So you’ve brought something new and wonderful into this world. At first reading, you may think we’re referring to the magic of parenthood, but we’re actually talking about a different kind of creation (though you might consider it your “baby”). For some, it’s a formula or for others, it’s a design or even a whole new invention, the likes of which the world has never seen. Regardless, your hard work and research have finally paid off so give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve done all you’ve set out to do… now what? Well, to protect the intellectual property of your creation, you’ll need to patent it (if your invention isn’t patentable, there may be other IP protection available). Unfortunately, unlike the excitement that comes with inventing, the patenting process is a bit arduous. To help you out, here are some general time estimates for the patent process:

Disclaimer: Davison is not a law firm and does not provide patent services or other legal services. The information being presented is factual in nature and is not offered as, nor may it be taken as, legal advice. Any legal questions should be directed to a competent patent attorney or patent agent.

Step-by-Step: Navigating the Patent Process

Patent Process Step 1: Patent Searching (15 minutes to several weeks)

This first step involves searching for other patents, products or information in existence that may be similar to yours. While a search isn’t required to submit an application, it is an important step. This way, when you apply, you’ll be sure to avoid claiming features that already exist. You can do this yourself; however, if you’re not experienced at performing patent searches, you may want to work with a patent attorney/agent. If working with a patent attorney/agent, the time can vary depending on the case, but typically can be done in a manner of weeks.

Patent Process Step 2: What kind of patent?

This step involves simply making sure you’re aware of what type of patent to file for. This way you’re filling out the proper paperwork. There are three types of categories to consider:

Utility, Design, or Plant Patent?

a) Utility Patent: A utility patent may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new or useful process, machine, composition of matter, article of manufacture, or any new useful improvement thereof.

b) Design Patent: A design patent may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, or ornamental design for an article of manufacture.

c) Plant Patent: A plant patent may be granted to anyone who discovers or invents and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.

Patent Process Step 3: Drafting a Patent Application (Several weeks to several months)

Once you’ve done your research and figured out what type of patent you’ll be applying for, it’s time for the next step- apply! At this stage, you’ll be required to put together the patent application. If you complete an application yourself, the process would simply be as long as it takes you to form a draft without errors. But again, if you lack experience, a patent attorney/agent is strongly recommended. Similarly to the patent search stage, an attorney/agent could take anywhere between several weeks to several months complete the application. This depends on the type of patent, the volume of work, and information provided by the client. At the very least, you should have a patent attorney/agent review your work.

If your invention needs a Utility Patent, you’ll have to decide whether to file a Provisional or Non-provisional application.

a) Provisional: a quick, informal and less-expensive application process. This applicant is not examined by the USPTO and is only valid for a year. That time allows an applicant to seek funding or test the marketability of the invention before incurring the added expense of a non-provisional application.

b) Non-provisional: Only a non-provisional application can lead to the issuance of a patent. The process of filing one is a lot longer and more expensive than a Provisional form.

Patent Process Step 4: File to Acceptance (7 months to 23.9 months)

At this point, your patent will have a ‘Patent Pending’ status. Don’t get too excited when you see 7 months up there, though. Typically the only cases where a patent is approved within a 7 month period is if it’s what’s called a Track One, which just means it’s prioritized. This can only apply to plant or utility applications and has different requirements, including a much larger fee than a normal non-provisional patent application.

Per the USPTO, the current estimated time for review from a Patent Examiner (or First Office Action) is 15.7 months (or 1.7 months for Track One) and the average wait to actually get a final determination (notice of allowance or final rejection) is 23.9 months. A provisional application is not examined and gives the applicant one year from that date to file for a non-provisional patent.

The non-provisional patent application process is lengthy because, at any given time, the USPTO has hundreds of thousands of patent applications to process. For example, in 2015, 629,647 applications were filed. Compare this to the mere 7,966 Patent Examiners working as of 2014.

