Friday, June 24, 2011

Man of Inventions & Patents from Sivakasi ( INDIA )





Theodore Levitt  quotes :



~ Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things ~

Introductory Message about Shri. V.V. Thanga Thirupathy :

Dear  Readers,      
                            There are many things on this 'Earth', that comes out 'New', every day, every hour & every second.    It all happens, purely due to 'wants' & expections of this world, for various reasons.     For developing or inventing or creating such new products, it is commonly presumed that, only with "Engineering" degree, one can invent  'Novel' or innovative products.   But,  even without an "Engineering" qualification, one can newly invent a product and also get it "Patented".  Shri. V.V.Thanga Thirupathy (V.V.ThangaThiruppathy), a journalist by Profession, with an "Economics" degree,  but with a passion for science & technology,  developed and invented various products of DIVERSE application, in his lifetime, even without an "Engineering" qualification.

Born on 28, Nov, 1929,  for Sivakasi Bhagyakara V.Velayutha Nadar (a mathematical wizard) & Mrs. Sreeniammal couple, at “SIVAKASI”, also  known as “Kutti Japan (meaning Mini Japan)”,  located in Virudhunagar (Tamilnadu), India, did his  schooling at Sivakasi Hindu Nadar Victoria High School ( SHNV School ), Sivakasi and completed his SSLC in 1946.  Though  his Father (Shri.V.Velayutha Nadar) died, when he was 3½  years old, his Mother helped him, by doing domestic jobs, for shaping him as a graduate, and he was the only graduate in his family.  He  was residing at V.K.M Street  at Sivakasi  during his childhood days  and later completed his B.A. (Economics) degree at Hindu Nadar's Senthikumara Nadar College, Virudhunagar in the year 1948 to 1952.  Later he also did teaching profession in the same Sivakasi Hindu Nadar Victoria High school, for nearly 3 years  and also in a number of High Schools, in and around Sivakasi. Later he married  Mrs. Meenakshi Thai in 27th Nov’1960.   He died on 3rd Feb 2011 at Chennai, due to cardiac failure.   He was well fondly known as "Thirupathy"  in his professional  & Office circle.  He  was residing at Chintadripet, till his last day.




Born :   28-Nov-1929,  Sivakasi, INDIA
 

Died :    3-Feb-2011,    Chennai, INDIA

Sivakasi   Mr.V.V.Thanga Thirupathy, B.A., and his wife Mrs. T. Meenakshi Thai

                         He set as an  example for many of the Young & Bright enthusiastic and innovative new  Generations, having got lot of 'Novel ideas' & 'New Concepts', which they might not have transpired in to a finished products or End-Product, due to various reasons.    They would have aspired to become an Engineer/scientist, by taking up Engineering Curriculum,  but might have got diverted due to their Family circumstance/situation or due to various other personal issues/problems, but their 'Inner Cult'  remains inside their mind, for creating new Products / ideas.  

Mr. V.V. Thanga Thirupathy (Sivakasi )  at his  B.A. (Economics)  Convocation
                   Due to urge from his Childhood, Shri. V.V.Thanga Thirupathy started making new inventions like making of 'Matchstick aligning' machine, which he designed when he was doing his graduation.   He also developed other products like "Theft Proof Lock  for Automobiles", etc.,, when he was at Sivakasi,  which he could not bring it commercially  nor patent the same, due to his ignorance of patent formalities.    Later, he started getting more new ideas, when he started working at Chennai in  Daily Thanthi Newspaper.    Though  he started his  career,  as a Journalist in Daily Thanthi in  1958,  he  reached the post of “Chief Reporter”,  before getting voluntarily retired in 1989,  from the job, after  completing 31 years of service in   Daily Thanthi.  As a Chief Reporter, he was posted at Secretariat of Tamilnadu,  and  had  frequent opportunities  to interact with leading  Political  leaders, Chief Minister & Ministers & politicians, during his tenure and he was respected by all his peer officials & other press officials also.
        
