Oh, patents! Multipurpose winged corkscrew

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Winged corkscrews comprising rack and pinion attached levers and central shaft, together with a worm (or helix spiral) at one end, have existed since the beginning of the 20th century. What is new in a multipurpose winged corkscrew is the added versatility of Swiss-knife-type tools that tuck into the base of the corkscrew handle. Secondary, Swiss-knife-type tools such as large, small, or serrated blades, can openers, bottle openers, screwdrivers, scissors, reamers, pins, chisels, metal files, peelers and cutters, plus more. 

Such a multifunctional corkscrew is recited in the European patent application, EP3130558A1, titled Winged corkscrew with one or more secondary utensils. An invention that primarily seeks to include an all-in-one solution to removing both the protective foil that surrounds the opening of the corked bottle, and the cork inserted inside the bottle neck.

The patent Figure 8 is included to the right. The patent Figure 8 depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the winged corkscrew 100 with two hinged secondary tools, a blade and a pin (800 and 801) that are protracted from the base of the handle 125.

The patent Figure 8 further depicts, the handle portion 125, also designed to function as a bottle opener, with a hollow opening 175 and a lip 180 intended to engage and remove a bottle cap. The Figure 8 also depicts a central shaft 105, with helical rack 135, that engages with the gear teeth 145 and 150 of the levers 110, 115, to provide vertical movement (up and down) of the shaft 105, upon actuation of the levers 110, 115. The levers 110, 115 are attached to the shoulders 137, 138 of the corkscrew body 120, with pins 155, 160, enabling rotation of the levers 110, 115 and of the gear teeth 145, 150. The base of the multipurpose corkscrew 170 is designed to fit around the top portion of a bottle, through which the worm 140 will be inserted for removing the cork.

Below, a YouTube video showing a winged corkscrew used primarily for removing a bottle cork. 

The abstract of the invention, also indexing the Figure 8, is  included below.

A winged corkscrew (100; 800; 900; 1000; 1100; 1200) with one or more secondary utensils. The winged corkscrew comprises: a shaft (105), body (120), two levers (110, 115), and two pins (155, 160). The shaft comprises: a handle portion (125), secondary utensils (130, 131), a rack portion (145), and a helical portion (140). The handle portion comprises an opening (175) and a lip (180) disposed along the inner edge of the opening. A secondary utensil such as a blade (802, 1002) is hingedly disposed between the handle portion and the rack portion, which is positioned adjacent to the helical portion. The body comprises: a through hole (136), base (170), and two shoulders (137, 138). The two levers pivotally engage with the two shoulders via the two pins. The shaft engages and extends through the through hole of the body, such that the helical portion of the shaft is disposed within the body. The base is substantially cylindrical and is adapted to engage with a neck portion of a bottle. [Abstract EP3130558A1]

References

Guiness Book of Records – Oldest Corkscrew
https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/630186-oldest-corkscrew

Le Bon Tire Bouchon

https://lebontirebouchon.com/

Origins of the Corkscrew
https://www.revolutionaryplayers.org.uk/the-orgins-of-the-corkscrew/

Terminology: WOTTIES 2022 - The ADS WOTY Shortlist (2)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The American Dialect Society (ADS), Word of the Year (WOTY), shortlisted candidates are as interesting as ever this year. Submitted for nine of the most compelling categories of new words, by top American dialect specialists, the selections are extracted below from the Society's Press Release.  The category winners are indexed with an asterisk. The Press Release was put together by Ben Zimmer, self-proclaimed word nut, Chair of the ADS New Words Committee, language columnist at the Wall Street Journal, contributing writer for The Atlantic, and co-host of the Slate podcast Spectacular Vernacular. 

