuffle between the applicant and the patent examiner until an agreement is made as to what aspects of an invention the patent will cover, if any. Following the agreement, the Patent and Trademark Office will publish a description of the patent in the Official Gazette, which gives others a chance to object to the patent. If no one objects, the applicant then has to pay a required insurance fee and the PTO gives the applicant the patent deed. If a patent is issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, upon approval of the application, it will grant the inventor a monopoly on the product for 14 to 20 years.

What is included in a patent application? The US Patent and Trademark Office can provide you with the specifics, but typically the application includes a Patent Application Declaration, which is simply a statement that the information provided is true, an Information Disclosure Statement, explaining why the invention is different from all similar developments and a patent specification, which is a detailed description of the invention, as well as how you would build and use the invention. This should be accompanied by drawings to help fully explain the details and specifications. There should also be a description of all aspects of the invention you would like to have covered by the patent. And finally, you must submit your application with a filing fee.  In some cases, you can ask for a reduction in rate.

The patenting process can be expensive, time-consuming and stressful.  Before jumping into it, it is important to understand when and how to do it so that when the time comes, it will go as smoothly as possible.    

Do you have an invention idea?  Click here to confidentially submit your idea.