We know this process can be overwhelming for some, and, for anyone feeling a little out of their depth, a patent attorney/agent can be very helpful. Our patent attorney, David DeMay, empathizes with those who get overwhelmed with the process, stating, “It certainly can be overwhelming, particularly if you are unfamiliar with government bureaucracy. There are numerous federal statutes and regulations that need to be followed and failing to follow proper procedure can have negative effects on the individual’s rights. That is why the USPTO requires every patent attorney/agent to pass the Patent Bar Exam before they are permitted to represent another individual in patent matters.”

Overall, there’s no one size fits all timeline for the patent process. It’s kind of like ordering from your favorite Etsy shop, the delivery timeline is just a rough estimate. Sometimes you’re pleasantly surprised, and other times you’re left waiting longer than you bargained for. The keys to getting through the process are to take your time, be detailed/thorough, and most of all – be patient. If you’re able to do all of this then, eventually, your invention or creation will legally be yours.

How do you feel after learning about those simple four steps to get a patent? Do you know what kind of patent would work for your idea? Are you ready to research your idea?

Click HERE to connect with a Davison invention team member.

SaveSave

The post The Patent Process: A Timeline For Patenting appeared first on Davison.

A Roman judge in Alexandria, Vitruvius, tried and found multiple poets guilty of stealing poems. The theft was revealed during a literary contest. Similar cases in first century Rome include literacy piracy. Despite the importance of these events, there is no known law from ancient Rome regarding intellectual property theft.

Earliest Patent Systems

The first real patent system wouldn’t be enacted until centuries later. The Venetian Act of 1474 streamlined the patenting process and made them easier to apply for. Until then, Europe had the concept of patents, but there were no set standards. They were issued on an individual basis upon request. The Act meant the patent had to be for something one-of-a-kind and useful. This remains the standard for patent applications around the world to this day, including in the United States.

That’s not to say that there weren’t any forms of intellectual property protection throughout Medieval times, but they were less structured than formal patents. In larger cities, guilds would be formed to protect the knowledge of certain crafts. As only guild members could learn the craft, such as glassmaking, this raised the commercial value of the products in the region. Venetian glassmakers were highly regulated, with everything from working days to ingredients monitored closely. It nearly created a monopoly in the glass industry. While featuring the same protective features of patents, these were all self-contained and had no influence from the government.

Queen Elizabeth I and Patents

Queen Elizabeth made many changes to how patents worked in England during her reign. Early on, she sent letters encouraging other countries to bring their manufacturing technology and new products to England. At first, it worked, bringing in foreigners and helping her country grow in multiple industries. As years passed, however, she used her same policies to issue patents on everything, including long-established trade and techniques. This resulted in Parliament attempting to legislate against monopolies- something Elizabeth was able to pacify them from doing.

King James Changes the Rules

With a change in ruler came a change in the power of patents. In 1624, King James I made a royal proclamation that abolished the Brehon Laws and introduced English common law instead. Once incorporated into the Statute of Monopolies 1623, it limited the power a monarch would have regarding patents. Under the new law, patents could only be given to inventors of an original creation during a certain window of time. While it caused some upset and didn’t fully end patent abuse, it is still notable for creating a fairer system.

US Patents

The history of the United States and patent law is as equally turbulen as Europe’s. The first US Patent Act only lasted three years, from 1790 to 1793. It was then quickly replaced with a new Patent Act which functioned on an examination system. This further prevented abuse by having the product examined before the patent was issued. While the modern American patent system doesn’t quite resemble that from 1790, the standard for applying for a patent is more or less the same.

A third Patent Act was passed in 1836, to combat problems created by the previous two. It marked the creation of the Patent Office. The Secretary of State was no longer responsible for issuing patents, although the task still fell within the jurisdiction of the Department of the State. The new act also required that patent information be accessible in public libraries, thus preventing repeat patents. The addition of a seven-year extension to the existing fourteen-year patent was introduced as well. Additionally, immigrants could now apply for patents in the United States. It also raised the standards for American patents.

