Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1899-04-12
THE FLOOD OF PATENTS

Articles Of Everyday Use the subject
of Thousands OF Inventions.
ut is becoming harder every year for
q man to get out q successful inven-
tion," remarked \ patent attorney.
The other day was in Washington
and my work required me to search the
old patent list. The thing that attracted
my attention was the great number OF
patents taken out on common, every
day articles. Why, they are 80 covered
with patents that 1t seems absolutely
Impossible for an inventor to make any
improvement upon them without in
fringing upon somebody else.
For instance, take knives, forks and
spoons. How many patents do you
suppose are taken out on these three
articles Of everyday necessity? A
dozen or two? Why. bless you, they are
protected by 2,1O3 patents. Then take
broms and scrubbing brushes. You
wouldn't think that any number of
geniuses could invent more than q hun
dred improvements upon such things.
Well, there are patents for them to the
number of 3,1S4. 1t seems ridiculous,
doesn't It? 1t did to me, and for a time
l thought would 60 home and advise
everyone Of my clients to give up the
inventing business.
II had the curiosity to 60 a little
deeper into the subject and I made q
record Of the number of patents taken
out on other small things. Games and
toys are protected by 4,458 different
patents. But, Of course, that can be
overlooked, for games and toys are as
varied and uncertain ~ our winter
weather. The laundry business is
hedged in pretty well with patents, for
there are 1858 taken out on various
laundry articles. Burglars ought new
er to be able to get through our locks
and latches. for they are protected by
1916 patents: but then this Is partly
Offset by 4,290 patents for saws and
saving apparatus which burglars
might use for destroying locks. Alto
gether. however. the farmer seems to
be the man for whom the inventors
have labOred most. There are $4,000
patents recorded which in one way OF
another tend to benefit the farmer II
must be that this is pretty fertile and
profitable field for the inventor, or else
he would not devote SO much time and
labor to it.
Manufacturing interests Of all kinde
are pretty well loaded down with pat.
cnts. In the furniture trade alone there
are 1854 patents to protect the busi-
ness outside Of those which pertain to
chairs. These latter necessary articles
FOR the home are covered with over 500
patents. When you take up a piece of
paper to write letter you probably do
rot realize that the manufacture of
stationery is handicapped, or protect
cd. whichever way you please to put It.
by 4,532 patents. That fact ought to
make one careful how he attempts to
invent a new style Of envelope, blotter
or writing paper. He would have to be
remarkable genius to get around all
OF these and establish q clean bill of
health for his invention.
when look at one of the tall build.
ings In the city in the course of con.
struction l stop now and view It with
more interest than ever did before.
That builder has had host of invent
ors iaboring to make his work easier.
HIS cranes and derricks are protected
by 5S6 patents. the roof he may put ON
mas 66o patents and the elevators he
may put In the building have 1,6sS pat.
ents. Then the stone workers who
carve the front for him use tools which
are covered by 2.1SS patents. suppose
!! the builder had to stop and think Of
all this he would not be able to finish
mis- work. But a patent attorney must
know ft"-New York Sun.