SWDELAW - Intellectual Property & Delaware Corporate Law

Honda's New CB1100 - Destined for the U.S.?

2010-12-11T20:23:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, this recently issued design patent is proof that Honda's great retro CB1100 is destined for the United States. An image from the patent is below.

Mazda's New Direct Injection Diesel

2010-09-12T11:50:00.001-07:00

Clean diesel may have lost some momentum to electric veichles, but many manufacturers are still pursuing it. According to this patent application, Maza has developed a new high efficiency direct injection diesel engine. An image from the patent application is below.

Honda's Robot Army

2010-08-29T11:41:00.000-07:00

Robots are the future, and Honda loves robots. According to this patent application, Honda has developed a system where a task can be broadcast to a team (or army - if you will) of robots and then assigned to the robot most capable of executing the task with the lowest "cost" to efficiency. This way, a server can command this army of robots and have them efficiently execute tasks by priority. An image from the patent application is below.

Ford's Non-Hybrid Plug-in

2010-08-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

The engineers at Ford are working on a new take on plug-in vehicles. According to this patent application, Ford is developing a plug-in type vehicle that uses battery energy to power all of the electrical systems on the vehicle, but not to supply any "motive" power to the vehicle itself. This eliminates the cost of adding an electric motor in parallel to the gas motor, yet still generates substantial fuel economy improvements. An image from the application is below.

Multi-Clutch R1 Coming From Yamaha

2010-06-13T21:25:00.000-07:00

According to this patent application, Yamaha is hard at work to bring a multi-clutch transmission to the R1. Such an advance will be able to speed shift and get more power to the rear wheel faster. An image from the application is below.

Ford's Hatchback With Flip-Out Car Seat

2010-05-15T20:04:00.000-07:00

It appears that Ford is working on a new five-door family sedan. According to this patent application, the vehicle will include integral infant car seats that fold back into the hatch. An image from the application is below.

Patent App Shows VW's 2 Wheel Intentions

2010-05-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

It has long been rumored that VW is interested in entering the motorcycle segment. VW's recent deal with Suzuki gave many further proof for arguing that VW's intentions are more than just a rumor. Now comes this patent application for an anti-lock system for a two wheeled vehicle. The patent application describes the vehicle as being a bicycle, but it could also apply to a motorcycle. An image from the application is below.

BMW's New 4 Wheel Drive System

2010-05-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

It looks as if BMW is getting serious about bringing true off-road utility to its X line of vehicles. According to this patent application, BMW has developed a new rear differential that will allow for a variable torque split between the front and rear axles to maximize usable power in low traction situations. An image from the patent application is below.

Buell's Final Invention

2010-04-24T11:32:00.001-07:00

Buell Motorcycles was one of many victims of the current financial crisis. We at SWDELAW enjoyed our time riding Buell's products, especially the XB12R. As an homage to Buell, we bring you one of the final patent applications for that company, which just published here on April 10, 2010. Some images from the application, which is directed towards an integral radiator system, are below.

Bike Rack for Motorcycles

2010-03-13T14:25:00.000-08:00

Finally, a way to strap my bicycle onto my motorcycle. A patent application for two wheel purists. An image is from the application is below.

S&S Designs New Air Cooled V-Twin Engine

2010-02-27T21:14:00.000-08:00

There is almost nothing more American than the air-cooled V-Twin. Luckily, companies like S&S are continuing to invest time and research dollars in an effort to make sure stricter environmental regulations do not lead to the extinction of this icon. This patent application is a case in point. An image from the application is below.

BMW's New Supercharged Six

2010-02-15T10:37:00.000-08:00

Looks like BMW's latest M models may be moving away from eight cylinder engines. According to this patent application, BMW is working on a supercharged flat six that will provide exceptional power with reduced emissions and increased fuel efficiency. A diagram of the new engine is below.

Indian Motorcycle Brand Is Reinvented

2010-02-06T19:38:00.000-08:00

Looks like the fabled Indian Motorcycle brand is back - and not just as a kit company, but as an honest to goodness research based vehicle manufacturer. Just take a look at this patent application, which is the source of the image below.

HTC's New Multi-Touch UI

2010-01-31T20:35:00.000-08:00

Looks like HTC is getting ready to turn the page on a new class of mobile device user interfaces - literally. According to this patent application, the new interface will let you navigate through your phone's menus like flipping pages in a book. You can even delete items by tearing out the page. Some images form the patent application are below.

