Oh, patents! Novoloop (former BioCellection, Inc. )

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Selected Toyota Mothers of Invention in 2019, Miranda Wang and Jeanny Yao, have garnered more than one prize for their invention, including the Sanofi BioGenius Canada Award, in 2012, when they were still in high school.  For such accolades, Wang and Yao invented a new way of upcycling plastic waste, considering that 340 million cubic tons of plastic are produced each year, most of which (86% in Canada, 79% gobally) is going to landfills once used, 8 million cubic tons of which is dumped in the ocean, and less than 15% of which is recycled (globally)  (e.g.; EarthDayorg; Dean, 2018; Geyer et. al, 2017; Plastic Oceans; Plastic Tides).  A quantity of plastic produced, together with its versatility and value, that on the one hand prompted Wang and Yao to speak in awe of the Age of Plastic, and on the other hand propelled both entrepreneurs on a fierce mission to mitigate the devastating environmental impact [Novoloop video].  For example, in a  2016 Ellen MacArtur Foundation study, scientists warned that, at the current rate of ocean pollution, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish, in 2050. (Ellen MacArthur Report, 2016)

However, for Wang and Yao, no denying the value of plastic, or the urgent need to solve the disastrous problems associated with the perennity of plastic, made for durability instead of degradability. Thus, Wang and Yao both founded Novoloop (former BioCellection, Inc).  After hiring a team of scientists, the start-up built a platform that does more than recycle plastic, since it produces brand new building blocks of endlessly recyclable plastic, made 50% out of post-consumer plastic waste, produced using 45% less CO2 emissions, in a process termed upcycling.

Driven by the motivation to produce the right product, at the right time, for the right reasons, right now, to solve a 100% solvable problem, using existing technology, Novoloop built the ATOD™ platform (Accelerated Thermal Oxidative Decomposition), a reactor for the production of OISTRE™, a polyurethane (PU) product derived from polyethylene (PE) plastic waste. As the company name Novoloop  (meaning “new cycle”) suggests, the company produces an endlessly recyclable new plastic, suitable for pervasive use in such varied applications as sports equipment, consumer electronics, fashion and apparel, or for automotive parts.  

The microbial path that eventually led to the invention of the chemical reactor, and its output, together with the foundation of Novoloop, is no less interesting, since Wang and Yao initially assumed that the plastic, they could see polluting rivers, was also being metabolized by bacteria. Consequently, they set out to sequence the plastic-consuming bacteria, while still in high school.  A project they submitted for a Sanofi BioGenuis Award, which they won, much to everyone’s exhilaration, considering the press they both received. However, once recognized, and the process of breaking down post-consumer plastics identified biologically, they still had to find a way to chemically reproduce the process of plastic decomposition, and transformation, on an industrial level, so that they could begin to practically address the plastic problem, outside of the laboratory.  Thus,  Novoloop was born, to bridge the last mile, from inventive step to industrial applicability, cost-effectiveness and economic viability. With the assistance of chemists to build the reactor, plus many additional collaborators and advisors, variously in charge of moving the company forward, Novoloop is building needed partnerships. Partenrships able to shift the marvels of the plastics industry, in a more beneficial post-consumer direction.

The ATOD™  platform and OISTRE™ product are patented. For example, the following US utility patent US10557011B2, titled  Methods for the decomposition of contaminated plastic waste, not only discloses viable decomposition of plastic waste products, but also their  potential  for production of new value-added products. 

Specifically, the invention arises out of the ineffective landscape of the prior art of waste plastic treatment. Indeed, treatments, such as pyrolysis, incineration, landfill disposal, and mechanical recycling, after thorough cleaning, are recited as presenting too many disadvantages, not the least of which is the issue of economic viability.  Pyrolysis, for example, is recited as very energy-consuming, requiring many refinery steps for obtaining a useful product. Whereas, Incineration and landfills are both dismissed as detrimental to the environment, while mechanical recycling through cleaning, is dismissed on the grounds that it requires massive labor and resources.

The short abstract of the invention is included below, together with the patent cover sheet diagram of the Novoloop decomposition reactor.  The diagram of the reactor, in particular, depicts the input of polyethylene plastic waste, the adjunction of an oxidizing agent, and a chamber where the mixture is subjected to conditions suitable for the decomposition of the plastic waste into a decomposition mixture. The diagram also depicts output of the decomposition product.  

This invention relates to the field of contaminated plastic waste decomposition. More specifically, the invention comprises methods and systems to decompose contaminated plastic waste and transform it into value-added products. [Abstract US10557011B2]

In the Youtube video below, Miranda Wang pitches Novoloop (former BioCellection, Inc),  the company she founded with Jeanny Yao, for a Circular Economy Session, at the 2019 MIT Solve® Innovation Challenges.  

