February 20 – Big Day in 1872

nPostednon February 20, 2014

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Toothpick making
machine

Elevator

nOnnthis date in 1872, the first patent was granted for an elevator, ANDna patent was granted for a machine that manufactures square-bottomnpaper bags, AND a patent was granted for a machine that makesntoothpicks!

Square-bottom
paper bag

nOh,nand this same day, February 20, 1872, the Metropolitan Museum of Artnin New York City opened!
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nOkay,nso exactly what is a patent?
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nAnpatent is a set of rights granted by a nation to an inventor—rightsnto keep her or his invention exclusive, for a while, in return fornmaking the details of the patent public. Patents are only given fornproducts or processes that solve specific technological problems. Youncan’t get a patent for a clever saying or a song—art, words, music,nand the like are covered by copyright law, not patents.

n(However,npatents and copyright both deal with what is known as “intellectualnproperty.” You have the right to profit from your own originalnideas, whether they are electronic devices or novels.)

Notice that the patent for the
game of Monopoly includes
very specific drawings of each
part of the game.

nYouncannot get a patent for just an idea, by the way. Someone somewherenhas probably had a thought like this: “Hey, wouldn’t it be cool tonhave a computer that keeps track of all the food you have on hand,nand has a bajillion recipes in memory, and then presents you with anmenu with options for the day? And then, after you make yournselections, it could control the appliances and heat the food, too!nThat would be great!” But that someone couldn’t take out a patentnon such an idea. Instead, he or she would have to actually create thencomputer, write the computer program, and create thencomputer/appliance interface in order to do these things. In order tonprove that the invention will work, she or he would have to make antechnical drawing showing all the parts of the invention, and he ornshe would have to write a technical report that describes exactlynwhat the invention does, and also HOW it does it.

nNoticenthat patents only protect the specifics of an invention, and only innone particular country, and only for a limited time. People makenchanges to an invention, improvements on a product or process, allnthe time, and they often take out a new patent on that improvement. n
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nThenMet!

Between Earth and Heaven
by El Anatsui

nThenMetropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is amazing! You canntravel from Ancient Egypt and Greece to the modern world and even thenfuture by enjoying the sculptures, tapestries, ceramics, totem poles,npaintings, and other art products and artifacts displayed in the Met.nn
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We are reflected in an art piece at the Met.

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nBynthe way, notice that the admission prices are only recommendations.nAs the museum says, “To help cover the cost of exhibitions, we asknthat you please pay the full recommended amount.” But if you cannotnafford to pay the current recommended fee, $25 per adult and $12 pernstudent 12 and up, you can pay less. The museum person collecting thenentrance fee may frown at you, but you will still get in.

nAlso,nthe recommended fee for children under 12, accompanied by adult, isnFREE!

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nAlsonon this date:
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