The Patent Application Process - UK

[triplock]

@All,

Just to assist others further, please find below a copy of the text and pictures for another one of my devices which is Patent (pending) in the UK.

As you can see I'm following a very simple grammatical formulae in regards to the contents.

Just strip your device down to its most basic composition, then you are covered. The claims hold the key to the level of IP protection you'll get.

Chris.


Title of Invention:
Self-Contained Spring-to-Mass Support Arm (Patent Pending)



Description
Background-
Most, if not all, purely spring-to-mass support-arms, to-date, are simply geometric embodiments of the arrangements shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. These mechanical arrangements, or variants thereof, are generally used as orthopaedic support devices to offer full or partial support of the body. These passive exoskeletons can, for example, assist the wearer with leg or arm rehabilitation, in cases of degenerative muscle wasting decease, during manual handling tasks or to reduce repetitive-action fatigue.
Referring to Figure 1:
This is the simplest of arrangements whereby we have a pivoted arm with a mass supported at the distal end of that arm. The weight of that mass is countered by the external spring shown.
Problem:
The use of externally located spring:
a) Increases the bulk of the support arm, especially outside of the immediate elbow joint.
b) Increases the risk of entrapment as the spring contracts.
Referring to Figure 2:
The second existing type of spring to mass support arm uses parallelograms or pantograph arrangements within the support arm structure.
Problem:
The use of parallelograms or pantographs:
a) Limits the range of movement of the support arm as the braces & springs cannot cross-over themselves as they are not revolute in this set up.
b) Increases the bulk of the support arm, thus making it more visually intrusive and the wearer self-conscious..
c) Increases the risk of pinching the wearer.
A generic example of existing arm supports can be seen in Figure 9 (Note the bulk of the parallelogram and elbow joint).

To overcome the above shortcomings in existing patented designs, this invention (see Figure 3) uniquely:
a) Encloses & maintains the countenance spring, whether that spring exhibits zero free length properties or not, within the support arm brace at all times.
b) Removes the requirement to use parallelograms or pantograph geometry.
c) Significantly reduces the bulk of the support arm.
d) Directs the spring countenance force through a straight line mechanism located within the elbow compartment.



Looking at FIGURE 4, we have a supported mass (1) attached to a pivoted forearm (2), which can be said to rotate about the equivalent centre point of the outer gear ring (3).
The outer gear ring (3) is rigidly attached to the upper arm (6) which, in turn, is rigidly fixed to the shoulder (7). The pivoted forearm is pivoted off the upper arm (6).
The inner orbital gear (4) is affixed to the forearm (2) so that, when the forearm rotates about its pivot point, the orbital gear, which is engaged with the outer gear ring (3), will rotate.
The countenance spring (6), which can be of a standard or zero free length type- depending on whether the mass is required to be supported at one or more end rest positions of the support forearm, is affixed to the inner orbital gear (4) back to the upper arm (6).
This arrangement of the gears is historically classified as a straight line mechanism, meaning that upon rotation of the inner gear about the outer gear, a point on that inner gear will track a straight line.
Therefore, if we refer to figure 5, we can show that in this unique arrangement, the countenance spring, upon contraction, as the forearm elevates its supported mass, remains centralised within the upper arm brace. The spring force, it can be shown here, acts in opposition to the downwards pull of the supported mass at all times, even through 180 degrees of rotation of the support arm.
An embodiment of this invention, which offers further degrees of freedom of the spring to mass support arm, can be seen in Figure 6, with examples of that range of movement shown in Figure 7.
A further embodiment of this invention – Figure 8 – shows the countenance spring located within the forearm. This is achieved by rigidly affixing the inner gear to the upper arm, and allowing the outer ring gear to rotate with the forearm. As per figure 6, this embodiment is also modular.

Claims

1. A self-contained spring to mass support arm comprising: a pivoted balance forearm with a mass; an upper arm; an elbow containing a straight-line mechanism allowing pivotal movement of the forearm; and a spring contained in a housing located within the forearm or the upper arm, wherein the spring is arranged to remain centralised within its housing during displacement of the forearm.

2. A self-contained spring to mass support arm according to claim 1, wherein the supporting elements are non-rigid.

3. A self-contained spring to mass support arm according to either of claims 1 and 2, wherein the support elements comprise of either a first standard spring, or a spring exhibiting zero-free length behaviour.

4. A self-contained spring to mass support arm according to claims 1-3, whereby all supporting elements are so arranged as to provide static equilibrium of the support arm at any position





ABSTRACT:

In an embodiment of this Invention, we have a supported mass (1) attached to a pivoted forearm (2), which can be said to rotate about the equivalent centre point of the outer gear ring (3).
The outer gear ring (3) is rigidly attached to the upper arm (6) which, in turn, is rigidly fixed to the shoulder (7). The pivoted forearm is pivoted off the upper arm (6).
The inner orbital gear (4) is affixed to the forearm (2) so that, when the forearm rotates about its pivot point, the orbital gear, which is engaged with the outer gear ring (3), will rotate.
The countenance spring (6), which can be of a standard or zero free length type- depending on whether the mass is required to be supported at one or more end rest positions of the support forearm, is affixed to the inner orbital gear (4) back to the upper arm (6).



Insert figure 4

[triplock]

Pictures

[raj]

I obey all existing laws., in whatever country I deal with.
I ONLY DO what is legally allowed, and follow the rules. I am an HONEST human being.

One Patent Office rule is '' Prior Art'' which means '' No patent will be granted if the invention has been disclosed publicly, prior to patent applcation.''

If by mistake somebody apply for patent with some part of the invention having been Prior Art, that does not necessarily mean that a patent application won't be considered.

