Probably the best drawing of all time. This is patent #5901666. This is essentially a bunch of hamster tubes you can wear. This was filed in 1997 and published in 1999, a brisk 2 years. I think it was really the smile of the character that sold the deal. Maybe the little hamsters in the pouches. Brice Belisle in New York must be a very happy person.
Here is the abstract and main claims:
A vest or belt is integrally formed with tubular, pet receiving passageways which extend around the wearer's body and terminate in pocket-like chambers for feeding and retrieval. Outer wall portions of the passageways are transparent so that a pet moving along the passageways can be seen by a spectator. Graphics or indicia depicting the pet's habitat or a pet story are marked on the vest and extend across portions of the passageways masking delineations or depicting the passageways as burrows.
An object of the invention is to provide pet display clothing having one or more, at least partly transparent, enclosed, pet receiving, passageways or tunnels extending across a surface thereof so that pets traversing the passageways or tunnels can be viewed by a spectator while the clothing is worn by a person.
More particularly, the invention provides a pet display vest having an elongate, enclosed, pet receiving, passageway extending thereacross with at least one closable pet admitting entry, at least part of the passageway being transparent so that, when the vest is worn, a pet moving along the passageway across a wearer's body can be viewed by a spectator.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a pet display belt having an enclosed, pet receiving, passageway extending therearound with at least one closable pet admitting entry and means for releasably securing the passageway extending around a waist of a person, at least part of the passageway being transparent so that, when the belt is worn, a pet moving along the passageway across a wearer's body can be viewed by a spectator.
Best part in the abstract: "Graphics or indicia depicting the pet's habitat or a poet story are marked on the vest and extend across portions of the passageways..." This is freaking awesome. Makes me want to buy a hamster.
In terms of technical terms this is definitely not obvious and is pretty novel. For hamster lovers who are quite literally inseparable from their pets, a hamster vest is very useful indeed! While the mobile tech industry has pretty much exhausted simple silly patents, I feel like many other industries still have many more silly patents that are completely patentable under the requirements of novelness, non-obviousness, and usefulness.
ReplyDeleteOk, I read the title and saw the picture and knew you found a winner, but not in terms of a silly patent. This is great and I agree it makes me want to buy a hamster. I want to question the usefulness of this invention but I cant. I just know the next time I go to class and leave my hamster at home, I could have easily brought him along in this handy invention.
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely something that can be used by little kids as an easy way to carry their pet, especially if they are going to places where they get bored. There definitely should be a way where this is accessible to all of us!
ReplyDeleteI saw this also and its so funny how people think of these things and ways to transport hamster. I'm sure it will be fun for hamsters but I think whoever is wearing one of those are crazy. but like Vineet said if kids were to wear this it may be fun. What happens, however, if they trip and fall? ouch.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely non-obvious and novel. And I suppose if you are into hamsters, it could also be useful. I mean, just look how happy that guy in the diagram looks!
ReplyDeleteI agree with some of you here. For one, THIS IS AWESOME! This could actually be successful.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it is going to work out. The patent was filed in 1997 and expires in 4 years. Since I have not heard of it I'm going to assume it was a flop.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would where this device, but can see a new fashion trend in the future. I believe you found a great patent mostly for the picture that patent uses to illustrate the device.
ReplyDeleteseems like this vest has mixed feelings among people. i personally feel that it will be weird to wear such an item as a vest, just to carry the hamster around. A cage might do a better job.
ReplyDeleteThis has originality for sure and novelty.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting invention! Seeing the comments above, it seems like we have a winner here. I wonder if this invention was ever actually created and sold. If so, and a market was created, there definitely would be need for a patent, but seeing as I don't see a lot of hamster vests around, it may perhaps be a cool and useful invention, but it doesn't need to be one that's patented. Paying for the patent application has given nothing back to the owner, except for being known as "that guy who made a hamster vests because he might have been a little too attached to his hamsters or something...".
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