patent

The Yellow and White Paper

  • 2024年08月21日
#design #intellectual property #patent #trademark

My family and I often go to “Kura Sushi” in our neighborhood.
However, it is always crowded, and we often have to wait even if we have a reservation.
One day, when we were waiting in the restaurant to be called as usual, I happened to see a familiar piece of paper displayed in a frame behind the waiting seat where I happened to sit.

a patent certificate and a registration certificate

What a surprise…a patent certificate and a registration certificate Σ(･ω･ﾉ)ﾉ！
I said to my family, “Look! There are patent and registration certificates!” (laugh).
It was the first time I noticed them at Kura Sushi, a place I have visited many times, and I was a little happy to encounter them in such a familiar place.

With 35 patents, 15 designs, and 531 trademarks, you can see that Kura Sushi Co. puts a lot of effort into intellectual property. (Rabbit)

Early Detection of Cancer by Urine Test “miSignal”

  • 2024年07月31日
#patent #trademark

　“miSignal” (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6548820), a cancer risk test, has been newly added as an optional test this year in the regular health checkups that our firm employees receive.

miSignal

　This test analyzes microRNAs contained in urine and enables early detection of five types of cancer in men (lung, stomach, colon, esophagus, and pancreas) and seven types of cancer in women (ovary and breast cancer). When I took the test for the first time, I received a 20-page test result report following the page in the photo below.

miSignal report

　Craif Inc, which operates the test, is a venture company from Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (Nagoya University). By using an exosome extraction device with zinc oxide nanowires, it is now possible to detect a wide variety of microRNAs from a small amount of urine. The invention of “body fluid extract containing microRNA” disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-92688 and Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-123592 (divisional application) is presumably related to this technology.

　We hope that the miSignal test will be widely used and that many people will be able to extend their healthy life expectancy through early detection of cancer risk. (Conan)

　(Reference site)
https://misignal.jp/ (Japanese only)
https://craif.com/en/

Sweet Buns

  • 2024年07月11日
#invention #patent #trademark

　Hello. This is Raspberry, Kiku.
　This time, I would like to introduce you to high-grade sweet bean and high-grade jam sweet buns from Yamazaki Baking Co. There are several bread manufacturers, but I would like to focus on Yamazaki Baking Co.
　This is the first time I bought their high-grade sweet bean and high-grade jam sweet buns.

high-grade sweet bean and high-grade jam sweet buns from Yamazaki Baking Co.

　Yamazaki Baking produces not only sweet buns but also Japanese sweets and rice balls.
　The company’s sweet buns have a relatively long expiration date and can be stored for a long time, making them a valuable food in times of disaster.
　Yamazaki Baking Company has been applying for patents since 1972, and for trademark registration since 1954.
　The year 1954 was the year that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (now the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) decided on January 28, 1954 to designate April 18 of every year as “Invention Day” for the purpose of promoting and educating people about the patent system and other industrial property rights systems.
　I felt the history and future potential of intellectual property.

Yamazaki Baking Company (English) https://www.yamazakipan.co.jp/english/businesses/bread/index.html
Japan Patent Office Invention Day (English) https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/introduction/rekishi/hatsumei.html

Mattress worth more than the price

  • 2024年06月05日
#design #patent #trademark

　I am considering buying a new bed. There are many factors to consider when choosing a new bed, such as the comfort of the mattress, whether it is firm or soft, and the material it is made of. When I went to Nitori the other day, I found a “Patent Registered” mark on the “N Sleep Luxury Series” mattress.

　A J-PlatPat search for “Nitori Holdings, Inc.” and “mattress” yielded 11 patents (8 of which were valid), 10 designs, and 16 trademarks related to “N Sleep,” the name of the mattress product series.

　At the store, I could lie down without taking off my shoes, and it was fun to try different kinds of products. I also found out that I prefer “firm” sleeping comfort. Since it is something to use for a long time, so I will carefully consider my choice. (Marron)

Nitori N Sleep Mattress Special (Japanese only)
https://www.nitori-net.jp/ec/feature/nsleepmattress/

Guinomi and Masu

  • 2024年03月26日
#patent

　We would like to introduce a product related to a patent obtained at our firm (Hattori & Partners) on behalf of our client. They are “Guinomi” ,a sake cup and “Masu” , a square wooden container or measure.　The “Masu” can be used to measure the mass of sake or rice, and can also be used as a sake container.