Patent Law Criticism

Every change has its critics- especially in England, where free trade economics reigned supreme. Patent law began to be criticized in the 1850s, believing it hindered research and served little good to the general public. Adrian Johns, a modern patent historian, summarizes the main complaints from the public in his book Piracy:

“[Patents] projected an artificial idol of the single inventor, radically denigrated the role of the intellectual commons, and blocked a path to this commons for other citizens — citizens who were all, on this account, potential inventors too. […] Patentees were the equivalent of squatters on public land — or better, of uncouth market traders who planted their barrows in the middle of the highway and barred the way of the people.”

The Depression of 1890 did not help matters in America. In an already strained economy, patents seemed to be promoting monopolies. Courts attempted to invalidate patents and the government had to intervene. President Benjamin Harrison introduced the Sherman Antitrust Act, which prohibited agreements and conduct that would attempt to monopolize a market. It should be noted, however, that this was to combat artificial monopoly through restricting trade and inflating prices. “Innocent monopoly,” or a monopoly achieved on pure merit, remained legal under the new system.

Patents in the 20th Century

Before we return to worldwide patent law, a quick recap of the last century or so of American laws will bring us up to date. In 1952, a new Patent Act was issued. The amendment required the inventor to not only describe their creation but also how it could be infringed upon. It also dictated all patents should be for “non-obvious” inventions- i.e., not for the steering wheel of a car or a spring in a Slinky. As the atmosphere grew more pro-patent, Congress created the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to hear all appeals regarding patents beginning in 1982. 2011 saw the switch from “first to invent” to “first inventor to file” after the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act.

1980 saw the change to patents on a global scale, all thanks to one case. A microbiologist for General Electric, Anand Chakrabarty, filed an application to patent a bacterium he genetically engineered to break down crude oil. At the time, no one had attempted to patent a living organism. The patent was rejected, but the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals overturned the USPTS decision and held that the patent should be issued. The case was taken to the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice Warren Burger wrote the majority opinion that the bacteria could be patented. Craig Nard, director of the Intellectual Property Center at Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University, cites this as jumpstarting the biotech industry.

Backtracking a bit, many countries, particularly those in the British Empire like India and New Zealand, followed British patent laws until the 1850s. TUnder British rule, citizens from these nations were at a disadvantage when it came to patents. Once the countries gained their freedom, however, they swiftly abolished the old English laws and established their own systems. Many of them still closely resemble European systems and have their own share of reforms and addendums. Still, it gave them a chance to share their inventions globally without fear of theft. New Zealand was actually among the top 5 patent offices in 2006.

Present Day Patent Laws

Finally, we reach the present day. While America is still among the world’s largest patent offices, it was rapidly outpaced by China. Of the approximate 1.98 million patent applications filed in 2012, 526,412 were filed in China. The United States was in a close second with 503,582 patents filed. Thomson Reuters researchers predicted China would outpace the USA in 2005, and the prediction was brought to life. (For the record, the other three offices belong in Europe as a whole, Japan, and South Korea.)

Patents play a large part in encouraging creativity and innovation in the world. Because each patent must be unique and “non-obvious,” it encourages inventors to think outside usual limits and create something truly original. But constant change through new laws and amendments impact both inventors and consumers and require adjustment in the approach to patenting.  Patents remain a complicated piece of the already massive jigsaw puzzle that is the world of inventing and innovation.

(SIDEBAR ON CAVEATS: Patent caveats were briefly available in the United States. Like traditional patents, it described an illustration or invention but did not have the full examination into the patentable subject manner and patent claims. It was merely a notice on the intention of filing for a proper patent, expiring after one year. Provisional applications today are somewhat similar but have significant differences. Caveats could be issued between 1836 and 1909, before being abolished by the US government.)

The post The Global History of Patents appeared first on Davison.