COMPETING WORD OF THE YEAR (2022)
Dark Brandon: sinister, powerful alter ego of Joe Biden (play on “Let’s Go Brandon”)
quiet quitting: doing no more than the minimum required for a job
rizz: effortless attractiveness or style (short for “charisma”)
Slava Ukraini: “Glory to Ukraine!” (said in solidarity with Ukrainian resistance)
special military operation: Russian designation for invasion of Ukraine

MOST USEFUL/MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED
* quiet quitting: doing no more than the minimum required for a job
climate criminal: celebrity who flies excessively via private jet
longtermism: ethical position that prioritizes improving the long-term future
nepo baby: celebrity who is the child of a celebrity
rizz: effortless attractiveness or style (short for “charisma”)

POLITICAL WORD OF THE YEAR
* Dark Brandon: sinister, powerful alter ego of Joe Biden (play on “Let’s Go Brandon”)
Dobbs: Supreme Court decision reversing abortion rights (as in “post-Dobbs”)
pink trickle/splash: result of Republican “red wave” in midterms not materializing
Slava Ukraini: “Glory to Ukraine!” (said in solidarity with Ukrainian resistance)
Woman, Life, Freedom: rallying cry for women’s rights in Iran and elsewhere

DIGITAL WORD OF THE YEAR
* -dle: suffix for Wordle-like games (Heardle, Absurdle, Foodle, Worldle, Redactle, etc.)
BFFR: initialism for “be fucking for real”
chief twit: self-designation of Elon Musk after acquiring Twitter
chronically online: spending so much time online that it warps one’s sense of reality
crypto rug pull: scam in which a fraudulent development team pumps a cryptocurrency token before disappearing with the funds, leaving investors with a valueless asset
touch grass: go outside (antidote to spending too much time online)
verse: online world, as in Metaverse (Facebook’s VR platform) or Fediverse (federated servers on Mastodon)

INFORMAL WORD OF THE YEAR
* it’s giving (X): description of something exuding a particular vibe or energy (from Black drag culture) 

dickriding: currying favor or sucking up to someone
(the) ick: feeling of disgust about one’s date
menty b: mental breakdown
rizz: effortless attractiveness or style (short for “charisma”)

MOST CREATIVE WORD OF THE YEAR
* -ussy: suffix as in Bottom rights subversion of the English language.
blorbo (from my shows): beloved fictional character from television or other media
-dle: suffix for Wordle-like games (Heardle, Absurdle, Foodle, Worldle, Redactle, etc.)
moid/foid: derogatory terms for men and women in incel culture
short king: positive or affectionate term for a man of modest stature

EUPHEMISM OF THE YEAR
* special military operation: Russian designation for invasion of Ukraine
camping: access to abortion, as used in informal networks circumventing state anti-abortion laws 

diverse-owned: of a business, owned by members of historically underrepresented groups
leg booty: algospeak substitution for LGBT
pronouns: trans/nonbinary gender identities, as used in transphobic rhetoric to mock pronoun choice
résumé embellishment: lying about one’s accomplishments

SNOWCLONE/PHRASAL TEMPLATE OF THE YEAR
* not X: ironic framing device expressing an attitude of mock horror or incredulity
if I text you X, it means Y: explaining how to interpret an emoji or series of emojis
#IStandWithX: expression of solidarity
it’s the X for me: singling out a notable or funny aspect of something, or finding fault with someone
she’s/he’s a 10, but X: pointing out a negative or quirky quality of someone
X hits different: describing an experience that is affecting in a meaningful way

EMOJI OF THE YEAR
* 💀 [skull]: expressing figurative death (from laughter, frustration, etc.)
🫠 [melting face]: expressing embarrassment or dread
🫡 [saluting face]: sign of respect or solidarity
🫥 [dotted line face]: feeling of invisibility
🚩 [red flag]: signaling danger or problems

 ⬜🟨🟩 [colored boxes]: for Wordle results

Reference

Ben Zimmer (website) 

https://benzimmer.com/

Spectacular Vernacular (podcast)

https://slate.com/podcasts/spectacular-vernacular 

Zimmer, B. (Jan. 6, 2023) American Dialect Society Selects “-ussy” as 2022 Word of the Year. American Dialect Society Press Release. 

https://www.americandialect.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-Word-of-the-Year-PRESS-RELEASE.pdf 

Terminology: WOTTIES 2022 - The American Dialect Society selected "-ussy" . (1)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The very distinguished, 133-year old,  American Dialect Society (ADS) voted the suffix -ussy as the Word of the Year (WOTY) 2022. Votes were cast on the occasion of the Society’s  Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, on Jan 5-8, 2023. 

The suffix -ussy as in Trader Joe’s Cuban spice “Citrusy Garlic” (see image below). But mostly, the playfully obsessive suffix -ussy, taking it’s cue from other more x-rated -ussification permutations that might reflect what is termed the Bottom Rights movement of gay, queer, lesbian and transgender linguistic efforts to subvert the English language.  