Guinomi and Masu

　Furthermore, if a lid is attached, it can be used as a wooden box for storing the sake cup as a sake container. Sake drinkers can choose to use the Masu as a container for holding sake, or they can choose to use the sake cups taken out of the Masu box as a sake drinking container. Full of good things !(^^)!

Guinomi and Masu

　You can also enjoy choosing the Masu or the Guinomi according to your mood at the time. To give a gift, you can change the shape and design of the Guinomi to match the taste of the person giving or receiving it.
　This is a thoughtful, elegant, and chic gift for those who are interested in sake. How about this versatile and multifunctional souvenir?

Guinomi and Masu

　In these days of the sake boom, this is a collection of ideas for promoting sake. Japanese Patent Registration No. 7190194 is an example of how a simple, everyday idea can be patented. Furthermore, this product was produced to support Tanegashima pottery. (rice ball)

Safety Razor Blade

  • 2024年01月05日
#Inventions of the Day #patent

　Today, I will introduce an invention that is closely associated with today (January 5), the safety razor blade. January 5 is the birthday of King Camp Gillette, an American businessman and inventor of the safety razor.

　When I think of safety razors, I think of Gillette or Schick, although there is also Kaijirushi(KAI) and Feather. By the way, I use Schick’s Extreme 3 every morning. It is a disposable product, but it lasts rather long (lol).

Schick's Extreme 3

　Gillette was born in 1855 in Wisconsin and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. While working as a salesman, he came up with the idea of inventing a disposable razor blade when his employer told him that he could stabilize his customer base by introducing a disposable product. He went on to develop a replaceable blade safety razor and founded the Gillette Company in September 1901. In December of the same year, he applied for a patent, and after a three-year examination period, he was granted a patent.

(When I searched the J-Plat Pat, the information came up, but unfortunately, “The specified gazette does not exist.” However, a search on Google Patents yielded the gazette as well.)

　Although Gillette did not do well in 1903 when it started manufacturing and selling razor blades, the company’s performance increased when it distributed it to drinks as a free gift, and in 1918, the U.S. government ordered razor blades and replacement blades for soldiers serving in World War I. This led to the company becoming the world’s largest manufacturer of razor blades.

　Today, Gillette is known for its razor and blades model, a business strategy that is said to have been pioneered by the company. This model is based on selling the core product at a lower price (or offering it free of charge) in order to increase sales of complementary products such as consumables. Even today, there are examples such as inkjet printers, where the price of ink cartridges has increased dramatically; coffee machines, where you have to buy special capsules or pods for use; electric toothbrushes…. I’m sure you have some of these in mind. I have all of those listed here (lol).

　Anyway, I guess it is not so easy to succeed just by making a groundbreaking invention. I would like to refer to the struggles of our predecessors who created new markets that had never existed before. (blink)

Seminar on AI and Patent Application

  • 2023年12月22日
#patent

　The Tokai-kai of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association will hold a seminar on January 26, 2024 at the Nagoya Kanko Hotel to commemorate the opening day of the Tokai-kai. The theme of the seminar will be AI (Artificial Intelligence), which has been the focus of much attention recently.
https://www.jpaa-tokai.jp/activities/seminar/chizaiDetail_2941.html

AI

　There are three types of AI-related inventions as follows
(1) AI algorithm invention: Invention about the algorithm of AI technology itself
(2) AI-utilizing invention: Invention to use a completed AI algorithm
(3) AI output invention: An invention that identifies the optimal parameters output by an AI learning model.

　Among these inventions, (2) AI-utilizing inventions are frequently filed in all technical fields. This year (August 2023), I was also in charge of filing a patent application for an AI-utilizing invention. In writing the claims, I referred to the “Patent and Utility Model Examination Handbook” for AI-related technologies and other examples. Generally, claims for AI inventions specify the invention using terms such as “machine learning,” “teacher data,” “learned model,” etc. AI technology is expected to expand the possibilities of intellectual property rights related to AI in the future through various innovations with new points of view not found in conventional technologies. (Conan)

Kids Design Award

  • 2023年11月01日
#design #invention #patent #trademark

The other day, while using the Internet, I came across the term “Kids Design Award”. Somehow I thought it might be related to design, so I read the article “Kids Design Award for ‘Eye Care Clip’ to Control Children’s Myopia“.