During a tour of Inventionland, the facility that does design work for Davison and Davison’s clients, excited visitors end their experience with a visual look at what Davison considers one of the last steps in the inventing process- filing a patent application.

A long, white hallway becomes a conversation piece as visitors take a closer look at actual patents named to our very own founder and CEO, George Davison. A description on the wall reads:

“As you come to the end of your project and know what your product is going to be, you can file your patent, as you can see…and that is why patents are at the end of the tour. Thank you for coming!”

Though visitors are able to take a look at each of the patents in detail, would they be able to recognize these invention ideas by their patent illustrations alone?

Recently, Smithsonian Magazine brought us a better way to test our skills in identifying inventions based only on their patent illustrations with a unique quiz. Give it a try!

Following that same inspiration, would you be able to identify some of our very own invention ideas simply by looking at their patent illustrations?

Mechanic’s Creeper

Patent No. US D569,572 S

You may better recognize the Mechanic’s Creeper as none other than our IDSA Design Award-Winning Hover Creeper! Traditional automotive creepers have wheels that often get stuck in floor cracks, so we found a Better Way to design a creeper without expensive and breakage-prone wheels. This invention hovers slightly above the ground with the power of compressed air!

Bobbin Winder

Patent No. US D611,516 S

The Bobbin Winder would later become known as the Better Bobbin to be featured in various stores. It was our solution for our client who wanted a quick and convenient way to fill bobbins directly from the sewing machine.

Camouflage and Protective Headgear

Patent No. 5,652,963

Clearly something worn on the face, but what is it? Later to be recognized as the Goggleflauge, this invention was developed by a paintball player to cover a player’s face mask so they can go unnoticed on the playing field. In addition to its camouflage features, it also has a soft form design that actually absorbs the impact of a paintball, allowing it to absorb and bounce without breaking.

Copyright Davison, 2015

Sources:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/can-you-guess-the-invention-based-on-these-patent-illustrations-180956754/

The post Name that Invention! appeared first on Davison.

When a company considers an idea for a new product, it may be advised, “The first thing you need to do is file for your patent as quickly as possible.”  Particularly now that the US is a “First-Inventor-to File” system, some patent service providers have made much of the idea of filing immediately.  However, rushing to file an application before your idea is properly developed and researched can lead to wasted money, a false sense of security and dashed hopes.  Some basic facts about patents:

1.      Not all “ideas” are patentable.  Abstract ideas, laws of nature, non-novel ideas, and obvious adaptations are just a few of the types of “ideas” that are simply not patentable.

2.      Ideas that are not machines, compositions, a process, or a product (article of manufacture) are not the types of ideas that a utility patent addresses.

3.      If you have not developed the idea to the extent that you are able to describe in sufficiently precise detail how the idea would work, or if you are not sure if it would work, then you do not yet have a patentable idea.

In short, yes, filing as soon as it is practical is important, but understanding when it is practical can avoid unnecessary cost and frustration.

Copyright Davison  2014

Sources:

http://www.uspto.gov/inventors/patents.jsp

The post When is the Right Time to Get a Patent? appeared first on Davison.

One article we found referred to the process as an “unsung art” and, after we did some digging through Google’s patent application vault, we agree!  Of course, the patent-granting powers-that-be enforce some hefty guidelines when it comes to your idea piece of art; but, you might argue that the standards only make the art more of a masterpiece!

Inspired by some of our own Davison-designed pet products, we decided to check out some of the other interesting and intricate pet product renderings out there.  Here’s a few that we found:

1.  Vibrating Cat Litter Scoop

Patent number: 6022058
Filing date: May 20, 1998
Issue date: Feb 8, 2000

Not sure if it was the drawing or the overall concept that most-intrigued us here!

2.  Dog House Enclosure

Patent number: D557865
Filing date: Jul 28, 2006
Issue date: Dec 18, 2007
Application number: 29/263,732

A dog house made for any four-legged pharaoh!

