USPTO Debuts New Patent Fast-Track Plan
The U.S. Patent and Trademark office is seeking public opinions on a newly proposed multistage "fast-track" patent system to replace the current "one-size-fits-all" process. Comments on the proposal are being accepted this week. For years, inventors and innovation experts have claimed the United States patent system is broken. Most agree that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is...
Read More »The 7 Coolest (and Strangest) Inventions of 2010
2010 is shaping up to be a remarkable year for useful, amazing and downright bizarre inventions. Here we look at some of the most interesting and strangest devices grabbing headlines. In 2009, The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued 191,927 patents to applicants worldwide. While this was a downturn from previous years, the USPTO has announced a new patent fast-track program...
Read More »The Most Powerful Idea in the World: A Story of Steam, Industry, and Invention
In The Most Powerful Idea in the World, author William Rosen traces the development of the steam engine through a close examination of the creative processes of pioneering inventors, examining the trials and tribulations they faced and the importance of intellectual property protection. FROM THE PUBLISHER Award-winning author William Rosen tells the story of the men responsible for the Industrial...
Read More »6 Steps to New Product Success
In this edition of Expert's Corner, Bill Freund, VP of business development and marketing at a firm that helps inventors bring products to market, outlines six practical steps inventors can take to roll out their products successfully. As an executive at a successful consumer products company that partners with inventors, and as a mentor to students at leading universities, I'm often asked for...
Read More »A Look at the 2010 Inventors Hall of Fame
Each year, the National Inventors Hall of Fame inducts a new group of groundbreaking and inspiring inventors from the worlds of science and engineering. The innovative figures honored this year have developed technologies to improve quality of life and put previously impossible accomplishments within reach. Their achievements will continue to serve as inspirations to future generations of...
Read More »Devising the Best Name for Your Invention
With so many products on the market, it's not always easy to generate a creative and original name for your invention. Here are some tips to help make your naming process an effective one. There's so much in a name. An evocative and compelling name is the first step toward creating a brand around a product, especially if it establishes positive connections in customers' minds whenever they hear...
Read More »Next X Prize Challenge: Combating Oil Spills
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill appears to be contained, but its devastating impact will last for years. In light of the inevitability of future oil spills, a new X Prize challenge to safeguard oceans and shores was recently announced. BP Plc recently performed the "static kill," a spill-prevention technique that involves shooting cement and mud into the Deepwater Horizon pipeline in order to...
Read More »The Green (TD) Banks of Maine
TD Bank celebrated the grand opening of its new environmentally friendly call center in Auburn, Maine. Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, the call center also features local design elements and will create hundreds of new jobs for the Lewiston-Auburn region. Many aspects of sustainability were addressed down to the last detail. The call center is accessible by multiple lines of public...
Read More »Weekly Industry Crib Sheet: Trade Deficit Expands Sharply
Plus: Manufacturing M&As Rise, Jobless Claims Increase and Container Traffic Strengthens. Trade Gap Significantly Widens The United States trade deficit expanded to $49.9 billion in June, an 18.8 percent increase over the revised $42 billion total reported for May and the highest deficit level in 20 months, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce on Wednesday. June exports fell to $150.4...
Read More »From Tahoes to Tacos: Mission Foods Converts old GM Facility into LEED Certified Manufacturing Plant
Mission Foods has transformed a 200,000 sq-ft General Motors plant into a LEED Gold certified tortilla manufacturing plant that is expected to prevent more than 1,300 metric tons of carbon emissions annually. The transformation was done in partnership with Southern California Gas Co. through its Energy Efficiency Calculated Incentive Program. In addition to design assistance, they received...
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