Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Africa. Show all posts

Monday, January 19, 2026

Oh, patents! FabBRICK® Projects

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

In 2023, five years after its inception, FabBRICK® had produced 152,000 bricks. A quantity of bricks that amounted to 32 tons of upcycled, used textiles. In other words, enough brick orders to justify expanding the company’s size, and to give everyone working for FabBRICK® a clear sense of doing good in the world. A positive impact on yet another serious aspect of environmental pollution, considering how much used and/or waste textiles had been given a second life in stunning wall cladding and furniture projects, such as those exemplified below. 

After all, 4 to 5.8 million tons of used textiles are discarded each year, in Europe alone, a large portion of which is sold to Africa. Sales to Africa, where some 30% of the used clothing ends up in infamous landfills, because the textiles are too damaged for purchase. An environmental disaster compounded by the fact that the African used-clothing market, called the Mitumba market, also contributes to strangling local textile production, as no one can compete with used-clothing prices (Textile Mountain, 2020). 

Tryptic - Office entrance hall. FabBRICK® Catalog, p.35.

Mural - Parisian coffeeshop.FabBRICK® Catalog, p. 45

Furniture - Unique pieces. (FabBRICK® Website)

References
FabBRICK® (website)
https://www.fab-brick.com/en/architecture
FabBRICK® Unique pieces
https://www.fab-brick.com/en/pi%C3%A8ces-uniques
FabBRICK® Wall covering catalog
https://www.fab-brick.com/en/_files/ugd/21e6f9_c34fa774b8fc41f8be9724b9756d459e.pdf 
Textile Mountain: The hidden burden of our textile waste. (Website)
https://www.textilemountainfilm.com/

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Mitumba* - A story of used clothing.

 Copyright © Fançoise Herrmann


The documentary, Textile Mountain, produced by Make Europe sustainable for all** shows the impact of the 4 million-ton surplus of used clothing in the world. 70% of which is sold in bales to sub-Saharan Africa. 50% of which is in such a bad state, it ends up in dumps on riverside beds, the sides of roads, or in large fields, such as the well-known, 30-acre, ‘Dandora Dumpsite’ (mountain), on the outskirts of Nairobi (in Kenya).  

The remaining ‘re-usable’ mitumba that floods African markets also ends up canceling all local textile production, since no one can compete with the price or quantity of mitumba. In response to this situation, the documentary highlights two exemplary European solutions to textile waste.  
  • ISATIÓ,  a company that uses the principles of a circular economy to upcycle fabric samples into high-quality fashion products, in Brussels, Belgium.
  • Nuw Wardrobe, a fashion exchange app and social networking community for sharing clothes, in Dublin, Ireland.
As Annie Leonard, founder and author of The Story of Stuff project puts it: There is no such thing as ‘away’. When you throw something away, it must go somewhere.

-----------
Note
* mitumba is the Swahili term for 'used clothing imported from abroad'.
** Make Europe sustainable for all (MESA), a three-year Development,  Education and Awareness-raising (DEAR) project, combining the expertise and experience of 25 partners from 14 EU countries, EU and global networks. MESA was designed to increase awareness of roles and responsibilities of EU citizens and policymakers in creating a sustainable future for all. The project began in July 2017, and ended in July 2020.

Reference
ISATIÓ (Instagram)
Leonard, A. (2011). The Story of Suff: The Impact of Overconsumption on the Planet, Our Communities, and Our Health-And How We Can Make It Better. New York, NY: Free Press.
Nuw (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/wearenuw/
Textile Mountain (website)
https://www.textilemountainfilm.com/
Textile Mountain (YouTube video in English) [21:39] - European Environmental Bureau (May 29, 2020).  
https://youtu.be/UC4oFmX8tHw 
Textile Mountain (Youtube video available with subtitles in the following languages)
The Story of Stuff (website)
https://www.storyofstuff.org/

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Oh, patents! Kickstart International MoneyMaker hip pump

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Africa encompasses more than one-quarter of the world’s arable farmland (World Bank Data). It is a continent of great opportunity with untapped potential. However, only 4% of Africa’s farmlands are irrigated. This means that the whole continent remains largely tributary to rain cycles. In other words, small-scale farmers, comprising 80% of the workforce, are stuck in famine/feast cycles, able to farm when it rains, and left idle during dry seasons or droughts. The problem of weather dependency (rain-fed farming) also causes farmers to all plant and harvest at the same time, in turn to sell in oversaturated markets, thus creating unsold harvests and large amounts of spoilage. It is estimated that, If just 20% of farmlands were irrigated, the hunger problem might be solved. However, beyond survival, the goal is also prosperity, empowering farmers to permanently lift their families out of poverty.

