Patents on the soles of your shoes...: April 2023

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Oh, patents! The Fouclette

Fouclette undoubtedly rimes with raclette, the delicious broiled "scraped-cheese", Swiss appetizer. Especially, considering that the inventors, Denis Flota and Marie Christine Ribatto, both hail from Chamonix, in the French Alps, a mountain range shared with Switzerland, in the Southeast of France. The Fouclette, an ultra-portable, all-in-one, gas grill, broiler, and rôtisserie (skewer-roaster), was invented by a professional food-industry couple, with the famous multifunctionality of the “Swiss army knife” in mind. A couple, who craved to grill, broil, and skewer-roast on high-altitude treks, using an ultra-portable, multipurpose, gas-powered cooking appliance.

The Fouclette invention was awarded the French Industrial Property Office (Institut National de la Propriété Industrielle - INPI) patent, FR 3120423, titled Ultra-portable gas cooker with orbital rotating burner. The first syllable of the term Fouclette, “Fou”, meaning “jester” in French, is also a homonym for “crazed”, which is how the inventors are purported to have felt when their invention, the ultra-portable, multipurpose, combination broiler, skewer-roaster and grill, went on to collect many accolades, including the 2022 gold medal, at the historically famous, French innovation contest, called the Concours Lépine (first launched in1901).

The Fouclette combines three-appliances-in-one: a griddle or plancha for grilling, a rotisserie for food cooked on a skewer, and a broiler. The patent Figure 1 is included below, together with an image of the marketed Fouclette in use. The patent Figure 1 depicts the appliance enclosure (1), a radiant burner (2), supplied by an air/gas pipe (3), a circular groove (4) allowing to set the position of the burner, a central axis (5), a locking ring (6), a burner rotation handle (7), and stowaway feet (8). The enclosure has pegs (9) for installing cooking accessories (e.g., a griddle), a front opening (10) for sliding in a cooking dish or food for broiling, and a groove (11) for accommodating skewers. The Figure 1 also depicts a detachable lid (12) which, once removed, enables the Fouclette to accommodate containers larger than the heating surface, and once closed, enables to use the Fouclette as an oven.

Below, the English abstract of the Fouclette invention.

Ultra-portable gas cooking appliance with an orbital rotating burner, enabling various cooking operations to be carried out with the same appliance. The present invention relates to an ultra- portable gas appliance, whose orbital rotation of the burner enables miniaturization, and to perform several cooking operations. The orbital rotation of the burner enables it to be positioned either on the top, side, or bottom of the enclosure, which has the effect of reducing the overall size of the enclosure, unlike other rotary burner cooking appliances, which rotate on their central axis, and therefore always remain positioned in the center of the appliance, regardless of their orientation. Traditionally, portable gas cooking appliances are limited in their cooking operations due to the stationary position of the burner. The central position of rotary burners, inside the cooking enclosure, results in an increase in the size of the enclosure, and therefore also of the appliance. The appliance is intended for cooking food. [Abstract FR3120423]

References

Fouclette

https://fouclette.com/

Concours Lépine

https://www.concours-lepine.com/

Friday, April 28, 2023

Oh, patents! Pedestrian-safety signpost

Invented by a former paramedic, with experience responding to more than one emergency involving a pedestrian at a crosswalk, the JLS pedestrian safety signpost is precisely designed to prevent crosswalk accidents. The JLS signpost uses infrared sensors to detect the presence of humans and animals via temperature, which in turn triggers means of signaling pedestrians to traffic, using flashing lights and lighting of a pedestrian sign, as well as active video recording of the crosswalk. Infrared sensors are used to make sure that falling leaves and insects do not trigger the signaling system.

The JLS pedestrian safety signpost invention is recited in the European patent application, EP3886077A1, titled System and method for detecting and signaling use of a pedestrian crossing, and filed on March 3, 2021. The inventor, Jérôme Saez, hails from the Southeast of France. The European patent application was filed in French, one of the three official languages of the European Patent Organization. The original French title of this pedestrian safety invention is Système et procédé pour la détection et le signalement de l’engagement d’un passage piéton.