Being  Honoured  by  Dr. Sivanthi  Aadhithanar,  on  his  completion of  25  years in Daily Thanthi
Shri. Thanga Thirupathy handing over Daily Thanthi Newspaper to Former President of India Shri.V.V.Giri, in the Presence of  Shri.Adhithanaar,  Founder of Daily Thanthi

              Though he was working as a Journalist, he was parallely doing his designing / inventing of new products, by passing through various hurdles & barriers. He, on his own, learnt the process of Patent registration and Patent Documentation & formalities,  through the  Patent office at Chennai,  and started getting his Patents registered.   Writing his experience,  is to create  interest in the minds of new aspirants,  irrespective of Engineering / Science / or any subject background,  for taking up new products  Invention & Patenting.   The 'Weblink'  of the Office of  Controller General of Patents Designs and Trade Marks and also their Detailed Role in Patenting of Products.   ( Click the Weblink :  http://ipindia.nic.in/  )  is shown for the sake of new aspirants. 

          Like G.D. Naidu (Gopalswamy Doraiswamy Naidu)  of  Coimbatore, V.V. Thanga Thirupathy  of  Sivakasi  was also an Indian Versatile inventor but not an engineer.  His contributions span the fields of  Electrical, MechanicalAutomobilesAeronautical  and Agricultural engineering (advanced Design in Ploughing Machine).  He excelled as a Versatile Genius.
          
[ Details about various Patent Organisation and Web-Links related to some of the major Patent Offices in India, USA, UK, Japan, Germany, etc., and also a special Link  for  "KIDS" , for protecting their Intellectual Talents, and Links showing Procedure for  Patent Registration, are given below, at the bottom of this Post ] 
          
Mr. Thanga Thirupathy  with his Majesty Prince Charles (during Chennai [INDIA] visit in 1980 )

He had the devotion towards inventing/designing  & patenting  new products, for  different purposes,  during his entire lifetime (more than 50 years),  like : 
Ø  Vertical Take-off & landing Super Jet Aero  plane, (Patent application registered in 2000)

Ø  Improved Burner for Kerosene Stove (Patent application registered in 2002)
Ø  Steel re-enforced New design automotive tyre


Ø  Improved Pressure Cooker (Patent application registered in 2005)
Ø  An improved Device to Harness Wind Energy
Ø  Spring heeled footwear

Ø  Falling Water-Aided Lifting Device (For Power Generation) [ Patent Applied in 1992]
Ø System for Generation of Electrical Power from the Drag Force of canal Water
http://www.boliven.com/patent/IN167871?q=thirupathy
Ø  Deep Sea  Bed Mining Machine
New unmanned mining tower machine to remain inside deep mine-pit mobile in all the directions there remotely operated from outside the mine pit

Ø  A link  about New Agricultural Ploughing Device
Ø  Foldable Top Post for T.V Tower
Ø  Pulling Circularly & Tilting Washing Machine
Ø  Bumped Swinger Driving Automotive Device for Bicycles and other Vehicles
Ø  Cushioned landing facility for the Aircrafts on a Ship
Ø  Wave powered Automotive Drive Device for sailing vessels without using, any fuel like Petrol, diesel or Electricity
Ø  Device for Automatic Bicycle riding without pedaling or Oil or Electricity power
Ø  Eradicating the flood water damage and creating a new dam cheaply
Ø  Pamban railway Bridge strengthening Device
Ø  Night Driving  Safety device
Ø  Safe water skating device (Patent Applied)
Ø  A Device for preventing Railway Derailment (Patent Applied)
Ø Fingered Tooth Brush  with Vertically and  independently Swinging Bristle lines

Ø  A Floating Bed without risk of Rollever
             Ø    Wet & Dry Grinder (1981)
        Ø   Air safety and fuel Saving   Device
      For the  Air safety and fuel Saving   Device  he  could be the first Indian  to have obtained patent  from  USA (Patented in 1983),  and  He also had  Indian Patent right (Indian Patent registered in 1993, and got Indian Patent in 1998)  for the same  device.  
         ( Please Click below following "LINKS" about the "Air safety" device US Patent  )


 




 ( Please find below the 'Indian' Patent details about the "Air safety" device )
 For the link to the above Indian Patent, please click the following link and "Enter" the Patent Number,  against 'Granted patents'
http://ipindia.nic.in/ipirs1/patentsearch.htm

( The Author of this BLOG could not trace  many other patent  documents of Shri. V.V.Thanga Thirupathy, since many of the documents, were destroyed by Whiteants ) 

In his lifetime, he worked as a Journalist (as Chief Reporter of Daily Thanthi Newspaper) and spent most of his earnings for  the sake of  New Product  Designing and Patents registration  and  related developmental expenses.  Even his office colleagues / co-staff  are not aware of his Patent skill & his developmental works.  He did his Patent related drawings, preparation of Patent documents, Patent filling, proto-type making, every thing. individually, on his OWN.   Even there are certain letter/s  from Big Corporates / reputed companies, not accepting his Patent  registered / patented products, on the grounds, that they accept "Technologies  developed  only through their 'in-house' Research / Technical Labs".   