In response to this problematic situation, Kickstart International Inc., co-founded by an American engineer, and British construction entrepreneur, Dr. Martin Fisher and Nick Moon, developed the MoneyMaker hip pump. The MoneyMaker pump is one of the many affordable and durable tools the company has designed to harness the entrepreneurial drive of families, seeking to make money to lift themselves out of poverty “quickly, cost-effectively and sustainably”. This particular irrigation tool is specifically designed to target some estimated 20 million farmers, who have access to sufficient renewable groundwater resources to escape rain dependence. Thus, the MoneyMaker hip pump is designed to provide access to groundwater, independently from rain cycles, so that farmers might produce harvests all year long, in order to sell in markets during the dry season, when prices are higher, in turn making profits, empowering them to make investments in ever improved means to increase productivity.

The Kickstart International Inc., hip pump invention is recited in the US utility patent US7517306B2, titled Hip Pump Assembly. The patent recites a pump assembly comprising a low-friction piston and cylinder pumping mechanism. The pumping mechanism is hinged off a base footplate, in such a way that the pumping mechanism can rotate relative to the base footplate and cooperate with the user, pushing the piston in and out the cylinder to pump. The hinge axle of the foot baseplate comprises the pump’s inlet and outlet pipes. Thus, the pumping cylinder actually rotates around the pipes.

The base footplate is otherwise designed to fold up against the pump, where it can be attached with a clip, for easy transport. The whole assembly actually weighs less than 5 kilos (approx. 10 lbs). It is also designed for easy operation, without fatigue during an extended period of time. Likewise, no training or technical background is required for operating and maintaining the pump.

The pump is called a “hip” pump because of the hip movement solicited from the user, rocking backward and forwards, transferring weight from one foot to another on the ground, when pulling and pushing on the piston handle, during pumping. In other words, the hip movement, coached by the rotation of the pumping cylinder on the hinged footplate, transmits force to the pushing and pulling movements, invoked in pumping. It is this distribution of effort on the whole body, vs. just on upper extremities, which results in a much less tiring experience. The hinged footplate also makes it possible for users of varying height to use the hip pump, since a short person simply uses the pump at a more acute angle than a tall person. 

In terms of performance, the hip pump is designed to suck up water as deep as 8.5 meters (approx. 30 ft.) at sea level, and push water up into a tank up to 7 meters above the pump. The pump can irrigate crops up to 100 meters (approx. 325 ft.) from the source, at a flow rate of more than 1000 liters/hour (approx. 260 gal/hr), which is far more efficient than using buckets. The pump is also designed with a maximum suction ratio, considering piston stroke, the volume of the cylinder and proximity to the valve box. Finally, all component parts of the pumps are inexpensively produced locally, where they do not require additional tools for assembly.


The abstract of this invention is included below, together with the already indexed Figure 41 drawing, extracted from the patent.
Provided herein is an innovative human-powered pumping device comprising a piston and cylinder pumping mechanism that is hinged off a base. In use, the piston is driven in and out of the cylinder by a handle which is pushed and pulled by the operator. The base is resting on the ground and the cylinder is hinged off the base such that the pumping mechanism can rotate with respect to the base during the pumping motion.           [Abstract US7517306B2]
References
Kickstart International Inc. (website) 
World Bank – Arable farmland world wide / per country

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Oh, patents! Child Vision™ Project variable focus lenses

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The dearth of medical specialists in Third World countries is well documented (e.g.; at the WHO and the World Bank). For example, considering the ratio of 1:2 million optometrists per capita, in countries like Mali, it is estimated that an optometry appointment would take up to 200 years. In response to this crisis, the Child Vision Project, an Oxford University spin-off, distributes Harry Potter-looking spectacles with patented, fluid-filled and self-adjustable lenses, to youth 12 to 18 years in Third World countries, for less than one Euro ($1) per pair. 

The spectacles are equipped with a small wheel, on the temple of the frame. Adjusting the wheel, one way, pushes the fluid contained in a chamber between two plastic lenses outwards, creating convex plus lenses for longsighted people. Adjusting the wheel the other way, pushes the fluid inwards, creating concave minus lenses for shortsighted people.


