The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-06-02
PATENTS.

Before Obtaining q Patent.
Familiar as the results of the work of
the Patent Office are to the majority of |
us, there are many who do not under
stand the modus operandi of getting a |
patent. The Government has wisely
made the procuring Of patents not only
cheap, but, always surprising the appi-
cant has something new, excessively
easy. An inventor is not required in
this country, as he is in some of the
European states, to become acquainted
with mysteries alongside of which those
of Eleusis were child's play; nor is he
constantly encountering vexatious tech
nicalities which "give him pause"
Given the invention, which must be
"new and useful" the Government re-
quires the inventor to file petition for
the patent; an oath that he is, as far as
he knows, the original inventor speci6-
cations containing full and very clear
description of his invention, such de-
scription, lin the words of the Rules of
Practice of the Patent Office, ''as will
enable others skilled in the art to which
it pertains to make and use the same ;"
drawings which show clearly the ma
chinery, if machinery it be and, when
it is practicable, o model which can be
worked.
The tests applied by the Examiners
of the Patent Office as to the newness of
an invention are very severe. Not only
is it compared with the many thousands
of patents granted in this country, it has
to stand comparison with all of the
known inventions of other countries.
The Patent Office reports Of all Govern
rnonfo t1,ot ioc11o c11oI utilization ORC
searched If the invention stands these
tests it is then examined az to it's useful
ness. The last of these is seldom made
by an examiner, for the simple reason
that applications are not often put in for
things which would be of no use at ALL
Patents, however, are often refused for
machines prejudicial to public morals,
as, for example, gambling contrivances.
The invention having been perfected,
the specifications have to be written out.
invention, clear, full and expressed in the
plainest possible manner.
The specifications having been writ
ten, the drawings have to be made. The
office requires that they shall be of uni,
form size, ten by fifteen inches, made
upon stiff calendered paper, and that all
lines shall be clear and absolutely black
There is an excessively good rule now II
operation in the Patent Office. In case:
where new drawings are required, owing
to technical errors in those first sent
the imperfect ones are sent to the exam
iners, in order that there shall be no de
lay, in the examination. We think il
would be we'll for the Commissioner tt
extend this rule to the point of not re
quiring new drawings from applicants
unless the patent is to be granted. Al
things are now the Office makes new
drawings at actual cost. It maintains
large staff of 'draughtsmen for the con
venience of inventors, and in this. as il
everything else connected with it's work
ings, shows itself animated by spirit Q
great liberality and desire to max
everything as easy as possible for tn
applicant. The demand, then, for tn
fees for new drawings when the paten
is ultimately refused is one which is nc
in consonance with the spirit in whic
the institution is carried on, and is ofte
a severe tax on the inventor. As the e.
animation into the application can tax
place with the old drawings, and unde
the present rule does take place, til
work of the Office would not be injure
by the proposed extension. With til
various papers the applicant is require
to send in model, when one is pract
cable. This model must not exceed or
foot in length, breadth or height.
The application being complete,
goes through the Office in it's order, tn
being determined by the date of tt
filing of the papers. By special reque
of one of the heads of Government d
partments applications for patents ms
be taken up out of the regular orde
Such request is not often made, as ms
be supposed. When the application h
successfully passed the examiners, Il
patent is granted by the COMMISSIONS
This gives to the inventor the sole ow
ership of the invention, within the limi
of the United States. for period of Sc
enteen years. His invention has becor
property in legal sense, and he M
treat it exactly as he would any 9th
kind of property-he may sell it, lea
it, mortgage it, or give it away. If it
of great value he will make his fortu
if he holds on to it, by royalty or al
other means; or if it is worth nothi1
commercially he will have lost his til
and his money.
Official Etiquette.
90 ,,,o;x,+ 80 4l,o we'll T., ~