As Squirres suggests: “This -ussification is 1) kind of annoying, perhaps even on purpose. And 2) a great equalizer. It is subversive, it is Bottom Rights.” Indeed, “-ussification” would not even be seen as an online trend. It would be a part of a deliberate effort to “obliterate any notion of fixed meaning.” 

After all, fixed meaning isn’t that essential to human communication, is it? Take the following quote, and you’ll surely get it, even if your computer won’t: “The girls who girl, girl. The girls who girln’t, gorn’t.

References

Zimmer , B. (Jan. 6, 2023). American Dialect Society Selects “-ussy” as 2022 Word of the Year.  
https://www.americandialect.org/wp-content/uploads/2022-Word-of-the-Year-PRESS-RELEASE.pdf

Squirres, B. (Jan. 26, 2023). We asked linguists why people are adding -ussy to every word.
https://www.vulture.com/2022/01/bussy-trend-linguists-explain.html

Oh, patents! New vaccine for honeybees!

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

On January 7th, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Center for Veterinary Biologics conditionally approved the first vaccine for honeybees. A vaccine designed to protect bees against a deadly bacterial disease called American FoulBrood (AFB). A disease caused by a gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, Paenibacillus larvae, that is highly contagious to bees, and known to wipe out entire colonies.

To date the only cure for AFB was burning the infected hives, and all of the associated equipment, since the disease is not treatable. According to Dalan Animal Health, the company that masterminded the honeybee vaccine, an estimated 40% of the 2.8 million commercially operated beehives in the US died, during the year April 2018 to April 2019. Honeybee death with an impact not only on beekeeper jobs, but on farmers, who depend on bees for the pollination of their crops. In the US, bees are estimated to pollinate approximately one-third of all crops. Thus, bee health is crucial to biodiversity, ecosystems, food security, and trade of agricultural products.

A vaccine for bees? Having survived the COVID-19 pandemic largely due to two vaccines, and two boosters, each of which may have given you a really sore arm, and left you in a zombie state for at least 24 hours, you are probably wondering how on earth bees might get vaccinated.

The new honeybee vaccine is an oral formulation. It is incorporated into Royal jelly, the food secreted by nurse bees to feed queen bees and larvae. Upon ingestion, the vaccine is transported to the queen bee’s ovaries, from where all the larvae receive immunity before they hatch. The prophylactic vaccine was developed by Dalan Animal Health, a company in Athens, Georgia, dedicated to the health of honeybees.

This invention is patented. The below-cited two World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patents recite the first honeybee vaccine, effective against both American FoulBrood (AFB), and European FoulBrood (EFB), caused by the bacterium Melissococcus plutonius. In fact, the scope of the invention even extends to other insects and invertebrates, such as shrimp, grasshoppers, mealworms and other pollinators, where the maternal invertebrate would be vaccinated with a targeted inactive bacterium to confer immunity to her offspring.

• WO2022192752A1 - Vaccine method and composition for bacterial diseases in invertebrates.
• WO2022051406A1 - Use of vitellogenin for defining and testing novel immunogens in insects.

Below, the sounds of a very busy queen bee, with a healthy court of worker bees. 

References

American Foulbrood Bee Aware.
https://beeaware.org.au/archive-pest/american-foulbrood/#ad-image-0

European Foulbrood Bee Aware.
https://beeaware.org.au/archive-pest/european-foulbrood/#ad-image-0

Dalan Animal Health – Dedicated to honeybee health.
https://www.dalan.com/

Hughes, R.A. (Jan. 5, 2023). Breakthrough: World's first vaccine for bees could save hives from devastating disease.
https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/01/05/endangered-colonies-worlds-first-vaccine-for-bees-could-save-hives-from-devastating-diseas

Tumin, R. (Jan. 7, 2023). U.S.D.A. Approves First Vaccine for Honeybees. NYTimes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/07/science/honeybee-vaccine.html

Rascoe, A. (Jan. 8, 2023). A new vaccine will protect honeybees from a bacterial disease affecting their larvae.
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/08/1147737268/a-new-vaccine-will-protect-honeybees-from-a-bacterial-disease-affecting-their-la

USDA - Center for Veterinary Biologics.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/veterinary-biologics

Oh, patents! The Dotwatch

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann 

The South Korean company Dot Incorporation has invented a beautifully designed smartwatch, specifically intended for the blind and sight-impaired. Using the company’s magnetically controlled touch sensor technology, corresponding to four 3x2 braille cells, the smartwatch displays time in refreshable braille, as well as other smartwatch functions such as date, temperature, social networking, news and callerID on incoming calls. The watch is Bluetooth connected to a smartphone. It has a battery charge that lasts 7 days. It is made of super lightweight aluminum and is both dustproof and waterproof.  