Atleast, henceforth Big Corporates / Manufacturing Companies, should change their policy, in accepting New Product Concepts / innovative ideas,  from individuals/ outsiders, on the basis of the Merit of the Product and to encourage other future innovative New inventors.
As  a  Special Media Correspondent, Shri. V.V.Thanga Thirupathy had been with Smt. Indira Gandhi & Shri. Rajiv  Gandhi,  during their Foreign Delegations, when they were in the capacity of Prime Minister of India and visited USA, Germany, Syria, Hungary & other Countries.

During  his  Foreign  Trip
Attending a Press-Meet  of then Prime Minister  Shri. Rajiv Gandhi at Chennai

In the Press-Meet  of then  Prime Minister  Smt  Indira  Gandhi  at  Chennai

Shri.V.V.Thanga Thirupathy in a meeting  with  Shri.K. Kamarajar (then Chief Minister  of  Tamilnadu during 1962-63) at Chennai

Shri. V. Thanga Thirupathy with  the  then  TN Chief Minister Shri.C.N. Anna Durai

Useful  Links  for  new upcoming B.E / B.Tech Engineering and even other Talented innovative youngsters, New Inventors :

A  link  for the Patent Registration Office in India ( Controller General of Patent Designs and Trademarks )            
          http://www.ipindia.nic.in/  
A  link  about  Indian Patent Offices ( Intellectual Property  Offices) - from  Wikipedia.org
A link  about  Procedure for applying for  Patent,  in India
A link showing the various Patent Offices ( Intellectual Property  Offices) in India
A Link showing the registered  Patent Agents in India, (As on 1/04/2010)
A Link  for US patents & Trademark Office
          http://www.uspto.gov/
A link to the “Kids Section”  in the US Website for Patents & Trademarks
A link to the Website (as a link under Kids Section of www.uspto.gov) , where the kids can use their creativity, as well as learn about the process of protecting their intellectual property. 
          http://www.inventnow.org/
Link  about  some  US  and   Indian  Patent  related  points 
A  Link  for   Patent  it  Yourself  -  E-Book
A Link about Patent (Intellectual  Property) office in UK
          http://www.ipo.gov.uk/
A Link to Manual of Patent Practice, in UK
A Link  under www.ipo.gov.uk, showing basic  information about the importance of patent registration
A link to German Patent & Trademark Office
A link to Japan Patent Office
          http://www.jpo.go.jp/
A Link to Patent  & Trademark Office of  RUSSIA
          http://www.rupto.ru/
A Link showing the “LINKS” for Patent  Offices Worldwide
        http://www.patentlawlinks.com/patoff.htm 


A  Link  showing  details  about  Shri. V.V. Thanga Thirupathy  in the www.dbpedia.org

Dear   Engineering students / Scientists &  Researchers and other New Concept makers,
            Simply  studying  Degree  or  PG   or advanced  courses,   for the sake of Job, is not going to contribute to  our nation.   Every individual, irrespective of Engineering  or Science & Technology  or any Stream of studies,  should keep in mind,  how   good  our  Intellectual  Talent  can be well  protected & utilized  for the development of  our  Country,  by  inventing  new Concepts, News Products, Novel ideas.
          Invention  may  be  a  New  product,  or a  new Process, or  a  combination of materials,  or  Re-designing  something   that  already  exist, etc.  There's more to inventing than having a great idea and  Visit the website of respective  Patent  Offices,  to learn all about patents and trademarks.  Patents allow inventors to stop others from making, using or selling their particular invention without permission.  Trademarks are brand names that tell you where a particular product or service comes from.  
          You should be cautious before sending your invention ideas anywhere, including  any  unauthorized  Inventors Gallery. Remember it will be there for everyone to see.   Because inventors only have a limited amount of time to get a patent on their invention once they describe it in public with enough detail for someone to actually make the invention and make it work.   If the inventor doesn't seek a patent within that time period he/she may forever lose their ability to do so.
         