Asimo Learns Karaoke

2010-01-24T12:03:00.000-08:00

Looks like the latest all singing all dancing Asimo Robot from Honda will be able to do just that. According to this patent application, Asimo will be able to recognize a tune and sing its lyrics. Asimo will also be able to recognize the beat and dance along. An image from the patent application is below.

Honda Going After Ducati Hypermotard

2010-01-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

Supermoto seems to be the sweet spot of this otherwise depressed motorcycle market. Just days after Ducati's launch of the new Hypermotard 796, this patent application reveals Honda's intention to go after the same target market. Images of this exciting new bike are below.

Ford and Mercedes Working Together on Fuel Cells

2009-12-29T11:08:00.000-08:00

A patent application for a way to humidify a fuel stream for a hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle was recently published here. While the subject matter of the application is interesting, what is more interesting is the fact that it is jointly owned by both Daimler-Benz and Ford Global Technologies. The first page of the application is below.

Ducati's Radical New Motorcycle Frame

2009-12-21T16:13:00.001-08:00

Ducati's newest sport bike may radically change how motorcycle frames are viewed in terms of motorcycle design. According to this patent application, Ducati has developed a motorcycle where the engine member replaces the bridging section of the frame. According to Ducati, this design dramatically decreases weight and increases aerodynamic performance. An image from the application is below.

Apple's "Aesthetically Pleasing" Universal Dock

2009-12-12T16:53:00.001-08:00

Does the creativity at Cupertino know no bounds? According to this patent application, Apple has invented a docking station that uses memory foam. A picture from the application is below.

Yamaha's New V-Twin is a Quad!

2009-12-06T19:49:00.000-08:00

Looks like Bombardier's Spyder is going to have some competition in the 3+ wheel street sport segment. According to this patent application, Yamaha has just developed a V-Twin Quat that looks amazing. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so below are three figues from the application. Enjoy!

Panasonic's Dangerous Driving Predictor

2009-11-28T06:02:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has ever taken a motorcycle safety class has learned the SIPDE method - Scan, Identify, Predict, Decide, Execute. According to this patent application, it looks like Panasonic has come up with a device that will do the SIP part for you. A self explanatory image from the patent application is below.

New Ford Engines Will Clean the Air

2009-11-21T12:46:00.000-08:00

We all know Ford has quite a few engineers working on making sure that future vehicles will not produce any hydrocarbon emissions from their tailpipes. Apparently, they also have a few engineers working on capturing hydrocarbon emissions from the front end. According to this patent application, Ford has developed an air intake system that scrubs incoming air for hydrocarbons. An image from the patent application is below.

Apple Switching to Replaceable Batteries

2009-11-14T12:51:00.000-08:00

Looks like Apple may finally start offering iPhones and iPods with user replaceable batteries. According to this patent application, Apple has developed an ultra thin battery with a connector that allows it to be user replaceable. The patent application does not explain why it took them so long. An image from the application is below.

Supreme Court Hears In re Bilski

2009-11-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

The United States Supreme Court heard oral argument today for In re Bilski. The transcript of the oral argument can be found here.

Apple Bringing Multi-touch to iPhone

2009-11-07T14:51:00.000-08:00

Looks like iPhone may soon do what Droid doesn't. According to this patent application, Apple has developed a multi-touch interface system for use in portable devices. Perhaps this is a preview of the next iPhone's technology. What is interesting is that these panels can be applied to the inside of a curved surface. Who knows what Apple has in mind with that little twist. An image from the patent application is below.

BMW Tries To Patent Creative Thinking

2009-11-01T05:34:00.000-08:00

We've written about BMW's attempts to patent the concept of auto leasing before. Now comes an attempt to patent the concept of problem solving. According to this patent application, BMW thinks it has invented the concept of "identifying technology-based solutions in the context of technical component development includ[ing] identifying technical components for particular technical systems, as well as the corresponding technological functions associated with the identified technical components." An image from the patent application is below.

Porsche's Aero Sunroof for the Panamera

2009-10-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

With Porsche's new sedan coming to market soon, more details of its design are surfacing. According to this patent application, Porsche developed the sunroof for the Panamera with aerodynamics and high speed driving in mind. An image from the patent application, shown below, shows just how this four-door's sunroof is integrated into the aerodynamics of the rear spoiler.