Masterminded by physics Professor Joshua David Silver, at Oxford University in the UK, the many aspects of this invention are recited in several patent families. One member of the patent families is the US utility patent US7085065, titled Variable focus optical apparatus.

US7085065 recites a variable focus lens apparatus, suitable for spectacles, comprising a rigid lens and a flexible lens, forming a sealed chamber, wherein both lenses are secured with adhesive between two engaging rings, connected to the lens frame. The recited invention differs from the prior art of variable focus lenses, in that only one of the lenses is flexible, and the rings securing the two lenses do not have to be made of ductile material, even though they still have to be light and resistant enough for use in spectacles. This inventive aspect of the variable focus lens apparatus expands the range of possible materials used, while reducing the costs of production. The variable focus lens apparatus, thus designed for spectacles, is also suitable for lenses that are not necessarily circular. In this case, some cylindrical compensation for astigmatic errors, introduced in non-circular lenses, is carried over to the rigid lens.

Below, the abstract of this invention together with the patent Figure 2, depicting a cross-sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of the variable focus lens apparatus, suitable for spectacles. Specifically, the patent Figure 2 drawing shows the variable focus lens apparatus 10, comprising a rigid lens 22, and a flexible lens 16, forming the sealed cavity, in which clear fluid will be injected. The rigid lens 22 is secured with adhesive 24 to the rings 12 and 14. The flexible lens 16 is stretched tightly between the engaging rings 12 and 14, at the step point 18 on ring 12, and recessed point 20 on ring 14, as indexed on the right side of the apparatus, and shown on both sides.
A variable focus lens apparatus for use in spectacles or the like is formed from a fluid envelope comprising two sheets, at least one of which is flexible. The flexible sheet is retained in place between two rings, which are directly secured together. This may be by means of adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or any similar process. If the other sheet is rigid, then it may be directly secured to one of the rings. [Abstract US7085065]

References
Child vision Project
World Bank Data
Physicians, hospital beds, surgical specialists, midwives, health care workers  -- per 1000 people
WHO - World Health Report
https://www.who.int/whr/2006/overview/en/

Monday, August 28, 2017

Oh, patents! SnooCODE

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Can you imagine trying to find someone in a city with no street names or street numbers? This is exactly the situation in some of the developing cities in Africa, and in particular in Accra, the capital of Ghana. But luckily, a young Ghanian systems engineer, called Sesinam Dagadu, studying in the UK, found the perfect solution. He called his invention the SnooCODE.

The SnooCODE is an app, downloadable for free, that generates a unique geolocalisation code wherever the person is standing. The app also generates directions when a SnooCODE is provided. Problem solved (via satellite too)! 

The Ghana National Ambulance Services (GNAS) are now equipped with SnooCODE Red, developed by tinyDavid in collaboration with the Vodaphone Ghana Foundation.

This year the PanAfrican SnooCODE was also deployed so that any place in Africa will have a SnooCODE address for delivering goods, or for finding people.. Indeed as the SnooCode  logo states: "An address for every man, woman and child."

The SnooCODE invention is disclosed in the PCT patent WO2014080186 titled Postal code system and method. The abstract of this invention is included below with an app screenshot of the SnooCode CUT-OXE corresponding to the Achimota Hospital in Accra,
A postal code system and method comprised a first GPS signal receiving portable device (10) that determines a postcode for the instant position of the first portable device (10) dependent upon the position on the surface of the earth of the first portable device (10). The system and method also comprises a second GPS signal receiving portable device that has the postcode inputted therein, determines the desired position of the postcode, finds its position by GPS and issues indication to delivery personnel how far and in what direction to move to arrive at the postcode- indicated location. First (10) and second (18) portable devices can be included in a combined portable device (10, 18) such as a GPS enabled portable telephone. A position determining algorithm and a postcode deliver algorithm, opposite in action to the action of the postcode determining algorithm, are employed. The postcode determining algorithm randomises at least one of the postcode characters, to avoid easy determination of a postcode from a position and vice versa.. [Abstract WO2014080186]

References
SnooCODE
Fauchier-Delavigne, M. ( Aug 7, 2017) A défaut de noms de rue une appli génère des codes pour se repérer à Accra. Le Monde 17-08-17
Douglas, K. (Aug. 15, 2015) SnooCode : a solution to the lack of formal addresses in Ghana and beyond
tinyDavid
Vodaphone Ghana foundation

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Oh, patents! Traditional African medicine (1)

