Tooth-Pick (1891) [pdf] | Hacker News Reader

Tooth-Pick (1891) [pdf]

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43 pointsTomte14 comments

This is short and to the point. I dislike patents, but as far as patents go this is a very good one.

In patents my company has filed, the goal is to describe the invention in the most obtuse and general language possible. It would be nearly impossible to use the patent to create the actual product described and the patent covers far more than the current product itself in an attempt to not only prevent anyone else from making anything similar but also to deliberately confuse the reader.

I was completely shocked that our patents were granted with very little push back from the examiner. I hate that my name is on them.

I understand why you might not want to share, but I'd be interested to see your patents if you're willing

One diagram, one page of understandable text. I, for one, would welcome such a return to sanity.

Nice to see that dumb patents are not constrained to recent times.

I mean, yes, it is dumb. But the patent is for the manufacturing process as applied to toothpicks. It's not for the invention of The Toothpick

Is it really so obvious that compressing soft wood would produce a better toothpick?

It is not.

Toothpick Bro

Not at all dumb. Source: I worked summers making toothpicks in one of the Forster mills (the name is in the patent). Toothpick making was big business in Maine until the late 1970's. It's mostly done overseas now.

https://www.amazon.com/Toothpick-Technology-Culture-Henry-Pe...

Manufactured wood toothpicks were actually a new thing. Previously, after a meal people would take a stick and whittle it to a rough point and then after a little bit of use it would get mushy and they would effectively brush their teeth with it.

No one kept this patent alive forever by updating and extending it every few years in perpetuity. The way the patent system is used today is broken.

Call me ignorant but didn't they change it so that you would not be able to do that anymore and instead were given a max of around 20 years from the start of the application process?

https://www.upcounsel.com/how-to-patent-an-improvement-on-an...

https://www.uspto.gov/patents/laws/patent-terms-extended

There are ways, even if they are not easy or likely to succeed. What I'm referring to are improvement patents. Improvements keep the moat carved out.

Instructions for use: Hold stick near center of its length. Moisten pointed end in mouth. Insert in tooth space, blunt end next to gum. Use gentle in-out motion.

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