 

References

Dean, M. (Jun 5, 2018). The Last Straw : How you can beat plastic pollution. UnitedNationsOrg. https://unfoundation.org/blog/post/the-last-straw-how-you-can-beat-plastic-pollution/

EarthDayorg - Campaign to end plastic pollution. https://tinyurl.com/bywa34av

Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2016). Report on The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the Future of Plastics. https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/the-new-plastics-economy-rethinking-the-future-of-plastics 

Foreman, R. (June 2, 2016).  Wang & Yao: Where are they now? Sanofi BioGenius (Canada).  https://biogenius.ca/wang-yao-where-are-they-now/

Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R. and K. Lavender Law (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Scientific Advances, 3(7), e1700782. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700782 - https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e17007 

MIT Solve® Challenges  https://solve.mit.edu/challenges 

Novoloop (Home)  https://www.novoloop.com/

Novoloop (About us) https://www.novoloop.com/aboutus

Novoloop - The world has a problem - Youtube - CBS/Radio Canada video [22:00]. https://youtu.be/i3ZAAMKHsB8

Novoloop (Technology) https://www.novoloop.com/technology (ATOD™)

Novoloop (Product) https://www.novoloop.com/product (OISTRE™)

Plastic Oceans https://plasticoceans.ca/ 

PlasticTides.org https://www.plastictides.org/

Toyota Mothers of Invention 2019  https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/toyota-recognizes-outstanding-women-at-the-10th-annual-women-in-the-world-summit-300830764.html

Oh, patents! SoaPens

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Before the importance of handwashing became almost a matter of life and death, within the context of the COVID 19 pandemic, Shubham Issar and Amanat Anand, were selected Toyota Mothers of Invention, in 2019, for their invention of the SoaPen®. A pen full of soap, designed to encourage little kids to use soap to wash their hands, while engaging in the fun of scribbling on their hands.

Hailing both from India, and the Parsons School of Design in New York City, the two inventors responded specifically to the hygiene challenge of handwashing, A challenge for the prevention of many diseases, resulting in the preventable death of 1.5 million young children in the Third World (e.g., SoaPen®, 2015, Unicef, 2016, ). Researching the use of soap in Indian schools, for example, the inventors found that even though soap was donated, the donated soap was a precious commodity that had to be stored in cupboards, which made using soap more complicated. As a result, the inventors took soap out of the bathroom, and into the classroom. A move that enabled teachers to integrate use of the SoaPen® into their curriculum, drawing pictures on the children's hands and marking fingers for where to wash, while teaching them both how to wash their hands, and the importance of handwashing.

In fact, the Soapen®was patented, in India, surprisingly enough primarily as a teaching tool, rather than a personal hygiene, or cosmetics, product. The SoaPen®invention was awarded the Indian patent IN3795/DEL2015, titled Soapen®, listed at the UN World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In particular, the specification of the invention states: 

Purpose  - SoaPen is a teaching tool in the form of a.soap-crayon, which promotes the habit of handwashing with soap among school children of the impressionable age.

In sum,  for little kids, using the SoaPen® is easy, fun and nice-smelling. The Soapens® are scented berry blast, tangy tangerine and fresh pear. For parents, the SoaPen® is “non-irritating, non-toxic and free from SLS, parabens, EDTA, phthalates and any animal by-product” (SoaPen). For social impact, SoaPens are donated to classrooms in India, for every three-pack of red, blue and green, SoaPens sold.

Below, an image the SoaPen® company logo, a satisfied customer, and the UNICEF version of the red, green and blue SoaPens.  

                                                                            

References

Parsons School of Design https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/

SoaPen® (website) www.soapen.com

SoaPen® (Team) (Nov. 18, 2015) SoaPen®: Make handwashing a habit. Youtube video: https://youtu.be/pRK89zUMdVk

Toyota Pressroom – Mothers of Invention: https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-recognizes-outstanding-women-at-the-10th-annual-women-in-the-world-summit/

Unicef Press Release (Oct. 14, 2016) simple act of handwashing could save thousands of lives. https://www.unicef.org/turkey/en/press-releases/over-300000-children-under-five-died-diarrhoeal-diseases-linked-limited-access-safe 

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):  www.wipo.org

Toyota's MOI (Mothers of Invention)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Not all women inventors are patented – both historically and to date, even if the very first US Patent Act (1790) explicitly included women inventors in the provisions of the law with the use of the pronoun “she”. And not all inventions are patentable according to the rules of patentability, in particular software.  This leaves many inventions unprotected, but no less thriving.

Toyota’s MOI (Mothers of Invention) awards, in collaboration with the Women in the World network since 2012, are dedicated to recognizing women inventors. Interestingly, this recognition is extended to both women inventors of physical objects and to women inventors of an organization which has an impact on making change for social good.

MOI Grand Award winners receive grants, and a free trip to the Women in the World summit event, where they receive both publicity and the opportunity to become part of the powerful Women of the World network founded by the award-winning journalist, author and former Editor-in-Chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker – Tina Brown.

The Women of the World network includes, for example, such participants and agents of change as : Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie, Oprah Winfrey, Christine Lagarde, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Madeleine K. Albright, President Bill Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Sheryl Sandberg, Sunitha Krishnan, Diane Von Furstenberg, Melinda Gates, Robi Damelin, Nobel Peace Prize laureates Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman, Dalia Ziada, HRH Queen Rania of Jordan, Nancy Pelosi, Alaa Murabit, Gloria Steinem, Zainab Salbi, Christiane Amanpour, Tzipi Livni, Susan Rice, Samantha Power, and Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe.

