Fryer Art Threatens Apple Patent Application
from the oh-the-puns dept
One slightly cool little feature of Apple's new Intel-based laptop is the connector for its power cord. Instead of being a plug that fits into a socket, the connector -- called MagSafe -- is held in by a magnet, so if it's yanked on or tripped over, it comes out without breaking anything. Steve Jobs was quite proud of the new connector, noting that it was "patent pending", but similar connectors have been used on deep fryers and other kitchen appliances for some time now. The idea is that should a child reach up and grab the cord, it will just detach, instead of showering the kid with hot oil. While the consequences of yanking a MacBook Pro cord probably aren't so dire, Steve's hopes for a patent aren't looking too likely.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Probably a design patent
What you are thinking of is a utility patent. And I am sure Jobs doesn't mind if you make that mistake.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It's About Time
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: It's About Time
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
Innovative? Not really.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
Steve was obviously frying up some chicken nuggets one night and thought "hey -- this is pretty cool!"
Just because he's the first guy to take a deep fryer power cord and attach it to a laptop doesn't mean he should get a patent for it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
prior art
1). This is the Steve Jobs "reality distortion field" on the high setting. Take an idea from a kitchen appliance, call it new and then walk across the stage as if across water.
2). Call something new, even if it's been done many times before, and since it's now been done by Apple, it's the best new idea of the century.
I hope the original inventor gets a nice royalty for his idea.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: prior art
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
always read the patent first...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: always read the patent first...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: always read the patent first...
under constant pressure to reduce cost.
I've had executives of a large US corp
shouting F*CK YOU! IF YOU CAN'T DO IT
WE'LL GET SOMEONE THAT CAN! During a
teleconference over a three cent reduction
in a bill of materials.
When you run the company you can say, "hey,
this is cool, lets add this" and no one has
a seizure over the cost. For a deep fryer
the cost is outweighed by the potential for
injury and being sued (in Europe at least
in the US they just put really short cords
on the appliance.)
So anyway... Jobs adds a feature that keeps
dopes from busting their laptops and wows
the crowd. Whoopie.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Talk about an “Ancient Suggestion”
[ link to this | view in chronology ]