Certain aspects of the Dotwatch invention, the casing in particular, are recited the US utility patent application, US2021072816A1, titled Information output device. The application was published on March 11, 2021. The inventors on record are Ju Yoon Kim, Ju Ho Kim and Hycon Cheol Park.

Below the patent cover sheet drawing, together with an image of the stylish  Dotwatch, embodying the invention on the market. The cover sheet drawing shows a plan view of an embodiment of the information output device (1), according to the invention.

Specifically, the information output device (1) is intended to be portable and wearable, for example as a wrist watch. Although undepicted, the portable and wearable output device is designed to communicate wirelessly with a nearby computing device, such as a smartphone, portable computer or tablet via near field communication, WIFI or Bluetooth. The portable and wearable output device comprises a casing 10, protrusions 12, and an expression surface 13. 

Inside the casing, a sealed internal space comprises driving modules, which may include electrically-driven actuators. The protrusions 12 are driven to protrude through expression holes for tactile sensing, and to pull-back within the casing 10. The casing 10 also comprises a film surface module 13 to protect the expression surface 11 with protrusions 12 and expression holes, from external moisture, humidity, and/or contaminants, thereby enhancing the durability of the wearable and portable output device.

The Roman numerals II-II depict the crossection line for the patent Figure 2. The Roman numerals III-III depict the crosssection line for the patent Figures 3, 4 and 5.

The absrtract of the DotWatch  patent is also included below. 

This application relates to an information output apparatus. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a casing including an expression surface and an expression hole formed in the expression surface. The apparatus also includes a protrusion provided to reciprocate such that at least a part thereof protrudes out of the expression hole and information is expressed on the expression surface. The apparatus also includes a driving module located inside the casing and connected to the protrusion to move the protrusion.                [Abstract US2021072816A1]

References

Dot Incorporation 

https://www.dotincorp.com/ 

Dotwatch

https://www.dotincorp.com/page/31?gbn2=DotWatch

Oh, patents! Dot Translate mobile device

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Dot Translate mobile device, in real-time, enables translation of text input to braille, the tactile language that the blind and sight-impaired use to read and write. The ultraportable Dot Translate mobile device not only bypasses embossed braille card-stock sheets, together with the prior art of manual or automated braillers, used for embossing braille on braille sheets, the Dot Translate mobile device also opens access to refreshable braille. Braille that constantly changes on screen, thereby vastly expanding the types, sources and volume of texts available in braille, in real-time, for the blind and sight-impaired. Using pin-actuated hardware with perforated glass to create tactile relief, together with Artificial Intelligence (AI) neural network translation algorithms, the Dot Translate mobile device is designed to convert any text input from the web to braille, including web pages, pdfs, and text messages.

In addition to the many US utility patents awarded for all the various aspects of this breakthrough technology, designed for the blind and sight-impaired, the slick and ultraportable Dot Translate mobile device is the recipient of a US design patent.  As a reminder, a US design patent covers the ornamental aspects of an invention, or the way an invention looks, in contrast to US utility patents, which cover the functional aspects of an invention, or how the invention works. The US design patent USD815631, titled Mobile computing device for the vision impaired, was awarded on April 2018, to Ju Yoon Kim, the inventor and CEO of Dot Incorporation. A South Korean company dedicated to creating a barrier-free world for the blind.

Below, the patent coversheet figure drawing, depicting a front isometric view, and a left elevation view of the mobile computing device, for the vision impaired. An image of the marketed, slick and ultraportable, Dot Translate mobile device for the blind and vision impaired, is also included.

                                          

An online demonstration of the Dot Translate, text to Braille, AI neural network translation engine, is also included here. You might try the engine live here. Just type your text in English, and Dot Translate will convert it to Braille(1). Braille that becomes readable, in real time, for the blind or sight-impaired, using refreshable braille, tactile relief hardware, such as that which is embodied in the Dot Translate mobile device.