-----

The women founders of the following amazingly vibrant organizations were named and rewarded MOI - Mothers of Invention by Toyota Corporation, in collaboration with Women in the World :

• Well aware – A non-profit founded by Sarah Evans, dedicated to providing clean water systems in East Africa.

• Lava Mae – A non-profit, San Francisco-based organization, founded by Doniece Sandoval, which brings “pop-up care” to homeless populations. The organization transformed public transportation buses into public showers and toilets on wheels, restoring hygiene and dignity, one shower at a time.

• ClickMedix – Founder and CEO Ting Shih, this organization designs a Global Mobile mhealth platform, developed at MIT and Carnegie Mellon universities, to extend the range of available healthcare services to patients worldwide.

• DC Greens – Co-founded by Lauren Shweder Biel and Sarah Holway, this organization supports food access, food policy and food education in the nation’s capital, bringing together businesses, schools, government and farmers in various partnerships.

• LuminAid – Co-founded by architects Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta, who designed a Solar powered light to assist with relief efforts in Haiti, in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. The solar Aid light has since been used in 70 countries and for many various post-disaster relief efforts.

• English @ work, acquired in 2014 by the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas– founded by Meg Poag, the organization sends paid English instructors to workplaces in Central Texas providing English lessons to motivated people.

• Copia –  Founded by Komal Ahmad, this organization has a mission to end food waste and stop hunger.  The organization uses a platform that matches those who give food with those who receive food, using food angel drivers as go-betweens.

• DreamWakers – Co-founded by Monica Gray and Anne Medaglia, this organization, based in NYC,  uses technology to connect career professionals with schools -- to sparks dreams.

• Specs4us – Founded by Maria Dellapina, SPECS4US stands for “Superior Precision Eyewear for Children who are Special”. Accordingly, the company designs “Erin’s World Frames” specifically designed for children and adults with Down’s syndrome and other disabilities -- so that glasses no longer slip off!

• Cardborigami – Founded by Tina Hosvepian, this organization designs easy pop-up shelter solutions in disaster-response situations, using origami looking insulated cardboard structures, that are presumably also water resistant!

• Recovers.org – Founded by O’Neil sisters, Morgan and Caitria, this organization links volunteers to communities facing disasters, offering up-to-the-minute social media updates, and recording all donations, however random.

-----

Save the date! 👠 The Women in the World Summit 2017 is to be held this year in NYC, April 5-7. 

References

MOI Nomination form

http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2015/04/24/nominate-a-mother-of-invention/

2016 Toyota MOI awardees

http://paidpost.nytimes.com/toyota/mothers-of-invention-presented-by-women-in-the-world.html

Tina Brown

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Brown
US Patent Act (1790)
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/United_States_Statutes_at_Large/Volume_1/1st_Congress/2nd_Session/Chapter_7 

Women in the World
http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/
Women of the World – About us
http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/about-us/

Oh, patents! Mayday patents

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Since 1929, the word “Mayday”, repeated three times, is an internationally recognized distress call, meaning “help me” (derived from the French “m’aider”). This voiced distress signal replaced the SOS Morse code signal, and is used internationally on aircrafts and ships via radio communications.

Mayday patents refer to various on board emergency reporting and communication systems for automobiles and other types of water and air crafts. The Mayday patent selected here is one of many Toyota Mayday patents for automobiles.

In this particular Toyota Mayday patent, JP20003395292, titled Mayday System, the on board Mayday system is specifically designed as an anti-theft device, connected to a Mayday Center that remotely controls the stolen vehicle via radio communications. Indeed, the Mayday Center sends a signal to the Mayday system of the stolen vehicle, which then carries out instructions to alter the stolen vehicle’s gear box and speed, so that the moving capacity of the stolen vehicle is reduced ,and the stolen vehicle is “compelled to move at a slow speed”.

Below you will find one of the patent drawings, and  the English abstract for JP20003395292, titled Mayday System:

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the usability of the Mayday system at the time of controlling a stolen vehicle from a remote place and to more quickly secure the stolen vehicle by providing the Mayday system with a Mayday center for transmitting an operation control signal for fixing a change gear ratio at a high speed ratio to a target vehicle by using a radio communication means. SOLUTION: The Mayday center 11 has a function for transmitting a control signal to a stolen vehicle 12 by radio communication using the radio communication means. The control signal transmitted to the stolen vehicle 12 is received by an identification device of the vehicle 12. The identification device receiving the control signal starts operation, reads out a series of control instructions from the control signal and controls a speed change gear of the stolen vehicle at first in accordance with the instructions. The speed change ratio of the vehicle 12 is fixed on the high speed side by the control. Thereby the driving capacity of the vehicle 12 is reduced by the control and the moving capacity of the vehicle 12 can be reduced, so that the vehicle 12 is compelled to move at a low speed.