The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-09-12
PATENT OFFICE METHODS.
Seine Noteworthy rsfsols In Tho Washington SIs'
iem-Soms Cases In Point


Any one who may have occasion to
make study Of the records OF the pat
ent office will find many things therein
to awaken surprise, apart from the ac-
tuai novelty or utility OF the devices
Tor which the government issues pat
ents. In the first place. he will' no
doubt, be surprised at the length OK
Tune elapsing in many cases between
the date OF filing an application and the
date OF granting the patent. This may
De due, or course. 10 several different
causes. lnterferences may be claimed
anu argument and reargument ana the
ihouincaticn OF claims may cause end
Tess delay In some departments the
lumber or applications 50 greatly eA-
cseus the ability OF the force OF em-
pioyes 10 cope with them promptly that
"ioh,hs efapse between the filing OF the
OF.
me custom OF granting a separate
pa'eht Tor every little detail OF a COM
pneated machine. or for every possible
iiouihcation thereof has enormously
ae'edsed ,a' the business and revenues OF
u,,e patent office; but IL is questionable
mns'ner this has benefited anybody ex-
N''oitdi VIII
Huvn.iy secure from the patentee an
option on dozen or more patents for
one invention at a moderate valuation.
anu unen appraise each subsidiary pat
vht at ngure far above 1ts value rcla-
uNeiy 10 that OF the fundamental pat
enl. An American inventor was re-
por'ed several years ago TO have taken
,s,, "Nsr a thousand patents up TO that
uHe' and huge bound volumes of the
papers certifying his rights were ex-
nlolted at the electrical exhibition held
soihs years ago under the auspices OF
the Franklin institute
IRE constantly growing complication
IN the patsnt Office business Is proving
d Neritabie bonanza to the patent law
yers, VINO make handsome fees from
eT chents I'm practically duplicating
datans TOT patents on each separate
oetali OF machine. Many OF fhese
patent attorneys m de a practice OF fiI-
ing claims and taking out patents cov
ering slight notifications OF new in
,ehdohs winch may ssem to them To
possess possibilities Of future yalua.
ihen when the inventions como into tho
market, the patent sharks swarm about
me sne proJectors. Claiming share I'm the
uainess ,u or threatening litigation if
80, ,ishts De not recognized. Very
orten the cheapest thing TO do ds In buv
put ,nese claims. and thus "A species OF
iesalizsd blackmail is encauraeed
pohe-nde inventor is/ compelled. I'm
Vruer 10 protect his invention from
these pirates. to hedge i'm his idea with
thicket or subsidiary patents or else
70 specify with such minuteness Of de-
.dai eacn part or ths machine (and
make distinct claim therefor) that tha
fundamental patent itself becomes
complicated beyond reason. and also OF
very lnconvenient length. A remark
able Illustration of this is afforded in a
patent recently granted to a PhiladeI
phia inventor I'm which the claims AL
lowed number lis and fill eighteen coll
umns or the fine type OF the Patent Ca
zette.
Another feature which causes never
ending surprise TO the student az the
patent records is the. issuing of patents
Tor apparently very old devices. and
a,so Tor clearly absurd and impractic-
aple inventions. We have not even at
tempted in this brief discussion OF The
SUBJECT or patents 70 allude to grave
faults NJ administrator of the patent
once which have frequently BEEN
pointed out In the technical papers. but
nave contented ourselves with a review
or some of the more obvious errors
which impress themselves upon a mere
~ casual observer. The fees of the pat
ent once so largely exceed the ex-
penses that they form quite an imnort-
ant credit item In Uncle Sans annual
oats nee sheet. and tt would sel-,n prop-
er that an appropriation sheuld no
MADE therefrom to defray the exnensa
or an investigation by experts of tho
wnoje system which has grown pradu~
ahV from very small beginnings 4, such
y inWieioy proportions We believe that
- possible not oniv TO greatly sim
DIV tns business Of the patent Office
1uu reuuee the time REQUIRED for exam
nation. hui to reduce tho woyksrg a.
penses OF the department.