3.  Portable Refrigerator Kit for Perishable Pet Products

Patent number: 6595016
Filing date: Jun 6, 2002
Issue date: Jul 22, 2003
Application number: 10/163,989

This patent drawing is so cool… literally!

4.  Pet Food Product with Flavoring

Application number: 12/306,131
Publication number: US 2009/0274800 A1
Filing date: Jul 5, 2007

We’ve never seen such a well-drawn piece of manufactured meat!

The post Pet Invention Patent Drawings… Worthy of Picasso? appeared first on Davison.

“Technically, there is no such thing as a ‘provisional patent.’ The patent law provides for a ‘provisional application,’ which isn’t subject to some of the formal requirements for a regular patent application. A provisional application, however, is not intended to, itself, provide any enforceable rights,” says Michael Lechter — a practicing attorney and the author of “Protecting Your #1 Asset, Creating Fortunes from Your Ideas, An Intellectual Property Handbook” — in his Inc. column online.

A provisional application for patent (provisional application) has a pendency lasting 12 months from the date the provisional application is filed, according to the USPTO. The 12-month pendency period cannot be extended.Therefore, an applicant who files a provisional application must file a corresponding non-provisional application for patent (non-provisional application) during the 12-month pendency period of the provisional application in order to benefit from the earlier filing of the provisional application.

A provisional application, which may not be filed for design inventions, allows filing without a formal patent claim, oath or declaration, or any information disclosure (prior art: in most systems of patent law, prior art constitutes all information that has been made available to the public in any form.) statement. It provides the means to establish an early effective filing date in a later filed non-provisional patent application. It also allows the term “Patent Pending” to be applied in connection with the description of the invention.

Lechter cautions:

— A provisional application is not examined by the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) and is automatically abandoned 12 months after filing.

— It does not itself ever mature into a patent. For a patent to issue on the subject matter described in the provisional, a regular application claiming priority on the provisional application must be filed within a year of the provisional.

— A PPA costs $125 ($250 for a large company).

— There are reasons why you might want to file a provisional application, but saving money is not one of them. While you can delay a portion of the expense of preparing a regular application (the cost of preparing a full set of claims), the only time that you save money by filing a provisional application is if you ultimately decide not to pursue patent protection before you file the corresponding regular application.

So what have we learned? A provisional patent application is not a patent, but a document that allows for an early effective filing date in a later filed non-provisional patent application and let’s the creator use the term “Patent Pending” in relation to the product. You will still need to file a corresponding non-provisional application before the 12-month pendency of your provisional application expires, as a provisional application will not mature into a patent filing. A provisional patent application is only a part of the process, so even though it’s a cheaper and faster way to get your idea in the office, you will still need a non-provisional patent if you continue to pursue your idea.

The post What is a Provisional Patent? appeared first on Davison.

So, how does the new law affect the invention industry?

Legislators say they hope the law will be a shot in the arm for the economy, by helping American entrepreneurs and businesses bring their inventions to the marketplace sooner – ultimately creating new products and jobs.  In fact, it is estimated the America Invents Act could make the idea-to-invention-to-business process three times faster than ever before!

After a near-decade effort to reform outdated patent laws, the new legislation is to revolutionize the patent application process in several ways:

One major change the legislation brings is a first-to-file system as opposed to a first-to-invent system.  The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) currently utilizes the latter and awards patents based on invention conception, not patent application.  The America Invents Act is to change the system, awarding patents to the first person who files for one.

Another big change for the USPTO will be their ability to set and collect their own fees for new patent filings.  Additionally, the new law institutes a post-grant review process, in order to weed out bad patents.

The America Invents Act should help the USPTO reduce patent application waiting times; therefore, reducing their current backlog by 75,000, which is great news, as the number of application filings continues to climb.  The USPTO is to offer both start-up and growing businesses the opportunity to have patents reviewed in a third of the time it typically would take.  This “fast-track” guarantees 12-month turnaround, with no additional cost to the inventor.  Legislators say they hope this measure helps create jobs.