Yamaha's CrossPlane Cooling System

2009-10-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

Looks like Yamaha is taking the asymmetrical CrossPlane technology to a new level in its next engine. According to this patent application, Yamaha has developed a cooling system that will keep the engine narrow by placing it slightly out of forward alignment. A diagram from the application is below

Sony Ericsson's Newest Phone Camera

2009-10-10T14:56:00.000-07:00

Looks like Sony Ericsson will be taking the cameras in its newest phones to the next level. According to this patent application, Sony Ericsson has developed a trick slide cover that can conceal a shutter based cell phone camera with a flash. A diagram from the patent application is below.

Honda Bringing Brake By Wire To Motorcycles

2009-10-03T05:47:00.000-07:00

The days are numbered for that little tea-cup of fluid by your front brake lever. According to this patent application, Honda has developed a brake-by-wire system and may bring it to market soon. This may make moving the bike around in the garage a little more challenging, but - with the integrated ABS Honda also plans to incorporate into this system - it should also significantly improve braking performance. An image from the patent application is below.

Ford's 4 Cylinder Multi-Spark Engine

2009-09-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

According to this patent application, Ford is working on bringing a multi-spark four cylinder engine to market. What is interesting is that the patent application suggest the system will also work in conjunction with cylinder deactivation technology. Combine this with a hybrid power-plant and 100mpg should be an easy feat. A diagram from the application is below.

Kawasaki Developing Its Own "Cross Plane" Engine

2009-09-19T10:41:00.000-07:00

Looks like Yamaha is going to have some technological competition in the liter bike segment. According to this patent application, Kawasaki is well along in bringing an engine with unequal stroke lengths to market. Given the continued trickle down of MotoGP technology, we are not far off from having stock 200bhp liter bikes. An image from the application is below.

Bamboo Bicycles Coming Soon

2009-09-14T10:46:00.000-07:00

Carbon started replacing metal in lugged bicycle frames about 30 years ago. Now a Taiwanese company is looking for the next great lightweight material for use in frames - and it may be bamboo. According to this patent application, bamboo has many benefits over carbon, including being lightweight, inexpensive, and renewable. We at SWDELAW think biking is great thing to do for the environment, and now you can have a biodegradable bike! An image from the application is below.

Continental's Motorcycle ABS System

2009-09-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

Continental, the German company best known for its high performance tires, is working on a new ABS system for motorcycles that incorporates a roll-angle sensor. According to this patent application, the system will be able to modulate the application of braking pressure on each wheel based on the lean angle of the motorcycle. An image from the patent is below.

Ford Develops "Unique" Seating System

2009-08-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

According to this application, Ford has come up with a "unique and versatile seating system for automobiles." Take a look at the pictures from the application below. Does anything look familiar?

Honda Integrating Airbags Into Sportbikes

2009-08-22T17:15:00.001-07:00

Based on this patent application, it looks like Honda is planning on expanding its line of motorcycles equipped with airbags. From the diagrams below, the next generation of ST tourers may come with airbags. Let just hope this remains an option and doesn't become mandated by the DOT.

Next Gen PSP May Get Spinning Touchpad

2009-08-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

According to this recently published patent application, it looks like the next generation of Sony's PSP (PlayStation Portable) will have an analog controller that incorporates spinning/rotational inputs. That should make driving simulation games much more entertaining. No word on whether this control wheel will be incorporated into the PSPgo. A diagram from the patent application is below.

Ford Bringing V-Chip To Cars

2009-08-09T12:11:00.000-07:00

Looks like Ford is working on a new way for parents to control what their kids can and can't do with the family car. According to this patent application, Ford is working on a system that uses RFID coding to determine if the driver is using a "primary" key or a "secondary" key. Depending on which key is being used, the driver will (or won't) have the ability to do things such as disable traction control, use parking assist, or ignore the low fuel indicator. I guess if you let the teenager borrow the Mustang, its probably best that traction control stay on! A diagram from the patent application is below.

Cannondale's Power Suspension System

2009-08-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

Cannondale is bringing a new level of electronics to bicycling. According to this patent application, Cannondale has been working on an integrated electronic control system that will let a user adjust rebound and dampening settings for front and rear suspension electronically. The unit is powered by an on-board battery and motor. It is operated through an integrated user interface that will also provide data (obtained from built-in sensors) relating to speed, incline, and tire pressure (among other things). This is motorcycle level electronics coming to bicycles. Some images from the patent application are below.