Below, the patent Figure 1, together with an image of the marketed pedestrian safety signpost. The patent Figure 1 depicts a pedestrian detection and signaling system (1) at a crosswalk (2), with an “obstacle” (3). The "obstacle" (3) is shown in this case as a pedestrian, but otherwise could also be an animal. The patent Figure 1 also shows electric power supply means (7), comprising photovoltaic (PV) panels (19), and an undepicted accumulator (17), or a wired electrical supply in other embodiments of the invention. The patent Figure 1 also depicts an always-on, obstacle (3) detection module (5), preferably infrared so that human and animal temperature might be detected, although other sonar, radar, visual and analog detection devices might also be used. Finally, the patent Figure 1 also comprises signaling means (9) to alert road users to the presence of a pedestrian. The signaling means comprise strips of electroluminescent (LED) lights (12), so that the signpost (11) might become visible. Low lighting means (10), illuminating the crosswalk (2) and sidewalk, are also shown. Camera recording means are undepicted.

The translated abstract of the invention is included below.

The invention relates to a method for detecting and signaling presence of an obstacle on a pedestrian crossing (2) and its implementation system, comprising the following steps:
- S1: detecting the presence of an obstacle at the pedestrian crossing, and its immediate environment via a module for detecting the presence (5) of an obstacle (3);
-S12: Measuring the temperature of the obstacle (3) in the zone of the pedestrian crossing (2) thus detected;
- S13: determining the nature of the obstacle (3) based on temperature, using a table of known value ranges characteristic of potential obstacles;
-S14: If the measured temperature corresponds to the temperature range of a type of obstacle to be signaled, implementing the steps comprising:
S2: signaling to road users the presence of an obstacle on the pedestrian crossing via the activation of signaling means (9), comprising the activation of a low lighting element (10), suitable for illuminating the roadway and the pedestrian crossing (2), and at least one other signaling element (9) intended for road users;
S3: Activating a video recording of the pedestrian crossing and the immediate environment of the pedestrian crossing, as soon as the presence of an obstacle is detected on the pedestrian crossing via a camera (25). [Abstract EP3866077A1]

References

Bornes pietons - JLS

https://www.borne-pieton-jls.com/presse

“Bornes to be alive” de Jerome Saez

https://echo-drome-ardeche.com/ardeche-innovation-securite-routiere-les-bornes-to-be-alive-de-jerome-saez/

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Oh, patents ! Moonlight sanitizing device for wind instruments

Do you play the flute? The clarinet? The trombone? The saxophone, or the French horn? Do you clean your instrument using 90% isopropyl alcohol in a spray bottle or equivalent, letting the alcohol evaporate, and/or using a pull-through swab for specific parts?

Begone the prior art of cleaning wind instruments! In comes the Moonlight system, with add-ons each designed for your particular instrument. The micro-controlled 10-minute cleaning/sanitizing cycle of the Moonlight system might be programmed to extract humidity and dry the inside of the instrument, generating UV-radiation capable of eliminating micro-organisms, together with ventilated UV-sanitized air to sanitize the instrument. An invention filed during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, whose significance was no doubt amplified, due to the increased awareness of the importance of sanitation.

A US utility patent application, US2020230662A1, titled Methods of cleaning musical wind instruments, was filed on July 23, 2020, and abandoned. A European patent application EP3915103A1 was otherwise falso iled on July 30, 2020, as well as a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) patent application, WO2020152533, on July 23, 2020, both still active with the same title. The three inventors on record, Jean Pierre Acquadro, Benoit Bertet, and Vincent Charlon, are all French.

