Patent of the Month

This invention looks like something from a science fiction film, but no — it’s not a flying saucer. Inventors Jake Chapple and Ben Ward of Multiquip Inc. designed this mechanical “spider” — an 8-legged support structure that connects a huge float pan to the rotors of a riding trowel. The spider converts the trowel to a flotation machine that slowly spins the pan around the surface of wet concrete during the final stages of finishing a concrete floor — for warehouses, parking garages, and other large-scale construction projects. Time from filing to issuance: 3 years, 1 month.

The Bichambered Convertible Headrest Cover With Padded Insert is the fourth in a family of patents by inventor Allison Bly for a product that provides comfort for weary travelers. The headrest cover can be fitted on the headrest of an airline seat to provide an improved and sterile cushion, and can also be compacted neatly into a free body pillow. This latest version can also be affixed to an extendable luggage handle to provide a makeshift padded chair and pockets for storing valuables when laying over in an airport. Time from filing to issuance: 2 years and 18 days.

The Hydrocarbon Reclamator was invented by Josh Crowl, an engineering student from the College of Western Idaho who came to us seeking patent advice on his invention for improving the power output from internal combustion engines.  His invention was so brilliant that we had to help!  Total pendency from filing to issuance was about 28 months.  The Patent Office thought it was brilliant, too (and errorless), and approved it for patenting upon initial examination.