| ??? 03/03/10 17:33 Read: times |
#173786 - can-openers Responding to: ???'s previous message |
Ralph Sac said:
Example can opener, I very sure this is patented. Quite likely, there is not just one "Can Opener" patent - but many different patents on different aspects of the can-opener. If you look in a kitchenware store, you will see that there are severally fundamentally different approaches to the task of opening a can! After the can opener was invented then came the pop top tab and then the tab that sayed on the can which are all inprovement on the original idea of the can opener. No, I don't think they are at all - they are ideas that obviate the need for a can opener! It is quite likely that the "stay-on" tabs use some of the ideas of the "original" ring-pull - so they couldn't re-patent that, and they'd have to agree terms on that part. They could only patent the novel part; ie, the means of making it stay on. What happens to the first inventor of the can opener as far money commensation? Unfortunately for him, his invention has been rendered redundant - so that's the end of his income stream! |