An  article  published  in  Business Week  about Why Do  we Need  a “Patent” -  dtd 1st Feb’06

When Do You Really Need a Patent?
Every inventor wants to protect his vision. But experts say you should take some careful steps first

So you've got an idea, a really good idea. It may not be as revolutionary as the light bulb, the airplane, or the microchip, but you're sure it could be the next big thing. Maybe it has been percolating in your mind for years, or perhaps it struck in a flash of inspiration just last night. Either way, it's yours, and you're determined to do it justice -- which is why you're planning to get it patented, post-haste.


But wait. While conventional wisdom says every new vision needs immediate protection, it's important to realize that seeing your idea through from conception to completion is a long, rigorous, and expensive process, and patenting should be one of the last steps you take. In fact, Bob Lougher, executive director of United Inventor's Assn., a Rochester (N.Y.)-based inventor's education nonprofit, says rushing to patent is the independent inventor's enemy No. 1.

"If you're consulting with somebody, and the first thing they say is, 'We should patent that right away,' my advice to you would be to run as fast as you can," he says.

IS IT FEASIBLE?  The way he sees it, taking action on an idea that isn't yet fully developed is a sure way to botch the application or get patent protection that's too narrow in scope to be of much value. Considering that the vast majority of patents are never commercialized and that the entire patenting process can easily cost upwards of $25,000, without careful preparation it's an awful lot of cash to plunk down for some fairly crummy odds.

"People are overly concerned with protecting their idea," says Richard Stim, a San Francisco-based attorney who has written several intellectual property-related books geared toward independent inventors. "Protection isn't really the most important thing." What's most important, he says, is to find out if an idea is commercially viable, since there are plenty of ideas that are patentable, and yet pretty darn unmarketable.

That's why the savvy inventor's first step is to clearly document the idea in order to establish its date of conception, preferably by using a specially bound inventor's notebook or by filing a disclosure document with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Then it's time to disregard the stellar reviews from friends and family and invest in an uninterested third-party market-feasibility study, which will analyze factors such as investment costs, production feasibility, safety, and profitability. These studies typically cost a few hundred dollars, though some university-affiliated groups, such as the Wisconsin Innovation Service Center, offer high-quality, lower-cost services.

FRAUD FACTOR.  But be careful, and be willing to really listen. A no-holds-barred critique of your concept may be hard to handle, but it can save you from sinking your life savings into a dead-end dud. Besides, the invention submission industry is flush with well-polished scam artists making a killing off overly enthusiastic inventors who refuse to hear anything but praise for their brainchild.

"These are the inventors that fraudulent firms prey on," says Lougher, who spent six years helping the Federal Trade Commission pull the plug on a number of fraudulent invention promotion companies in the '90s. "They'll tell you exactly what you want to hear." Since many of these shady outfits are slick -- and legal -- entities, experts suggest checking with the USPTO or with local inventors groups before shelling out any cash.

Once you've determined that your idea has commercial viability, Lougher recommends doing your own preliminary patent search. You'll definitely want to have a professional conduct a more thorough search later, but at this stage it'll not only give you some peace of mind but also a chance to read through related patents and get a better understanding of what the process entails. For most devices, this is also the time when you'll want to start working on a prototype, since that'll give you a chance to identify any pre-patent tweaks you still need to make.

TIME IT RIGHT.  But a word of caution: While it's important not to let over enthusiasm send you filing for protection too soon, you also need to be careful not to wait too long. Under U.S. law, once you publicly disclose your invention (by, for example, selling it, displaying it at a trade show, or publishing details in a journal), a one-year time clock starts ticking.

"If you don't file within one year, you've basically lost the opportunity to file a patent," says Maria Swiatek, a Palo Alto (Calif.)-based partner at Dorsey & Whitney who has practiced intellectual property and patent law for more than 10 years.

One way to buy yourself a little more time to raise the money for patent fees or really test the waters to make sure your idea's got what it takes is to file a provisional patent application, which gives you another year before you have to file a regular patent application. Though this document can be more informal than a patent application, you'll want to make sure that it is as detailed as possible.
 

It's also important to know that just because something is patentable and marketable still doesn't mean that a patent is necessarily the best route to go. Swiatek says if your idea pertains to a method of designing or manufacturing that is not easily reverse-engineered, you could also consider keeping it a trade secret. And in some fast-moving industries, technology moves so quickly that a patent may not be that beneficial.

