The "Church Key"- Carry Over from the TC Pump Post

[lazyuniondriver]

Now this was a bit of a shocker... I grabbed the magnetic Church Key off my tool box and Googled the patent number: 3199192, assigned to Ernest Thomas, Ekco Products, Chicago, Il. filed in 1963, issued in 1965.

Certainly the Church Key has been around longer than that?

I dug a little deeper in the U.S.P.T.O. website and found the first patented can opener similar in looks and design as we know the Church Key was patented originally in 1935, improved upon in '48, '51, '52, '56, and '61 before the 1963 Ekco patent was issued.

Other implements were used to puncture or open cans prior to 1935 when the U.S. canning industry took foothold circa. 1850.

I also have a key chain model stamped "White Trucks" issued back when drinking and driving wasn't a felony. It is stamped as "patented" but no number is applied.

[Bob McCarty]

That 1965 patent may have been issued when the magnet was put on the church key.

Bob

[lazyuniondriver]

That 1965 patent may have been issued when the magnet was put on the church key.

Bob

Very possible. You must be familiar with the patent process. A previously patented product can be improved upon, the improved version then receiving patent approval. It doesn't have to be a significant change either.

My patent attorney advises patent examiners' look for in the neighborhood of a 15% improvement before improvisation is realized and a patent is issued.

[Scrivet]

.......My patent attorney advises patent examiners' ..................

Question #1 You have a patent attorney??????????????????

Question #2 YOUR patent attorney advises the patent examiners on whether or not to issue a patent???????????

I guess I need to do research on what a patent attorney does because what I'm thinking; number one is out of the ordinary but not unheard of. Number two seems like (staying with the legal theme) the prosecuting attorney advising the judge on how to decide the case.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

How did they get the name "Church Key"?

[Jim Becker]

The magnets became obsolete when they quit making metal dashboards.

This is a Church Key. Hit this piece of the map and drag the little street view man down to the "A" marker. Spin around to face north if necessary.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl&q=626%20University%20Avenue%2C%20Madison%2C%20Wisconsin

[Jim Becker]

How did they get the name "Church Key"?

Here's one version. Accurate? Who knows.
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-chu2.htm

[Boss Hog]

How did they get the name "Church Key"?

when they had a get together at the church no one wanted to ask for a beer opener

[Winfield Dave]

How did they get the name "Church Key"?

when they had a get together at the church no one wanted to ask for a beer opener

Good one Boss !!

[lazyuniondriver]

.......My patent attorney advises patent examiners' ..................

Question #1 You have a patent attorney??????????????????

Question #2 YOUR patent attorney advises the patent examiners on whether or not to issue a patent???????????
.

Answer # 1 Yes. Patenting is very expensive. Before wasting money on a concept or idea that may already have a patent applied for or already issued, a patent attorney under a confidentiality agreement is retained to research your work against similar patents on file, then report back to you his expert opinion whether your invention, development, or technology will be approved for patent. Demonstrating in his words, a "15% improvement" needed for approval is vauge to me but that is his profession and what he is paid to do. The charge for this service depends on complexity, my last visit around $800 bucks... a lot cheaper than submitting an application only to have it rejected by the examiner, or a lawsuit brought against you for patent or trademark infringement. I currently have 1 provisional patent filed with the USPTO (research folder from patent attorney 100 plus pages) and am in the process of filing yet another one. Upon being granted the status of patent pending, (hopefully) I will be happy to share my work and patent number(s) with you.

Answer # 2 You would make a good lawyer. You interpreted my sentence differently than implied. "My patent attorney advises patent examiners...'", allow me to clarify my sentence. My patent attorney has advised me that patent examiners look for a 15% improvement...

[Chris D]

Once you have improved upon someone else patent, what does the money you have invested get you? Not trying to sound dumb here lol. But do you then go to a company with what you have and are able to sell that product as yours or what? I'm curious....

[Bob McCarty]

Chris, In general terms, you could manufacture, market, and sell the item yourself. You could sell the patent to an interested party for a negotiated sum, at which point they would have the rights to do whatever they wish with the patented item. You could license the product to companies that would make, market, and sell the product for which you would receive an amount per item sold, ie. $.10 per widget sold. The biggest problem today is that foreign (mostly Asian) companies will manufacture and sell a similar or knockoff product for which the patent holder receives no compensation. It can be expensive and difficult to enforce a patent.

Bob

[lazyuniondriver]

Chris, In general terms.. Bob

Well done. Nicely explained.

[v w]

Unable to find anything on the patent office site under number 3199192???? Vern

[Denny Clayton]

Chris, In general terms.. Bob

Well done. Nicely explained.

And it only required one short paragraph.