JELL-O: A JIGGLY HISTORY
Who knew that the origins of Jell-o date back to the 1600s? That small box of fruity powder has quite the history! Gelatin was first discovered in 1682, when a Denis Papin, a Frenchman, conducted experiments and research on the subject. It resulted in the discovery of a method of removing the glutinous material in […]
Inventors can file a Patent Application without Prototype
As a patent attorney in Buffalo, New York I often get asked questions about such as: Do I need to make a prototype? Can I file a patent application without a prototype? Suppose you have a great idea for an invention. But you don’t have the money or the resources to make a prototype. Perhaps you’re […]
New Computer Build for Video Editing – Part 1
Recently at PatentHome, fellow patent attorney Vincent LoTempio and I have begun posting videos geared towards helping inventors with some of the basic questions they have about how to best protect their ideas through patent, trademark, and copyright law. Without a large production budget, we have been doing most of the work ourselves, using our […]
Patent suit makes Heinz see “Red”
Heinz ketchup is being sued for patent-infringement for the flexible condiment package for ketchup, known as “Dip & Squeeze.” In a suit filed in August in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, Scott White claims he had a “flash of inspiration” after too many ketchup spills at the drive-through. He came up with the idea […]
USPTO: First-Inventor-to-File Roundtable
Even though Pres. Barack Obama signed “The American Invents Act“(AIA) back in September of 2011 the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is now charged with implementing the changes enacted by the law. In order to do that the United States Patent and Trademark office is conducting “roundtables” which include anyone who wants to […]
Google Patent Search With Prior Art Finder
As I’m sure every inventor knows that in order to get a patent the invention must be based on new idea. Sometimes you might hear the term “prior art” when discussing what is already out there. If there is already prior art on your invention then you can’t get a patent. Prior art is used […]
Buffalo’s Inventor: Life-Saving Wilson Greatbach
Another famous life saving inventor from Buffalo is Wilson Greatbatch. His creation of the implantable Pacemaker saved millions of lifes and revolutionized cardiac research and developments. Greatbatch was an assistant professor at the University of Buffalo for electrical engineering, when he stumbled upon his idea for the pacemaker. The pacemaker works by sending electrical impulses […]
Pointing to a safer crossing: The STEFFI Crossing Enhancer
Buffalo patent attorney, Vincent LoTempio filed the patent application for a new invention that has the possibility to save children’s lives. His client, Victoria DeCarlo, invented the STEFFI Crossing Enhancer, a piece of equipment designed to assist students as they prepare to cross the street in order to board the bus, or after they have […]
U.S. Patent Office opening in Detroit, Michigan
The first-ever U.S. Patent and Trademark Office satellite center outside Washington, D.C. just-opened in Detroit, Michigan. While, the America Invents Act (AIA) mandated that at least three satellite patent offices have to be opened the USPTO will open four new offices. The Detroit satellite office is the first of four geographic areas selected by the […]
Buffalo Inventor: John Leopold Brodie “the War Hero”
The inventor of the “World’s Most Famous Hat”, John Leopold Brodie, resided on West Ferry Street in Buffalo, New York in the early 20th century. Brodie moved to his wife’s, Eleanora Thompson’s, hometown, Buffalo New York to raise a family. Here is where he further developed his invention. Brodie created the most effective and valuable […]