The invention essentially comprises a light-emitting source with a wavelength capable of killing microrganisms. The light emitting source is mounted on a fan, able both to pull and push air, through the mouthpiece, for quick drying and sanitizing. Thus, the air is pulled from the instrument through the mouthpiece, using a topside device, and pushed from the barrel of the instrument, through the mouthpiece, using a standon device. Bacteria are known to accumulate around the mouthpiece, at the top of the instrument.

The light-emitting devices emit in the UV-C light band with a preferred 275 nm wavelength, preferably positioned at various locations, depending on the instrument. The fan is preferably a microfan, with a preferred airflow of approximately 5 cubic feet per minute (CFM). Together, the fan and light-emitting devices are designed to operate for preferably 10-minute cycles of drying and sanitizing.

Sanitizing is measured in terms of a 4 log 10 reduction in the bacterial count for both the mouthpiece and the instrument. The various instrument-specific pieces of the Moonlight sanitizing device come with adapters to fit the specific sizes of the various wind instruments.

Below, the Figures 4 and 6 of the patent, respectively show topside Moonlight sanitizing devices (10) for a saxophone, and a standon Moonlight sanitizing device (30) for the clarinet. An image of a marketed Moonlight device for a saxophone soprano is also included.

Below the abstract of the European patent EP3915103A1, is also included.

New methods and devices for cleaning, drying and sanitizing musical wind instruments are disclosed. According to one embodiment the devices of the invention contain at least the body of the device, inside which are included at least a fan and one or more light emitting sources capable of killing microorganisms. The devices are provided with an internal or external power supply method and are specifically fitted for multiple wind musical instruments either by their shape and design or using various sizes of adaptors to fit multiple musical instruments. The devices are able to dry and sanitize wind instruments in less than 30 minutes of use, before or after playing the instrument. [Abstract EP3915103A1]

References

Benoît Bertet (inventor) - Le Moonlight, c'est quoi?
https://www.bertet-musique.com/moonlight

Moonlight woodwinds drier and sanitizer

https://youtu.be/So99YbqlANc

How to sanitize your wind instrument. (Prior art)
https://www.amromusic.com/amro-blog/posts/how-to-sanitize-your-wind-instrument

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Earth Day 2023

References
Earth Day
https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023/

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Oh, patents! Pomellato Veleno earings (2)

The design of the Pomellato Veleno pendant earrings was awarded the US design patent USD550581S, titled Set of earrings. The patent was awarded on Sept. 11, 2007, to Francesco Minolli, and assigned to Pomellato S.p.A., in Milan, Italy.

The patent covers two embodiments of the design: with and without diamond inlay on the claws holding the stone. Figures 1 and 5 of the design are included below, each respectively showing a perspective view of one of the embodiments of the design. Below the patent Figures 1 and 5, images of the pendant earrings are included, from top to bottom, in blue topaz, citrine, amethyst, prehnite, and light blue topaz.

References

Gemstone Encylopedia
https://www.gemsociety.org/gemstone-encyclopedia/

Pomellato - Milano 1967.
https://www.pomellato.com/en_us

Monday, April 17, 2023

Interlude - Reality cuts me like a knife (Faada Freddy)

The video Reality cuts me like a knife was produced in partnership with SOS Méditerranée, in 2022. The song, written by Faada Freddy, was created in 2015, following the discovery on a beach, in Turkey, of a 3-year-old refugee child, who washed ashore from a shipwreck, carrying migrants across the Mediterranean to Greece.

Faada Freddy is a Senegalese singer-songwriter and musician, who founded the group DaaraJ. A group of three university accounting students, who committed to Peace activism through music worldwide.

