Throttle Quadrant Conversion - Patent Pending?

[quid246]

If this culture of patenting everything these days I noticed a post on Flaps2Approach at http://www.flaps2approach.com/journal/2015/4/6/throttle-quadrant-rebuild-slipper-clutches-motors-flaps-and.html

"I received a call from the manufacturer of the clutch systems and was told the design was copyright pending patent.  I was asked to remove the information.  The content of the post has been removed for the time being."

Never saw the original post... but if the manufacturer is who I think it is, who used to use the old window door motors and belt technique... and this new technique is what we have seen other builder's here use, I am sure there is enough "Prior Art" to invalidate the patent.

If anybody sees this patent in the USPTO... let me know, this could be interesting.

[paulnd]

The patent pending bit consisted of a description of slipper clutch and a cross section diagram of a slipper clutch.

btw, the original post can still be found via Google cache.

[quid246]

Thanks for the clarification. 

Not sure what Google Cache you are using but the one I get pointed to is same as the live page.  Glad it's just the slipclutch being patented... would hate to see the work of countless builders captured and deemed someone's patent.  The world is a little IP crazy these days.

[bernard S]

Too funny as it was already up I the public domain so to spk  he is going to get nada also the basis of the whole thing relates to some "Real manufactures design" I am sure if he tries such nonsense without a licensing agreement then he will get a C&D .. in short poppycock...:-) ... lets do the math for this  10k easy just to register it and then it only applies to country of registration... Then it has to be defended if copied.. Then oh and he is doing this to go into "big boy" simulators the cost of just getting management systems into place just to supply to the big boys is insane let alone how is one going to support the M&S for X number of years ,, stuff like this is just BS and vexes no end...  I think forums like this and others are a great place to exchange ideas etc etc it is a sad day when someone wants to profit off someones elses work and idea that was freely given..   

[NedH]

Even if the bozo does get a patent for the clutch, individual users won't be prevented from building their own copies. Only commercially manufactured TQ's using the patent will be prohibited.

[willow]

Greetings

I thought I would make a comment on this thread as it is my website and TQ that quid246 is referring (flaps2approach).

My first TQ was converted by NFS; however, this unit was sold and a replacement TQ purchased.

Part of the conversion for the second TQ was contracted out to a commercial company.  This company wishes the detail of the design to remain private, until they have decided what they wish to do with the design.  I have no idea whether a patent will be taken out.  I am the end user and any decision is made by the third party.

In the interim, I was politely asked if I could remove the content of the post I made.

At some stage in the near future, the post will be re-written.  I cannot say to what level of detail (more or less).

I hope this clarifies the situation.   Cheers,     WilloW

[Aerosim Solutions]

Hi guys,
I have no intention of offering my 737TQ as a product so I am happy to share details of my clutch design. It uses cheap 12VDC motors from Ebay and a few bits and pieces. I would have to prepare a tutorial with pics so it might take a few days to get to it.
Cheers Gwyn

[Joe Lavery]

Good on you Gwyn, yours will probably be easier to build and a better design. 

[quid246]

Thanks for the information Willow.

I sincerely hope this company has something novel, because if it's anything remotely like what other builder's have done... the patent should be nicely challenged on the base of prior art.

Your previous post from March describing the new design sounds pretty much what Fred, Rob and a handful of others have documented here... string pots for thrust/flaps, slide pot for speedbrake and slip clutches on the motors, nothing new there.  Anyone patenting that with so much prior art is a moron as NedH has suggested.

[willow]

Thanks for the information Willow.

I sincerely hope this company has something novel, because if it's anything remotely like what other builder's have done... the patent should be nicely challenged on the base of prior art.

Your previous post from March describing the new design sounds pretty much what Fred, Rob and a handful of others have documented here... string pots for thrust/flaps, slide pot for speedbrake and slip clutches on the motors, nothing new there.  Anyone patenting that with so much prior art is a moron as NedH has suggested.

Hello Quid246

I am not in a position to comment as it is up to the third party - not me.  As I said, I'm the end user and the actual clutch mechanism was designed by them - not me; therefore, they have the final say as to what they want to do with the design. 

I am not trying to be difficult - they asked for confidentiality so I removed the post.   Cheers,   WilloW

[quid246]

Hi Willow,

Criticism was not directed at you... I feel you and your site are a great resource.  A lot of the design is in the PD already, the only thing "innovative" would be the bars directly connected to the slip clutches... not much use in patenting something so small.