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Re: beamsplitter patented


  • From: P3D Larry Berlin <lberlin@xxxxxxxxx>
  • Subject: Re: beamsplitter patented
  • Date: Fri, 3 Jan 1997 20:38:50 -0800

>Date: Fri, 03 Jan 1997 18:22:51 -0800
>From: P3D Alan Lewis writes:
>
>I have wondered about this subject too.  After reading Gabriels' posting 
>about that particular splitter, it seems that perhaps the only patentable 
>thing is the link of the mirror pivot to the lens focus.  Otherwise, 
>every splitter ever designed is in danger of being sued.
>
>Heck, the Franka splitter and the NU-VU 3D splitter have pivoting outer 
>mirrors.  I'm making a pivoting design too that I will market that is 
>based on a patented and manufactured viewer from 1895!
>  
>I've done patent searches for spitters, and the descriptions all sound 
>just like every splitter ever made.  Unless these are all design patents, 
>I also don't understand how they can be patented. 
>-- 


*********  I too have wondered this. A patent attorney once explained to me
that if you can create an object with a specific function, say a carburetor
tuner-upper, that just happens to look like a screwdriver, and no one else
has invented a similar device *for that function*, you would get a patent
for it.

It does sound like the unique claim here is the connection from the focus
ring to the outside mirrors. Other uniquenesses that could be used
(theoretically) might include using different dimensions, proportions, cut
your mirrors at a different geometry, pivot in a different place, add some
other little doo-dads, etc. Just because something is patented doesn't
automatically disqualify other devices which are similar, yet unique in some
way. The closer an invention is to other inventions, the more research is
needed to be able to make it sufficiently different to be patentable.

Most abstracts don't go into enough detail to easily differentiate between
similar patents. The full patent documents should however make it real
clear, relatively...  ; -)



Larry Berlin

Email: lberlin@xxxxxxxxx
http://www.sonic.net/~lberlin/
http://3dzine.simplenet.com/


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