OT patent number 7456961

[trotterlg]

This post could be of some intrest to this group of thinking nut cases.  4 years ago I submitted an idea for a smoke detector to my emloyer, (anything I think of belongs to them) and it only took 4 years to get a patent on it with some of the best patent lawyers in the world working on it.  I honestly don't see how any individual could get or afford one now days. Just a little off topic, feel free to delete the post, but it is an observation about inventing things these days and just how tough it really is.  patent number 7456961

Larry

[Matt]

Cool Idea... Have the cost of image sensors dropped to a point that this will be affordable for home use or was the intended target aircraft markets and others with a high false alarm ratio? After losing a house to a fire last year this is of much interest to me because not only would it cut down on false alarms but it should cut down on late alarms too correct?

As to the patent issue... I think it really depends on what you are trying to patent and how much research is needed to get it through. But I agree that it is slanted to make it almost impossible for the common man to get one anymore.

[Troyboy]

The whole thing is about keeping the wealthy in power. we ie: middle class america are going the way of the dodo bird we need to face the facts. Millionares made from nothing ain't happening no more