Ford's Automatic Door Opening System

2009-07-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

Looks like Ford is working on making making it easier for its customers to step into a Ford, literally. According to this patent application, Ford has developed a system where sensors in the car detect the presence of a key fob in the pocket of an approaching owner. Once the owner reached a pre-determined distance, the doors automatically unlock and a spring-loaded mechanism pops one or more doors open. Sounds like something a mom that often carries groceries and a two year old would appreciate. An image from the patent is reproduced below.

BMW & GM Hybrid Driveline Patent Application

2009-07-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

The joint research agreement between BMW, GM, Mercedes Benz and Chrysler is starting to pay dividends. This patent application addresses driveline lash in hybrid vehicles. In this case, the joint engineering cooperation may be more impressive than the actual invention. A diagram from the patent application is below.

Honda Rethinks Sportbike Engine Layout

2009-07-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Who says air intake has to be under the seat and exhaust outlets have to be in front of the engine? Not Honda, apparently. According to this patent application, Honda has found a way to tilt a motorcycle engine backwards in the frame and redirect the exhaust out of the back of the engine. Honda claims that this layout will lower the machine's center of gravity and thereby improve handling. Perhaps we will see this layout in the new Interceptor. Below are some images from the patent application.

BMW's Virtual Hazard Detector

2009-07-04T18:02:00.000-07:00

BMW has come up with a new level of technology for use in an automobile. According to this patent application, BMW is working on using laser and thermal imaging sensors to detect potential hazards in the road and alert the driver to those hazards by rendering a virtual image of the upcoming obstacle to the driver. Here's a quote from the patent application:

At least one laser scanner provided in the vehicle scans the surroundings in front of the vehicle and determines the shape of an object and the distance of the object from the vehicle. At least one infrared camera, in particular a thermal imaging camera, is provided on the vehicle. The infrared camera records the surroundings in front of the vehicle and makes available the real or virtual image of the surroundings for display to the driver. The object is compared with at least a first reference object within the scope of a first pattern recognition process. If there is significant correspondence between the object and the reference object, that area on the real or virtual image displayed to the driver in which the object is to be found is determined, and the respective area of the image and/or the respective object is highlighted in the image.

Looks like we are very quickly approaching the point where driving a car will become more like piloting an F16. Below is an image from the patent application showing how the system will work.

Suzuki Bringing Airbags to Scooters

2009-07-02T05:27:00.000-07:00

Looks like the Honda Goldwing will not be the only motorcycle with a factory equipped airbag for long. According to this patent application, Suzuki has developed a way to install an airbag into a scooter type vehicle. Perhaps the cost of adding airbags to two wheeled vehicles is dropping. Some pictures from the patent application are below.

Big Changes Coming to Bing Maps

2009-06-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

Looks like Microsoft's new search portal, Bing.com, is going to get an upgrade to its mapping software that will help it go after Google maps. According to this patent application, Microsoft engineers are working on a routing program that will let a user specify which portions of the route are going to be traveled by foot, bicycle or public transportation. Depending on the mode of transport, the program will suggest routes that may not be passable by cars (i.e., bike paths and pedestrian walkways).

The patent application indicates that the route will be calculated in a way that takes the safety of the path into account based on the user's chosen mode of transport. Right now, Google maps will let you route by public transportation or by walking, but not by bicycle. There is also no way to split up a trip between two modes of transport. As a big fan of bicycling and public transportation, SWDELAW is looking forward to the update. An image from the patent is below.

BMW Tries Patenting Concept of Auto Leasing

2009-06-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

Below is an excerpt from this recent patent application by BMW entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELLING ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES" :

An alternative fuel vehicle is provided to a consumer at an initial purchase price or lease rate which is subsidized by the vehicle manufacturer or financing institution. In one embodiment, the vehicle purchaser is then charged a periodic user fee that is a function of both the distance driven over some predetermined period of time and an applicable unit rate.

It seems that the Supreme Court's forthcoming ruling in In re Bilski may have some impact on how effective BMW will be in enforcing this novel concept.

