Frozen Turkey? Problem Solved!

Thanksgiving lore is filled with stories of frozen turkeys wreaking havoc on last-minute chefs. While there are techniques for rapidly thawing a turkey, they usually involve soaking the hypothermic bird in a large bucket or bathtub. For all of you who thought "there must be a better way..." I present patent application # 10/975242: A method of Cooking a Frozen Turkey. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

METHOD FOR COOKING FROZEN TURKEY

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method of cooking a frozen whole turkey. The frozen whole turkey is preferably cooked in a bag resulting in evenly, thoroughly cooked turkey meat. Although the present invention is discussed with respect to a frozen whole turkey, it is recognized that other suitable types of meat such as, but not limited to, a frozen split bird (one leg, 1 wing, and ½ breast), a frozen pork roast, or a frozen beef roast could also be used. Therefore, the term “frozen whole turkey” may be interchanged with other suitable types of meat. Further, the more general term “bird” is used throughout to refer to the frozen whole turkey used in the preferred embodiment and may also be interchanged with other suitable types of meat.

Justice Dep't Questions Gene Patents

n March, a federal judge invalidated patents that claimed two genes lined to breast cancer, the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. The decision has cast doubt on thousands of gene patents, and may play a significant role in re-shaping the intellectual property landscape. The ACLU and others joined to challenge the validity of the gene patents and argued that since the genes are products of nature, they should not be patentable. Myriad Genetics, the owner of the patents at issue, moved to dismiss the case, claiming that the work necessary to isolate the DNA that comprises the gene, is tranformative and renders the genes patentable.

On Friday, the Justice Department filed an amicus brief urging the courts to hold that genes are products of nature and therefore not patentable subject matter. This filing signals a major policy change within the Obama administration. Insiders suggest that the U.S. Patent Office was "chagrined that the Department of Justice was taking a viewpoint very different from the Patent Office. " Regardless, the administration's new policy will have little immediate practical effect because the Patent Office will not start denying or invalidating patents because of pending litigation.

Halloween Patent

According to this spooky patent, the invention relates to "lanterns, more specifically it relates to lanterns of the type generally known as "jack-o-lanterns."" The invention's aim is to provide a novelty Halloween pumpkin having numerous face representations. In other words its a jack-o-lantern with changeable faces. The patent also describes an embodiment in which different faces have eyes that are illuminated in different colors.

Inhalable Vitamins

Tired of old-fashioned pill-based vitamins, the Le Whif corporation has introduced an a product that delivers an inhalable dose of daily vitamins. The device works by delivering a fine, powdered form of supplements with each dose. The dosing or "whiffing" involves inhaling the powder into the mouth where it is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Because whiffing bypasses the digestive system it avoids the "first pass effect" where the body filters out chemical substances before they enter the bloodstream. This allows for very efficient dosing. The inhalable vitamin product is marketed as "an innovative alternative to those one-a-day horse pills that leave your urine neon."

Plant Patents

In 1930 congress enacted the Plant Protection Act, which grants patent protection to a person who invents or discovers a distinct and new variety of plant. In order to qualify for patent protection for a plant, it must be asexually reproduced (cloned). The plant must also be also be found in a cultivated state. In other words a wild plant is not patentable until it is asexually cloned. The purpose of the Plant Patent Act is to provide the agricultural community with the same access to the patent system as other industry. To be distinct, a plant must show characteristics that distinguish it from other similar plants. An inventor that identifies a new plant variety may obtain a patent for it even if it was found in a wild state so long as the inventor has asexually reproduced the plant. New plants must also meet the non-obviousness requirement.

It's a Numbers Game

I meet a lot of inventors that are certain they've come up with "the one." The one, great idea that is going to be a huge market success. The one great invention that is going to be so wildly popular they will never have to work again. The truth is that most inventions are not a commercial success. Even the inventions that are profitable are often not so profitable that the inventor can retire to a life of luxury and live off licensing royalties. Making money as an inventor requires a more diverse approach. My recommendation to inventors is to keep inventing. I promise that if you've thought of one winning idea, you can come up with more. The key is to define a problem. Once you have defined a problem the answer will often present itself. Another way to come up with ideas is to browse through the patent literature. Google patents is a user-friendly database that will give you access to almost every US patent out there. Pick a topic and start reading and your ideas will sprout. The thing to remember is that inventing is a numbers game. The more inventions you patent the greater the chance of becoming profitable. Rember, one hundred $10,000 ideas is as valuable as one 1 million dollar idea.

Getting the Most from Invention Disclosure Forms

It would be a mistake to look at an invention disclosure form as a chore. Rather, use the process of filling out this form as an exercise to fine-tune your invention. In case you are un-aware, an invention disclosure form contains a series of questions about an invention. Typically it poses questions that ask you to describe your invention, other similar inventions, and what makes this invention better than what came before it. Researching and answering these questions completely will take some time, but it will be time well spent. I often advise potential clients that are looking to minimize costs to carefully go through an invention disclosure form before ever talking to a patent lawyer. By doing this, you will be better prepared to answer the questions your patent agent will ask you in an initial interview.