Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroMPG
Neil: are you kidding! My to-do list never gets shorter.
Once you have patent protection, will you be able to post the project progress on EcoModder? I'd definitely like to follow it.
|
The Patent was approved last October, and has been published, which means all of the information, including my name and address is now a matter of public record.
You can search the complete Patent document under the application number in the attached documents and see the whole thing including the illustrations.
Also attached are a photo of the bike and the bearings I will be using on the IVT drive that will replace the hub of the rear wheel on the bike.
Being a legal antique in Virginia means you get a permanent tag, no county tags, and no state inspections are required. Also before 1974, there was no requirement for turn signals. I will use a cordless tool lithium battery for lighting so I do not need any charging system. Probably won't be driving it at night anyway. If I need to drive it more than 50 miles, I can just carry spare fuel in 1 quart plastic oil containers.
The bearing is 90 MM ID, plenty of room for my offset journal. It is load rated at 6500 pounds per bearing, so there should be no issues with strength. Under the bearing is the correct seal, which will be subjected to only low pressure, in the 10-40 PSI range, and only on one side of the hub assembly (see drawing).
Further patents are in process for improvements and control strategies. Those are the ones that will not be disclosed although technically they are already protected by the filing of any provisional applications which cost only $100 for a 1 year protection period.
I did not file internationally. It would have cost about $250k US. Call it a gift to the rest of the world. In many cases, assuming the potential I see for the design is realized, it would be and endless legal entanglement, of suits and court cases in the countries where the originality of the design was disputed, subject to the bias and agendas of their legal system. I may file internationally in the future if I gain outside financial support.
China would ignore the Patent anyway. I figure, after finding out how ridiculously hard it is to get anyone in the US to support this financially, that if the Chinese build it, I will just wait for anyone to bring it into the US.
Feel free to move this post if you feel it is necessary. When I have concrete progress, I will start another thread in the proper location.
regards
Mech