New Carbon Fork from Specialized Bicycles

2009-06-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

Specialized Bicycles is working on a new approach to making carbon front forks. According to this patent application, Specialized's new carbon fork will have a transition between the fork crown and the steerer that is located within the head tube. One wonders whether this kind of set up will improve steering quickness or high speed stability. A photo of the new fork setup is below.

Shimano's New Carbon Fiber Derailleur

2009-05-31T21:26:00.000-07:00

In addition to developing battery powered derailleurs, Shimano looks to also be making advances in traditional mechanical derailleurs. A recent patent application (found here) details a new rear derailleur that will have a body made out of carbon fiber reinforced nylon. The patent application claims this will yield significant weight savings. An image of the new derailleur is below.

Harley Adding Reverse Drive to Big Twins

2009-05-25T19:53:00.001-07:00

Harley's trikes have had a reverse gear for quite some time. Now it looks like Harley has figured out how to build a transmission with a reverse gear that is compact enough to fit in all of its big twins. According to this patent application, the reverse drive is shown going into a Rocker, but the size and shape of the tranny suggest that it could plug into any big twin, even older models. Given Harley's aging consumer base, this may prove to be a popular option. Some photos from the patent application can be found below.

Mazda's Next Gen Rotary Engine

2009-05-17T16:44:00.000-07:00

Direct injection? Check. Twin spark? Check. Looks like there are a substantial number of improvements in store for Mazda's next generation Renesis engine. The details can be found in this patent application, and a diagram of the new rotary mill is below. Let's see how long it takes Mazda to get this engine into production.

Yamaha's Fuel Cell Motorcycle

2009-05-16T06:59:00.000-07:00

The day of the fuel cell motorcycle may soon be upon us. Based on this patent application, it looks like Yamaha is working on incorporating a fuel cell power source into the frame of a motorcycle. The image below suggests that there is still space for a conventional combustion engine, so perhaps this will be a "hybrid" motorcycle. Hopefully we'll find out soon.

New Harley Three Wheeler

2009-05-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

According to this European patent application, it looks like Harley Davidson is going after some of Can-Am's Spyder sales. The photos below just leave us speechless.

New Road Bike Brakes by TIME

2009-04-29T09:14:00.001-07:00

Looks like TIME, the French bicycle maker, is going to be taking a new approach to rim based road bike brakes. According to this European patent application, it looks like the new brakes will be a cross between cantilever and caliper type brakes. Luckily, it seems that the mounting system for these brakes will be universal.

Ford's New Inline 6 Engine

2009-04-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

Seems like the Europeans have all the fun (at least when it comes to vehicles produced by the Big 3). A recent European patent application, found here, describes Ford's newest high efficiency - and ultra quiet - Inline 6. I'm sure it will have goodies such as turbo charging and direct injection as well. Let's see if they can find a way to get this stateside. A diagram of the engine described in the patent application is reproduced below:

Nissan's New Triple Injection Engine

2009-04-11T19:55:00.000-07:00

Direct injection is so 2008. Nissan plans to go a step further with a new triple injection engine sometime in the future. According to this patent application, the engine will have three injectors per cylinder, each delivering a different fuel. The first injector will supply n-paraffin to start the combustion reaction, the next will supply hydrogen gas to speed the combustion reaction and the final injector will supply a high octane gasoline to drive the combustion reaction. So does that mean your new Nissan will need three gas tanks? Not according to the patent application:

"Both the n-paraffin and the hydrogen gas are obtained using the gasoline as a raw material. The gasoline is stored in a fuel tank 31. The fuel tank 31 is provided with a low-pressure fuel pump 32. The gasoline in the fuel tank 31 is pumped by the low-pressure fuel pump 32 and supplied to a fuel separator 33."

Neat trick. The new engine should be able to achieve substantially better fuel economy versus a traditional gasoline engine. A photo of the cylinder head layout is below (the injectors are 21, 22 & 23):

Smile: Honda's Anti-DUI System Takes Your Picture

2009-04-10T18:58:00.000-07:00

Looks like Honda is working on a new system to cut down on drunk driving. According to this patent application, the Honda system will first test your breath to determine whether you are "drunk." If you're drunk it will take your picture and use face recognition to keep you from getting behind the wheel that night. The fun part comes if you try to fool the system. Let's say you have your sober friend get behind the wheel to trick the car into starting. It will take a picture at start-up and then take another picture when the car is shifted into gear. If the picture from the ignition start and the gear shift don't match, it will cut the engine. Sound a little confusing? Maybe the diagram below will help:

One wonders what other kind of other mischief this in vehicle camera/face-recognition system could be used for. Maybe a wireless link to a police photo database? (Wait, isn't that the plot from Minority Report ...)