To get a patent, a single CLAIM out of the many on the patent application, can be enough to get a patent granted, PROVIDED that the single claim meets the Patent Office criteria.

Coming now to your so called first patent application for a cup without a handle and a second patent application for a cup with a handle, I do not see any problem, PROVIDED the handle's details have NOT been disclosed and posted on any forum before the second patent application.

I am not going to discuss further patent procedure here.

Finally, Everybody are free to decide for themselves what's right and what's wrong!!! The laws of the land will prevail.

Raj

[triplock]

Raj,

On this post you state: 'I am not going to discuss patent procedure further'

On your AGW post you state: 'I am not going to discuss Height for Width further'..

It is only through dynamic discussion that an understanding can be achieved.

You ARE quite wrong with your understanding and use of the patent system. End of story. That will only become apparent when you try to materialise a filing held 'on account' and adapt the technical specification.

You may not have intent, but that doesn't negate the illegality of your approach.

Chris

[triplock]

Cost of filing a patent:

The cost to file a patent application in the UK is £230.00 GBP.

This covers the application fee, and the combined search and examination.

Within 6 months of filing you will receive the search and examination report . This will list similar IP out there already and whether or not your patent is novel and capable of industrial application.

At this stage the examiner may recommend that you withdraw or amend your application to meet certain criteria .

What you MUST NOT do is file on line one day and public ally disclose the next. Technically you should wait until your application is published ( at which point you'll receive a publication patent number. This supersedes the application number.

Chris

[raj]

Sorry???

I feel forced to reply:

You can DISCLOSE before application to anybody with a NDA:
Non Disclosure Agreement.

Once Patent Application NUmber and Filing Date is received, you can DISCLOSE at ANY time. The patent protection starts that very minute.
There is NO legal time frame.

If somebody tries to patent your invention in the next minute, he can.

You can get patent granted, following all patenting procedures.
That somebody will not get past the search stage because your patent application will be already prior art.

Anybody interested in patenting procedures, goto UK IPO website. It's hust a google search away. Every thing is in Plain Layman's English. You will find real facts.

[triplock]

Raj
You, of course, can disclose to a third party prior to an application if an NDA is in place. ( that is a given ).

What you cannot do is file, then discuss amnendments in an open forum and still expect those Ammendments to be incorporated into the technical description of an existing filing, file a new, or file using the priory date of a sacrificial patent application.

You position on the Claims part is also misguided .


Chris

[triplock]

Example of the Fee Sheet receipt received after filing a patent application.

Chris

[Clarkie]

Hi Guy's,

Interesting subject.

The UK patent office applied to parliament to create a law that banned PM machines from being patented, I think it was 1905.

If you are trying to patent PM, disguise it as something else.

If you do have a useful patent then at some stage before grant you will need to demonstrate a working wheel.

Cart and Horse comes to mind, build a working wheel, then go for a patent.

Good luck.

Pete.

[triplock]

@All,

In regards to my statement to Raj about how modifications to a patent pending submission cannot be discussed in the public domain prior to an application for an amendment ( which is likely to be via a fresh application claiming the priory date of the 1st design install ), please find a para-phrased comment from the IPO

'You are not allowed to add technical information to your application once it has been filed.
You should avoid releasing any technical information in the public domain, such as a modification, that relate to an existing patent application.
If you do disclose any additional technical information then there is a risk that you will not be able to obtain a patent protection for this new information '.

Raj, in simple terms, lets take your AGW concept as an example.

You have filed a specific design, which is described and defined within the description, pictures and claims.

You then publically amend that design. If you were fortunate enough to find a modification after disclosure in that public arena, you will have NO patentable rights to that new information.

Chris

[triplock]

@All

What does Publically Disclosed mean ?

Outside of an effective Non-Disclosure Agreement, some people think there is a slide rule as to what constitutes disclosure.

Obviously, in the context of dealings with the Patent Office and / or an appointed Patent Attorney, there is a legally defined rightful- assumption that you have not disclosed. But outside of that there is no wiggle room.

The example the IPO use is as follows:-

Disclosure is not whether someone has or is likely to view an unpatented device, it is whether it is possible ( even if, logistically, there is only a 1% chance ).

For the purposes of definition, if a device is described on a small piece of paper, and that paper is placed within a dust covered book, that is on the top most shelf of a public library which is located on an Outer Hebridean island, which is only accessible once a month by rowing boat, it is said to be Publically Disclosed (so un-patentable ).

Chris

[Clarkie]

Chris, it means anything that has been published or presented at a conference. Anything that the patent office can find on the internet such as back copies of magazines or published notes. Don't get too paranoid.

Pete.

[triplock]

Pete,

The example I give of the remote library is from the IPO's own website

Chris

[raj]

TOO much fussing!!!

If you do what you are NOT legally allowed to do, then too BAD, you won't get your patent.

It's so SIMPLE!!!

Learn the patenting procedures from the Patent Office.
Just google: UK IPO

[triplock]

Raj,

Your naivety astounds me. By your response you must accept that you are wrong in your approach.

Put it this way, if you come up with a design that actually works, opponents and people with vested interests will be all over your application and historic publications to undermine and, ultimately, invalidate your patent grant.

Why would a large energy company pay you a licence fee if they find you have infringed procedure. You'll get trample on underfoot as they rush to manufacture as you sob into your hands !

My knowledge about the Patenting process comes from 6 filings, and numerous emails with the examiners and the procedural examiner. What you've got to realise that I talk to EVERYONE to get a clear understanding of matters.

Of course it is always best to refer and defer respectively to the IPO's website and personnel, which I do often, but I have said nothing that goes against their guidance and stated position.

Ultimately, you roll the dice; you takes your chance and accept the consequence

Chris