Finally, in an attempt to help entrepreneurs avoid time-consuming and costly litigation, the America Invents Act is also to help circumvent those stumbling blocks and make the American patent process mesh with the rest of the world.  In doing so, legislators say it should be easier for American inventors to market their products worldwide.

Undoubtedly, the inventions of today could help spawn the jobs of tomorrow.  In order to do so, the America Invents Act is to update and solidify the foundation for a strong intellectual property system.

Read more about the America Invents Act:

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2011/09/23/entrepreneurs-applaud-america-invents-act-say-it-will-create-more-jobs

https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2011/09/16/america-invents-act-turning-ideas-jobs

The post America Invents Act Signed… Sealed… Delivers Patent Reform! appeared first on Davison.

Sometimes, celebrity comes with a side of glitz, glamour and… innovation!  We’ve said it before, but ideas really do come from everywhere and from everyone!

From the King of Pop to Catwoman, here’s a host of celebrities who are bursting with talent and also with ideas:

1.  Michael Jackson 
If the Shoe Fits, Wear it! 
Slip these on your feet and you’ll be hooked… literally!  To accompany his sleek dance moves and assist “Smooth Criminal” video directors, MJ designed these gravity-defying kicks that hooked into stage floors, allowing him and his dancers to pull-off seemingly superhuman moves!

2. Prince 
The Artist Formerly Known as Inventor
Why should a member of music royalty that’s done it all have to choose between his guitar and piano?  Thanks to Prince’s keytar, he doesn’t!  Like leg warmers and acid-washed jeans, the keytar was a product of the 80s.  It was worn like a guitar, but played like a keyboard – and made a supposed 2007 European comeback!

3. Eddie Van Halen
Go Ahead, Jump…
With your guitar that is.  Do-it-yourselfer Eddie Van Halen created a guitar support device that allowed him to maneuver his guitar like a keyboard, so he could use both hands!  Leaving no stone unturned, Van Halen even included banjos and mandolins in his patent application!  Eddie, we can’t stop lovin YOUR creativity!

From the stage to the big screen, innovation doesn’t only lie within mega-hit music artists.  Here are a few on-screen heroes who had big-time ideas, too!

4.  Marlon Brando
The Man, the Myth, the Inventor!
A man of many faces on the big screen, it turns out Marlon Brando could have also drummed his way into our hearts.  The drummer in an Illinois band even had a little Henry Ford in him, patenting a way to make tuning drums more efficient and affordable!

5. Jamie Lee Curtis 
Bringing a New Meaning to Triple-Threat
Acclaimed actress and author Jamie Lee Curtis added inventor to her growing list of talents in 1988 when she patented an innovative infant diaper design.  Curtis’ diaper design included an outside pocket, perfect for stashing baby wipes.  Okay, Supermom!

6. Julie Newmar 
“Holy Innovator, Batman!”
This 1960’s Catwoman just said “no” to her skintight cat-suit!  Instead, she made an improvement to the newly invented pantyhose.  Newmar improved the design, creating a more sheer option that women wear to this day.

The post Lights, Camera… Celebrity Inventors in Action! appeared first on Davison.

When we think of the 1950s, we may think of donning poodle skirts and saddle shoes and heading to the sock hop to dance to some Elvis.  But, it’s what we may NOT think of that we want to examine today…those ’50s fads and inventions that just didn’t quite catch on.

Here’s a list of our five favorite funky ’50s inventions:

1. Curved Barrel Machine Gun: The sleek, curved design of this fierce 1953 weapon allowed for shooting around corners!  It was perfect for taking the “fire first, look later” approach!  While it sounds pretty cool, we all may be a littler safer without this one!