Ford's New Turbo Pushrod V8

2009-04-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

Is this the newest engine for the 2010 Mustang GT? (Probably not. According to our friends at Autoblog, this is most likely Ford's new Scorpion diesel engine - though the patent application's specification discusses using this layout in a gasoline engine as well- so its not strictly limited to oil burners.)

A recently published patent application (found here) lists a pushrod V8 - with FOUR valves per cylinder - as one embodiment for this new compact turbo charging system. Let's hope we get to see this on the streets soon.

VW Scirocco May Be Coming to the U.S.

2009-03-29T20:14:00.001-07:00

VW was grated the following design patent on March 24, 2009:

This is clearly a patent for the Euro spec Sirocco - which VW says it does not plan to sell in the United States. One wonders whether this patent means VW is rethinking that decision. The full patent (including 10 images of the vehicle from all angles) can be found here.

Cannondale's New One-Piece Carbon Crank

2009-03-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

Looks like Cannondale will be introducing a new one-piece hollow carbon composite crank system soon. Based on this patent application, it looks like there will be a bolt on bottom housing that will eliminate the need for a bottom bracket system (i.e., no BB30). Here's a picture from the patent application:

In other news, the patent application for Cannondale's folding Jackknife concept just published here. Hopefully we'll be seeing the bike below on sale soon.

European Patent App Hints Honda Adding Fog Lights to Motorcycles

2009-03-22T17:35:00.001-07:00

The European patent application can be found here. I guess Euro safety regulations are being taken to the next level. See the images below. The lights are highlighted in yellow and appear at the base of the front fork and below the axle on the swingarm. Very classy.

Design and Utility Patent Distinctions

2009-03-20T19:24:00.000-07:00

What is the difference between design and utility patents? A design patent protects the appearance of an article to be manufactured. It does not protect the functional or structural features of the article. If the functional or structural features are to be protected, then a utility patent should be sought. Another difference is the duration of the patent -- 14 years from date of issuance for a design patent and generally 20 years from the earliest filing date of the utility patent application. The tests for infringement also are different. For a design patent, the test is the whether an ordinary observer (familiar with the art) believes the accused design is the same as the patented design and for a utility patent, the test requires construing the asserted claims and then determining whether the accused product or method is covered either literally or equivalently by the asserted claims.

In the automotive field, patents have been granted for tread patterns. For example, Goodyear has received design and utility patents regarding tread patterns. U.S. Patent No. 5,603,785 is a utility patent entitled "Tire Including Two Aquachannels on One Side." See this. U.S. Patent No. D534,859 is a design patent (available here) for tire tread. It appears that this patent covers Goodyear's Fortera TripleTred tire, as demonstrated below by an image of the tire (available here) and a figure from the patent:

Goodyear promotes the Fortera TripleTred tire as having "Three Innovative Tread Zones For Superb Traction In Any Weather - Rain, Ice Or Dry" and shows three images of the tread pattern with highlighting to demonstrate each zone -- water zone, ice zone, and dry zone. See this. Below are the three images from Goodyear's website (from left to right: water zone, ice zone, dry zone) above a figure from U.S. Patent No. D534,859:

According to Goodyear, the "Water Zone helps evacuate water off of the tread and away from the tire;" the "Ice Zone helps provide enhanced gripping power on icy or snowy roads;" and the "Dry Zone offers confident maneuvering around curves on dry pavement." Id.

Assuming that the patent does cover the Fortera TripleTred tire and given the manner in which Goodyear shows and describes the zones on its website, is the tread pattern depicted in the patent ornamental?

Fuel Injection Coming to Honda Scooters

2009-03-15T13:28:00.000-07:00

With increasingly tightening emissions standards, it is just a matter of time before all carbureted vehicles are phased out. The question is, how much will those vehicles need to change in order to meet the new requirements – or will they cease to exist altogether.

Now we know that at least the Honda Metropolitan and Ruckus scooters will survive. It may have taken a lot of work but, based on this recently published patent application, it looks like Honda has figured out how to get a fuel injection unit integrated into a 49cc engine.
The full patent application can be viewed here.

