Author Archives: mjwhitekingston

PatentScope Has JP Data

Posted on August 9, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

Japanese patent documents are now available in PatentScope. The JP national collection is the 29th added to the system and includes more than 3 million records from January 2004 through July 2012. New data will be added weekly. JP documents … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, PatentScope | Leave a comment

Canadian Invents Device to Help Cystic Fibrosis Patients Breath

Posted on July 10, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

Interesting story about a Canadian man suffering from cystic fibrosis who patented a device that helps him breath. His patents for a “chest vibrating device” include US7416536 (B2) and CA2563723 (C). Medical devices are a bit more challenging to commercialize because they … Continue reading →

Posted in inventors, medical devices | Leave a comment

Happy 4th of July!

Posted on July 4, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

Tonight millions of Americans will enjoy firework shows in celebration of Independence Day. Millions more may even set off a few firecrackers and bottle rockets in their backyards. Many of these pyrotechnics can trace their origins to designs patented decades … Continue reading →

Posted in Fireworks, Independence Day | Leave a comment

RIM’s Troubles and Canadian Patents

Posted on July 4, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

Reports of RIM’s demise may be premature but the company’s precarious situation might be a concern for officials at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. For the better part of a decade, RIM has been one of CIPO’s best customers; since … Continue reading →

Posted in CIPO, Research in Motion, RIM | Leave a comment

USPTO satellite offices; European patent moves forward

Posted on July 4, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

Big patent news from Europe and the US: The USPTO is planning to open three new satellite offices in Dallas, Denver and Silicon Valley, bringing the total number of regional offices to four. The first USPTO satellite office will open … Continue reading →

Posted in EPO, European Patent, European patent court, USPTO, USPTO satellite offices | Leave a comment

2012 Global Innovation Index

Posted on July 3, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

The 2012 Global Innovation Index, co-published by INSEAD and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), is now available.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Lobster Lure Saves Money

Posted on June 25, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

A Nova Scotian inventor has designed a device that will allow lobster fisherman to leave their traps in the water for longer periods of time, thus reducing the number of trips they have to make to check them. The device … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hockey Players Protect Their Noggins

Posted on May 31, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

A group of Canadian businessmen have launched a new product that they claim will protect hockey players from concussions.The Noggin is a form-fitting skull cap kitted out with gel pads intended to be worn under a regulation hockey helmet. Medical … Continue reading →

Posted in Concussions, Hockey, Protective Equipment, Sports | Leave a comment

2012 National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees

Posted on May 31, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

Ten inventors were inducted into the U.S. National Inventors Hall of Fame earlier this month. The inductees included Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and holder of more than 100 patents, and Nobel Laureate (Physics) Dennis Gabor.

Posted in Dennis Gabor, inventors, National Inventors Hall of Fame, Steve Jobs | Leave a comment

Free Patent Tools from MaxVal

Posted on May 25, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

MaxVal, an IP research and services firm, offers a suite of useful (and free) patent tools. The graphical patent family tree generator is especially nice. The USPTO widget is also useful for compiling data about a specific patent from various … Continue reading →

Posted in MaxVal, Patent Families, Patent Tools | Leave a comment