---------------

Note
(1) In case the Dot Translate, text to Braille, live engine is glitchy, please experiment with the link BrailleTranslator.org , which also includes a back translation field.

References

Dot Incorporation

https://www.dotincorp.com/

Dot Translate

https://www.hyperinteractive.de/dot-translate/

CES 2023 – The Dot Pad

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Dot Pad is the winner of a Best of Innovation award in the Accessibility category, at the 2023 Computer Electronics Show (CES)(1), in Las Vegas, California, on Jan. 5-8. The Dot Pad is the world’s first tactile graphics tablet, enabling access to visually-generated graphics, such as maps, charts and illustrations, for the visually impaired and the blind. Using patented dot actuator technology, together with patented braille translation software, on a patented split screen output device, that is seamlessly integrated via Bluetooth connection to VoiceOver-enabled iOS mobile devices, the Dot Pad finally offers real-time interaction with graphics content from the web, for the blind and visually impaired. Real time interaction provided via 300-cell (2400-pin) interactive tactile access to graphics, charts, illustrations, and maps, as well as 20-cell (160-pin) refreshable text-to-Braille display. The Dot Pad is a tablet designed with accessibility to graphics in mind for a community of 285 million blind people.

Masterminded by the Korean company Dot Incorporation, the Dot Pad is the latest product of a whole line of smart electronic devices, designed to create a barrier-free world for the blind. A world where only 3% of printed materials are translated to Braille, creating a huge literacy gap. A world where it is impossible to use an ATM, or a glucose monitor, that is not Braille-enabled. Likewise, a world inaccessible for buying public transportation tickets, finding your way using public transportation maps,  texting or using email, surfing the web, googling, and many more tasks that are completely taken for granted by sighted people. Tasks that are impossible to perform without some form of assistive VoiceOver technology, designed to provide audio instead of visual input, or to enable tactile access with Braille.

Braille is a tactile language that enables the visually impaired and blind to read and write. It was developed in 1824, by Louis Braille, a fifteen-year-old French youth, who lost his eyesight in a childhood accident. The Braille system consists of a tactile code for letters and punctuation, as well as for word contractions. A tactile code that is traditionally embossed on thick paper stock. The code consists of Braille cells, comprising varying combinations of 3x2 raised dots. 

For Braille text and graphics to become refreshable on a computer screen, the technology involves generating tactile relief. In a nutshell, the Dot Pad comprises a perforated glass grid screen, allowing 2400 pins to come through as raised or lowered tactile relief. Tactile relief corresponding to an output both in Braille text and raised-dot graphics. The constantly pin-actuated (or refreshed) glass surface is driven by AI algorithms, using any input (print, graphics, images or audio), for translation to Braille and dot  graphics. Input-processing mediated via Bluetooth connection to the web, running on another VoiceOver-enabled, iOS mobile device. The dot graphics are further manipulable, for example with pan, zoom, rotate and invert functions.

Thus, the Dot Pad brings together many different patented inventions, not the least of which is the small, lightweight and compact format of the pin-actuated device. The following is a list of some of the corresponding US utility patents, awarded for various output aspects of the Dot Pad.

• US11508259 - Information output apparatus.
• US11322003 - Information output device.
• US11263935 - Electronic display device and information display method of same.
• US10996916 - Data output apparatus and method, and computer-readable recording medium.
• US10971041 - Electronic display device and information display method of same.
• US10679532 - Electronic display device and information display method of same.
• US10649714 - Data output apparatus and method, and computer-readable recording medium.
• US10217389 - Electronic display device and information display method of same.

Below,  an image of the marketed device, and a Youtube video, showcasing the Dot Pad dot-actuated graphics.

______________

Note

(1) The Las Vegas Computer Electronic Show (CES) is one of the largest tradeshows in the world. Traditionally, since 1967, CES has unveiled some of the most game-changing technologies, such as VCRs, CDs, DVDs and digital radio. 2023 is "back-to-normal" attendance, after two consecutive years of hosting a virtual event.

References
CES 2023
https://www.ces.tech/ 

Dot Incorporation

https://www.dotincorp.com/

Dot pad – Info
https://pad.dotincorp.com/

New Year!

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

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