2. Handwriting Game: As if repeatedly writing “I will not…” statements on the chalkboard wasn’t punishment enough, this engaging 1955 game challenged players to analyze each other’s handwriting!  I suppose practice makes perfect?

3. Venetian Blind Sunglasses: Kanye West may be trying to revive this trendy fad, but it certainly didn’t catch on when it was first introduced in 1950!  Though they seem to have no real practical purpose, I suppose they may good for only letting “some” UV rays in!

4.Honegar: All you “Man Vs. Food” fans actually may love this crazy concoction.  In 1959, Dr. DeForest C. Jarvis mixed together honey and vinegar in an effort to remedy minor aches and pains.  Hmmm… tempting, but I’ll stick with ibuprofen!

5. Vest Pocket Ash Tray, Rainy Day Cigarette Holder, Cigarette Holder Built for Two: We just couldn’t resist lumping these three ’50s inventions together.  They were perfect for “lighting up” with your lover on a rainy day and dropping the ashes in your vest!

For a look at these funky inventions, click here!

Now, we know we said our favorite five inventions, but hope this honorable mention doesn’t ruffle your feathers – pun intended!

The Sanitary Appliance for Birds, an undergarment designed to catch bird…. ummm, well you know…. received patent number 2,882,858 in 1959!  While it never really caught on, it is too bad all the birds of the world aren’t required to wear undergarments as they soar high above our heads!

Practical or not, these inventions bring a whole new meaning to the “Nifty Fifties!”

The post Fabulous Funky Inventions from the ’50s! appeared first on Davison.

Below, we’ve featured five modern tools to get you started, along with five patents for beach toys from long ago. Apparently, idea people have long been at work finding ways to make playing in the sand even more fun!

1.  Shovel & Pail – They’re classic staples for any day at the beach! Plus, they come in so many different colors and styles, everyone is sure to find a favorite!

2.  Sand Water Park Set – It may not be a toy that is usually seen on the beach, but it quickly will become your favorite when you’re able to create your own personal water park out of any sand structure you build!

3.  Seashell Collecting Bags – While you’re digging around in the sand, you’re sure to find something you’ll want to keep – so, why not tote it home in a decorative bag? Plain plastic bags? No way!

4.  Sandcastle Building Kit – With these handy aids, you’re sure to build the perfect sandcastle! They’ve got tools and molds that will make your castle the envy of everyone on the beach!

5.  Sand Station – For an even more relaxing day at the beach, let the station’s gears move any unwanted sand out of your way!

So, we all know and love these modern toys, but where did they come from? All ideas have to start somewhere, and beach toys are no exception! Here are five original beach toy patents that may make you rethink what you would be playing with in the sand, if these toys had caught on!

Click on the photos for more information on each patent!

1.  In 1915, a woman named Grace Strong had the idea to make sand pails in animal shapes. This is one invention that very well could still catch on today!  We did go through a Silly Bandz craze didn’t we? Anything could happen!

2.  Similar to the modern Sand Station, this patent does almost the same thing, but manages to look about 100 times more complex! Albert Duffield invented this toy and it was patented in 1916. Could you imagine taking this in your beach bag?

3.  With this contraption, there would be no need to manually move sand ever again! This Sand Grabber would make your sandcastle building process go much faster, if only it was on the market today!

4.  This version of the Sand Station is much fancier, but still has the same concept. The sand goes in to the funnel, then filters out onto the paddle wheel, which makes it spin. It may not be practical, but it sure looks cool!

5.  Last but not least is this spin on the sand shovel. It’s meant to look like a regular soda bottle, but when you open it up, it becomes a very useful beach toy! It really could come in handy on a hot day at the beach – if you could fill it with cold soda!

These older patents might seem a little crazy now, but imagine where the beach toys we know today would be without them. So, next time you’re digging in the sand at the beach, keep in mind what tools you could be using!

The post Ten Beach Inventions We Totally Dig! appeared first on Davison.