 Copyright @ Françoise Herrmann

In countries where trained physician density, measured as the ratio of 1 physician to 1000 [WHO(1), WHO(2)World Bank], is to the order of 1:20,000 compared to the ratio of 1:200-400 for traditional healthcare practitioners, it makes sense, according to Professor Dbodossou, founder of PRO.ME.TRA,  to consider, rather than to outlaw, the parallel indigenous healthcare system. Especially, when a given population favors, respects and trusts the healers, or when their practices are effective. Indeed, it makes sense to actively explore and research the vast depository of traditional indigenous knowledge and practices, in view of embracing all of the possibilities for healthcare services. According to the World Health Organization, the minimum standard of care is 23 doctors, nurses and midwives for a population of 10,000 [WHO (3)]

The non-profit organization PRO.ME.TRA International precisely seeks to recognize and promote indigenous practices and knowledge, in an effort to build bridges between both Western and traditional healthcare systems. PRO.ME.TRA International headquarters are located in Dakar, Senegal, on the West Coast of Africa. The organization was founded in 1971, with a mission to promote traditional African medical practices. Thus, PRO.ME.TRA conducts research, hosts conferences, maintains chapters in 28 countries, and is an officially recognized partner of Senegal’s public health institutions. PRO.ME.TRA also circulates various publications, including a bilingual (French and English) newsletter called Médecine Verte. Members of the organization’s International Board of Directors are all trained medical doctors.

The organization’s research agenda focuses on the use of indigenous knowledge and practices for the treatment of such diseases as AIDS, ebola, cancer, diabetes, viral hepatitis and various sorts of skin diseases. Several of the researched herbal therapies are already patented. 

The following non-exhaustive and hyperlinked list of patents includes WIPO, EPO and US patent families for each of several herbal therapies, including a list of 11 OA patents granted by the OAPI, the  intellectual property organization for French-speaking African countries

WIPO, EPO and US patents  
  • WO2016181214 (A1) ― 2016-11-17 - Compositions and methods for the treatment of ebola virus disease
  • US2012009289 (A1) ― 2012-01-12 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing cyperus articulatus, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof
  • WO2010112967 (A1) ― 2010-10-07 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing cyperus articulatus, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof 
  • EP2437765 (A1) ― 2012-04-11 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing cyperus articulatus, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof
  • US2012009286 (A1) ― 2012-01-12 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing momordica balsamina, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof
  • EP2437761 (A1) ― 2012-04-11 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing momordica balsamina, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof
  • WO2010112968 (A1) ― 2010-10-07 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing momordica balsamina, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) and the variants thereof 
    Aframomum melegueta
  • EP2437766 (A1) ― 2012-04-11 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing aframomum melegueta, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids)
  • US2012052140 (A1) ― 2012-03-01 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing aframomum melegueta, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids)
  • WO2010112966 (A1) ― 2010-10-07 - Water-soluble antiviral product containing aframomum melegueta, for the treatment and prevention of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) 
  • WO02062364 (A1) ― 2002-08-15 -Antiviral composition made from medicinal plants for combating hiv/aids
  • EP1357924 (A1) ― 2003-11-05 - Antiviral composition made from medicinal plants for combating hiv/aids
  • WO02094299 (A1) ― 2002-11-28 - Medicinal plant extracts used in the treatment of diabetic diseases
OAPI patents
Acacia senegalensis
  • OA12548 (A) ― 2006-06-05 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique à partir d'écorce d'Acacia Seyal et son utilisation pour le traitement des hémorroides
  • OA12547 (A) ― 2006-06-05 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique à partir d'écorce de Euphorbia balsamifera et son utilisation pour le traitement des hémorroides
  • OA12546 (A) ― 2006-06-05 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique à partir d'écorce de Guiera senegalensis et son utilisation pour le traitement de hémorroides.
  • OA12545 (A) ― 2006-06-05 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique à partir d'écorce de Leptadenia hastata et son utilisation pour le traitement des hémorroides
  • OA12439 (A) ― 2006-05-22 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir d'écorce de l'Acacia senegalensis et son utilisation dans le traitement des dermatoses
  • OA12438 (A) ― 2006-05-22 - Nouveau produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir d'écorce de Lannea acida et son utilisation dans le traitement des dermatoses
  • OA11763 (A) ― 2005-07-19 - Produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir de Prosopisafricana et son utilisation dans le traitement des maladies diabétiques
  • OA11762 (A) ― 2005-07-19 - Produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir de Sclerocarya birrea et son utilisation dans le traitement des maladies diabétiques 
  • OA11761 (A) ― 2005-07-19 - Produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir de Moringa oleifera et son utilisation dans le traitement des maladies diabétiques  
  • OA11720 (A) ― 2005-01-26 - Produit pharmaceutique obtenu à partir de l'Anacardium occidentale et son utilisation dans le traitement des maladies diabétiques
  • OA11602 (A) ― 2004-07-30 - Nouvelles compositions antivirales à usage thérapeutique pour le traitement de la maladie du syndrome d'immuno déficience acquise (SIDA) et ses variante