References

DaaraJ

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daara_J

Faada Freddy

http://faadafreddy.lnk.to/GospelJourney

SongLyriucs – Faada Freddy – Reality cuts me like a knife (2015)

https://www.songlyrics.com/faada-freddy/reality-cuts-me-like-a-knife-lyrics/

SOS Méditerranée

https://en.sosmediterranee.org/

Youtube Video - Reality cuts me like a knife (2022)

https://youtu.be/teffqS5MVio

Sunday, April 16, 2023

Interlude - SOS Méditérranée

The widely circulated photograph of 3-year-old Syrian refugee child, washed ashore on a beach in Turkey, on September 2, 2015, outraged the whole of Europe. The child was shipwrecked on the Mediterranean, on a perilous journey to Greece, undertaken by thousands of migrants fleeing persecution. SOS Méditerranée, a European civil society organization, founded in 2015 in France and Germany, and soon after, in Italy and Switzerland, was borne of the circumstances of this horrifying event.

With support generated everywhere in Europe, SOS Méditerranée acquired and outfitted a giant ship (230 ft lx 50ft), the Ocean Viking, dedicated to rescue missions in the Mediterranean. Consistent with the provisions of International Maritime Law (Admiralty Law in the United States), which obligate captains at sea to assist persons in distress, regardless of their nationality, race, religion, status or circumstances, the Ocean Viking operates with a specialized rescue mission crew of 120, since 2019.

The crew includes doctors, nurses, sea-rescue technicians and logistics professionals, hailing from 17 different countries. Fully equipped with a small hospital, accommodations for rescued passengers, three launch boats for missions, and a helicopter pad, the Ocean Viking was preceded by the operations of a much smaller ship called Aquarius. Since 2016, a total of 37,000 people, and counting, were rescued. A total of 20,000 have also perished.

The SOS Méditerranée video below shows the six stages of an SOS Méditerranée rescue mission. Search, Coordination, Rescue, Boarding the Ocean Viking, Medical Care, and Delivery to a place of safety, per the provisions of International Maritime Law.

Migrants without life jackets are rescued from certain death on over-crowded boats, unfit to sail long distances on the Mediterranean, which run out of fuel, food and water.

References
Admirality Law
46 U.S. Code § 2304 - Duty to provide assistance at sea
Droit Martime
Code des transports : TITRE VI : SECOURS, ASSISTANCE EN MER ET EVENEMENTS DE MER ... (Articles L5262-1 à L5263-7)
SOS Méditerranée
https://sosmediterranee.org/
SOS Méditerranée - Droit maritime (Maritime Law)
https://sosmediterranee.fr/sauvetage-en-mediterranee/#sauvetage
SOS Méditerranée - Les sauvetages (rescue missions)
https://sosmediterranee.fr/categorie/sauvetages/
Staff (Sept. 2, 2015). Shocking image of drowned Syrian boy shows tragic plight of refugees. The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/02/shocking-image-of-drowned-syrian-boy-shows-tragic-plight-of-refugees

Monday, April 10, 2023

Oh, patents! Pomellato Veleno rings (1)

Pomellato is an Italian jewelry brand, founded in Milan, Italy, in 1967 by Pino Rabolini. Coming from a family with a tradition of goldsmiths, Rabolini ushered in "ready-to-wear" fine jewelry. Affordable, fine jewelry, crafted by master goldsmiths, for all occasions, not only special events.

The brand was also recognized as a pioneer of the New Precious trend. A trend of fine jewelry, that uses colorful semi-precious gemstones, combined with the centuries-old tradition of Milanese goldsmithing. Thus, Pomellato lines of jewelry are vibrantly colorful.

The vintage Pomellato Veleno ring design was registered at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) in 2008, as industrial design, CA114391S, titled Finger ring. The Figure 1 photograph of the design is included below, together with the image of a collection of marketed Pomellato Veleno rings.

The Pomellato Veleno rings shown are crafted with pink 18k gold, and round semi-precious gemstones secured in pronged settings. The semi-precious gemstones of the five Pomellato Veleno rings, shown below, include (from top to bottom, left to right) amethyst, prehnite, citrine, smoky quartz and blue topaz.

References

Gemstone Encylopedia
https://www.gemsociety.org/gemstone-encyclopedia/

Pomellato - Milano 1967.
https://www.pomellato.com/en_us