Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-06-24
PROTECTION FOR CRANKS
NO MORE PERPETUAL MOTION
PATENTS.

WHY the Governments stopped Taking
the Fees OF Certain Persons IL NO
Longer Allows Cranlxs 10 Waste Their
Money.
The United States Patent Office IS a
liberal institution. and will grant patents
for almost any thing or idea that can be
conceived Of, if the applicant can show
originality of invention; but it will no
longer grant patents on claims or specifi-
cations FOR perpetual motion machines.
The Patent Office until recently has
issued yearly a grist of patents for per-
petual motion machines. IL has finally
come to the conclusion that there Is some
thing more in this than taking the money
of cranks-in fact, that credulous per-
sons were being systematically robbed by
alleged inventors of perpetual motions
who got out their patents only to deceive
innocent persons. Until three years ago
il was customary TO take first fees (Sl2
from the perpetual motion cranks asweli
as from all other would be inventors
Then in course Of time letter was sent
10 the perpetual motion applicant telling
him that his claim was based upon an ir-
rational principle and that he must fur
nish a working model. OF course that
was the end of the application. The
model never came, and the fee remained
in the treasury.
About three years ago Principal Ex-
aminer William J.. Auginbaugh went to
the Commissioner and suggested that, as
rejection of the perpetual motion claim
was inevitable, it would be fairer to re-
fuse the first fees Of the claimants and
10 send them acircular Immediately upon
the filing of their applications telling
them that no consideration would be
given their papers until working model
was filed. This course has been pursued
ever since. But repeatedly has the dis
coverer OF perpetual motion been indig-
nant at the rejection Of his rendered fee.
One way that has been adopted by the
cranks to get around the rule intended
for their benefit is to drop the claim OF
perpetual motion and put in the drawings
for Amotor.r Notwithstanding the
policy of the Patent Office 10 save time
and money for people, at least two or
three claims Of this character are put in
every month.
Not long ago a Kansas man claimed to
have set up the perpetual motion ma
chine. and 10 have it in operation at his
home. He wrote 10 the Patent Office to
know II the affidavit Of Senator Plumb
would be accepted instead Of the working
model as the basis for patent. The ex-
aminer felt obliged 10 refuse.
Sometimes the perpetual motion in
ventor appears with a pocketful Of bear
ings and connections which he asks the
examiner 20 accept as evidence that he
has solved the problem; but the exami-
ner insists that he must see the perpetual
motion before he grants the patent.
Last summer New York lawyer
named Todd came all the way TO Wash
ington with parts Of a machine and had
quite a controversy with the Office be-
cause the patent was refused. He in
sisted that he had seen the machine in
operation; that it was running day after
day, and keeping cider press going to
boot. There was no deyiating from tho
rule.
The lawyer went back 10 New York,
saving that he would produce the ma
chine. He was not seen again until the
patent centennial celebration, when ho
reminded the examiner Of the case, and
told how he had been fooled. AZ the
time Of making application the lawyer
really believed that his client had really
discovered the long sought principle.
But when he got back 10 New York and
told that the patent had been refused the
client confessed. The perpetual motion
was no motion at all. Power was con-
cealed in the cider press. Itran the press
and the press made the perpetual motion
machine 20, TOO. A. inventor had been
charging 10 cents admission 10 see perpet-
ual motion. lie had fooled the public
and his lawyer and he hoped TO slip
through claim.-[St. Louis Globe-Dem-
Ocrat.