Economics of Science and Technology
Jeffrey Parker, Reed College
Fall Semester, 2012
Some noteworthy (and occasionally amusing) patents
- The Wright Brothers' original airplane patent: #821,393: Flying-Machine
- An early Nikola Tesla for his electric motor: #381,968: Electro Magnetic Motor
- The oncomouse patent that we will discuss extensively: #4,736,866: Transgenic Non-Human Mammals
- John Madey's patent that triggered his famous case, another one we'll talk a lot about: #4,740,973: Free Electron Laser
- An early patent for a baseball bat: #292,190: Base Ball Bat
- The BandAid patent: #2,823,673: Adhesive Bandage
- Pabst light beer: #4,138,499: Preparation of Beer with Reduced Calories
- Some women I know assert that this is an oxymoron: #5,782,015: Comfortable High Heel Shoe
- Certain Reed faculty members might find this patent useful: #4,022,227: Method of Concealing Partial Baldness
- Imaging internal organs through finger positions? Really? #5,188,107: Bi-Digital O-Ring Test for Imaging and Diagnosis of Internal Organs of a Patient
- Wouldn't the baby land on its head? #3,216,423: Apparatus for Facilitating the Birth of a Child by Centrifugal Force
- Sawing your assistant in half? You'd better have a patent license! #1,458,575: Illusion Device
- You try this one first! #560,351: Device for Producing Dimples
- The perfect way to bring your hamster to class: #5,901,666: Pet Display Clothing
- You may know someone who should wear this: #5,593,398: Protective Underwear with Malodorous Flatus Filter
- The swinging patent we will mention in class: #6,368,227: Method of Swinging on a Swing Its reexamination
- My personal favorite, despite being a cold, calculating economist. Sadly, the patent application was withdrawn: App # US2007/0078663: Method and Instrument for Proposing Marriage to an Individual