FILE AWAY.  If, after all that, you and your invention are still in the game, proceed directly to your nearest patent attorney or agent. Though most experts don't recommend filing a patent on your own, to help defray costs Stim and Swiatek suggest writing a draft of the patent application and then turning it over to a professional to review and improve as needed.

Even then, you should be prepared to lay out anywhere from $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the complexity of the invention, just to get through the filing stage. After that you'll still need to cover filing fees and the cost of responding to any office actions issued by the USPTO.

"It's not an insignificant endeavor by any means," Swiatek says. But though it may be a long and winding road just to get that great idea patent pending, don't let that get you down. In the end, Stim says, it's perseverance -- not inspiration -- that ultimately distinguishes between successful and non-successful inventors.
 




Simple  Terminology  about  Patents  & Patent  related basic  points  - Courtesy : www.inventnow.org

What is a Patent  - in Simple terms :

Simply put: exclusive rights that protect an invention. Once you hold the patent, no one else can make, use, or sell your invention in the United States without your permission.

How do people get Patents ?
In the United States, patents are granted by a government agency called-not coincidentally-the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Catchy name.

Why do one really need a Patent ?
Ever hear the expression "million-dollar idea"? Even if you've only got a hundred-dollar idea, a hundred dollars is still a hundred dollars, and it should be yours. A patent legally prevents anyone else from profiting off of your invention.

How long does a Patent Lost ?
Like milk, a patent expires (although it doesn't smell nearly as bad). Unlike milk, a patent is good for 20 years.

Why do we have patents in the First Place ?
Think about the important inventions of the last two hundred years: the light bulb, the computer, microwave pizza bagels-each a product of America's innovative spirit. Patents help inventors make money, which funds research, which leads to more inventions. In this way, patents encourage imagination and development.

Types of  Patents
Utility
Granted to any new process (method of injecting snack cake filling), machine (snack cake oven), article of manufacture (anything that's made by a machine-the snack cake itself), composition of matter (snack cake preservative), or new/useful improvement (to anything, not just snack cakes).

Plant
Granted to any new variety of plant not produced from seeds. Wait, no seeds? Yep. New plants can be created by grafting, budding, cutting, layering, or division.

Design
Any new, original, or ornamental design for an article of manufacture. A snowboard model, for example.


What  can be Patented :

Printer, soda fountain, snowmobile engine
Machines :  

Article of manufature  Like  :   iPhone ®, screws, bobble-head doll

Process  like  :   Methods of making, using, or doing something

Compositions of Matter  :  Medicines, cleaning products, soda formulas

Improvements of Any of the Above  :  As long as it's a real improvement!

Patent  Glossary :
 
Copyright
Better known as ©, a copyright protects works by authors, composers, or artists. A copyright can cover books, T-shirt designs, computer games, movies, mp3s, even answers to your homework. You wrote it, you can copyright it.

Intelectual Property (IP)
This is the ownership of ideas- the products of your mind. Just because you can't touch them, doesn't mean they aren't yours. You think it, it's your intellectual property.

Patent
Granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a patent stops anyone other than you from making, using or selling an invention in the United States. An idea itself can't be patented. It must be developed. You invent it, you get to patent it.

Trademark
Better known as &trade or ®, a trademark covers the name or logo of a product or service. Sometimes a product's appearance or packaging is a trademark. For example, the name Coca-Cola®, the logo, and the shape of a Coke® bottle are all registered trademarks.

Trade  secrets
Trade secrets protect secrets used in business. How a product is made or what it's made of can be protected as trade secrets, for example, the formula for Coca-Cola®. Wow, this glossary sure is making us thirsty.


There are three main types of patents: 
utility, plant, and design:
Utility  Patents :
Cover machines, things made by machines, a method of doing something, a chemical, a DNA sequence, and/or products of genetic engineering. Utility patents are valid up to 20 years.

Plant  Patents
Cover the invention or discovery of new plant varieties, also for 20 years. Anyone want to work on a money tree?

Design  Patents  :
Cover the appearance of a device, but not its function. For example, a design for the latest style of sunglasses can be patented. Design patents are valid for 14 years.

International  Patents
Indian  Patents only protect your invention in India. You will need to apply for patents in other countries to protect your inventions worldwide.