Ford Patent App Hints Next Gen Navi Systems Won't Talk to You if You're Angry

2009-03-08T19:54:00.000-07:00

On March 5, 2009 the PTO published a patent application assigned to Ford Global Technologies entitled "Emotive Text To Speech System and Method. The app can be viewed here.

The concept of the invention seems to be a navigation system where you can just talk at the device and it figures out what you want. Some examples are:

"Are there any good restaurants in the area?" In response, the EAS 10 may query appropriate information sources 16n and, together with geographic location information from the vehicle systems 22, determine a list of highly rated restaurants near the current location of the vehicle 14."

or

"the occupant 14 may state "I feel like driving fast today." In response, the EAS 10 may ask "Would you like the drivetrain optimized for performance driving?"

This seems like a fairly normal progression of the navi systems currently on the market, but the "emotive" aspect of the system is a bit HAL like:

"For example, the sensors 18 may detect head movements, speech prosody, biometric information, etc. of the occupant 12 that, when processed by the computer 20, indicate that the occupant 12 is angry. In one example response, the EAS 10 may limit or discontinue dialog that it initiates with the occupant 12 while the occupant 12 is angry. In another example response, the avatar may be rendered in blue color tones with a concerned facial expression and ask in a calm voice "Is something bothering you?" If the occupant 12 responds by saying "Because of this traffic, I think I'm going to be late for work," the avatar may ask "Would you like me to find a faster route?" or "Is there someone you would like me to call?" If the occupant 12 responds by saying "No. This is the only way . . . ," the avatar may ask "Would you like to hear some classical music?" The occupant 12 may answer "No. But could you tell me about the upcoming elections?" In response, the EAS 10 may query the appropriate information sources 16n to gather the current news regarding the elections. During the query, if the communication link with the information sources 16n is strong, the avatar may appear happy. If, however, the communication link with the information sources 16n is weak, the avatar may appear sad, prompting the occupant to ask "Are you having difficulty getting news on the elections?" The avatar may answer "Yes, I'm having trouble establishing a remote communication link."

I don't know how many of us are ready to have that kind of conversation with our car (or at least have it talk back when we're venting). A photo from the patent application is below:

Honda Patent App Reveals New Direct Injection Engine

2009-03-04T20:02:00.000-08:00

A number of patent applications filed by Honda were published for public review on February 26, 2009. One of these applications was directed to a fuel injection control system. At first glance, the patent app seems like it covers just another ECU based FI system.

On closer inspection, however, one sees that the engine being used as the basis for the system is an in-line four (or six, or eight) with direct injection:

"the engine 3 is an in-line multi-cylinder gasoline engine having a multiplicity of pairs of cylinders 3a and pistons 3b (only one pair of which is shown) ... the engine 3 is configured as a direct injection engine. Further, the fuel injection valve 10 is electrically connected to the ECU 2 and the valve-opening time period and the valve-opening timing thereof are controlled by the ECU 2, whereby the fuel injection control is carried out, as will be described hereinafter."

Let's see if the engine in this patent application turns out to be based on an actual prototype Honda plans on bringing to market. Here's a picture from the patent application:

Honda's patent application can be found here.

Fashion Industry Patents

2009-03-01T18:53:00.001-08:00

I was driving a friend to the airport today who is starting her own clothing business. My friend, who though she had some novel ideas, was told by her dad (a patent attorney) that "you can't patent fashion."

I beg to differ. Back when I was working for a federal judge (over a decade ago) I saw my first fashion patent. It was a design patent that covered the famous "scrunchie":

Utility and design patents abound in the fashion arts (there are dozens of utility patents for socks alone). I hope my friend doesn't take her dad's advice, and seriously considers protecting her intellectual property. Building an IP portfolio is just as important for a small start-up clothing company as it is for 3M or IBM, and start-ups need any advantage they can get in this challenging economic environment.

Hello & Welcome to SWDELAW

2009-03-01T11:01:00.000-08:00

SWDELAW (pronounced "Swede Law") is the official blog of Stamoulis & Weinblatt LLC, a boutique intellectual property and Delaware corporate law firm, located in Wilmington Delaware. We hope you enjoy our posts.

(Photo of Caesar Rodney Statue in Rodney Square, Wilmington, Delaware)