References
OAPI – Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle
PRO.ME.TRA
PRO.ME.TRA – Médecine verte
PRO.ME.TRA - Publications
WHO (1) – Density of physicians (per 1000 population latest available year)
WHO (2)- Density of doctors, nurse and midwives in 49 priority countries
WHO (3) - Achieving the health-related MDGs. It takes a workforce!
World Bank = Physicians per 1000

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Oh, patents! Louboutin Africaba

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Just one more Louboutin design in a different stroke! A collaboration with La Maison Rose, a sanctuary for women and children in Dakar, Senegal, founded by Valérie Schlumberger, a famous go-between the arts and craftsmanship of Africa and France, actress, author, costume designer and humanitarian.

Welcome the Louboutin Africaba! A tote bursting with energy and warmth, on a multi-continent path of sustainable wages, dignity, and safety for scores of women and children in Dakar. A tote also displaying divine craftsmanship !

So, let me count the ways…! 
  • The design of the Africaba, and blueprint instructions for manufacturing, sketched on Louboutin’s drawing-board.
  • The fabulous batik fabrics and embroidery crafted in Dakar, Senegal, at La Maison Rose (The Pink House), a sanctuary for women and children.  
  • The beads handpainted  in India.
  • And finally, Italy where the bags are put together and manufactured before you can purchase them in the Louboutin stores and retailers world-wide – that is, if you can snag one fast enough! Y
Reference
Schlumberger, V, Goudier, F & D. Cazelles (2008) Style Afrique. Paris France: Editions du Chêne:

Monday, October 13, 2014

Oh, patents! OAPI - Rising IP star in French-speaking Africa

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann
The OAPI, (pronounced as an acronym "ooapi" meaning in French, Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle, or in English AIPO – African Intellectual Property Organization [OAPI (1)], was created according to the provisions of the Bangui Agreement, ratified in the Central African Republic, in 1977 [OAPI (2)] . 
The OAPI (AIPO) currently regroups 17 members states from Central and French-speaking Africa, including: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Comoro Islands, Congo, the Ivory Coast, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Togo.  
Headquarters of the OAPI (AIPO) are located in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and there are National Liaison Offices for the OAPI in each of the member countries [OAPI (3)], acting both as National offices and central agencies, providing information, training and a location for filing applications. The OAPI (AIPO), like its counterparts in Europe (EPO) and at the United Nations (WIPO), offers a central agency for information, training, filing and examination of applications. Fees are paid a single time for protection in all member states. The OAPI (AIPO) also offers a graduate level Masters program in Intellectual Property. A new logo for the OAPI (AIPO) was unveiled in Sept 2014 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (see image included above).

The bibliographic data sheets of patents granted by the OAPI (AIPO) are published in the official OAPI newsletter Bulletin Officiel de la Propriété Intellectuelle (BOPI). The latest issue of the OAPI BOPI, No. 12R/2013, dated October 3, 2014, published 44 bibliographic data sheets for recently granted OAPI (AIPO) patents. There are a total of 16215 patents granted by the OAPI (AIPO).
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NB. The AIPO (OAPI) should not be confused with the ARIPO – the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization, headquartered in Harare, Zimbawe, which regroups 19 English-speaking African countries, including: Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Principe, Somalia, Sudan, Swazilan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbawe. The ARIPO was created in 1976 according to the provisions of the Lusaka Agreement, ratified in Zambia.

References

OAPI (1) Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle
http://www.oapi.int/ OAPI (2) Accord de Bangui
http://www.oapi.int/index.php/en/aipo/cadre-juridique/accord-de-banguiOAPI (3) BOPI – Bulletin Officiel de la Propriété Intellectuelle, 12BR/2013, p. 8. http://www.oapi.int/bopi/brevet/BOPI_12BR2013.pdfARIPO – African Regional Intellectual Property Organization