The Kids Design Award is an award system for products, services, spaces, activities, and research that fulfill the objectives of “living safely,”, “nurturing sensitivity and creativity,” and “creating a society where it is easy to have and raise children.”. With the aim of disseminating this information to society at large, it appears that in addition to designs for children, designs developed for adults and the general public are also eligible as long as they are child and child-rearing friendly.

Kids Design Award

The “Eye Care Clip” introduced in the article is a product developed by Clear Electronic Co., Ltd. in Tokyo I searched J-Plat Pat to see if the company had also owned patent and registered design, and found, as expected, 2 Japanese Patent applications, 4 Japanese Designs registrations, and 18 Japanese trademark applications.

Also, “Kids Design Award＼KIDS DESIGN AWARD” was registered as a trademark. (Japanese Trademark registration No. 5010693, right holder: Non-profit organization Kids Design Association)

I was interested in the Kids Design Award because I felt that the award and intellectual property are a bit similar.
It would be nice to enrich our lives with useful inventions for children and families raising children. (Rabbit)

Kids Design Award (website) https://kidsdesignaward.jp/

Patents regarding Drones

  • 2023年10月04日
#patent

　Currently, drones are widely used in the fields of aerial photography, surveying, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (e.g., agricultural chemical spraying), inspection (e.g., inspecting deterioration of high structures), transportation and logistics, and security surveillance.

Drone

　The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism is considering the use of highly versatile drones to obtain a wide range of information and speed up initial response in disaster areas in the event of a natural disaster. According to the “Survey and Analysis of Drone Patent Application Status” in April this year, the number of PCT applications (international applications) for 2016-2020 is ranked first by China, second by the United States, and third by Japan. By technical field, applications are related to airframe structure, flight control, flight support, communications, and drone port systems.

　Looking at applications in Japan, an average of about 500 patent applications per year for drone-related inventions were filed between 2016 and 2021. Among them is the invention of a “ball launcher” (Japanese Patent No. 6918384, Patentee: For Nature Co., Ltd.) that launches fire extinguishing balls from a drone at the scene of a fire.
　We hope that drone-based firefighting systems will be used effectively to extinguish wildfires, which are increasing worldwide due to the effects of global warming, as well as fires that occur in areas affected by earthquakes and other natural disasters. (Conan)

　
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism “Technical Study Group on the Utilization of Highly Versatile Drones to Meet Administrative Needs” (Only in Japanese)
https://www.mlit.go.jp/sogoseisaku/gijyutu/sosei_safety_tk2_000041.html

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, “Survey and Analysis of Drone Patent Applications (April 2023) (Only in Japanese)(PDF)
https://www.mlit.go.jp/sogoseisaku/gijyutu/content/001603643.pdf

“Tokkyo Tawan Ningen Hoshiki” -Unno Juza

  • 2023年09月13日
#copyright #patent #patent attorney

　I would like to introduce a novel in which a patent attorney is the main character. The title is “Tokkyo Tawan Ningen Hoshiki (Patent Multi-Armed Human Method)” and it is a novel written by “Unno Juza” (海野十三), a writer in the early Showa period.

　Unno Juza (real name: Sano Shoichi) published many mystery and science fiction novels and is called the “father of Japanese science fiction novels”. After his debut as a writer, in 1936, at the age of 39, Mr. Unno qualified as a patent attorney, and two years later, he opened “Sano Electric Patent Office.

　The “Tokkyo Tawan Ningen Hoshiki” was published in 1941, when Mr. Unno was 44 years old. The story begins when an inventor visits a patent attorney who runs a patent office and requests a patent application for a “third arm”. A humorous and surreal scene appears in which the patent attorney writes the specification for the application while interacting (playing two roles) with the 100-yen bill (a large sum of money in those days) received from the inventor as the application fee and the application stamp fee. There is also a scene in which the patent attorney shows off his skills as a patent attorney by using the expression “at least” in the description of the claims, claiming that he has expanded the scope of the patent (scope of rights), and another scene in which he receives a notice of reasons for refusal after filing an application, meets with the examiner, and struggles to resolve the reasons for refusal. I feel that this is a story that is also relevant to the current practice of patent attorneys.

Tokkyo Tawan Ningen Hoshiki (Patent Multi-Armed Human Method)

　There is a lot of humor scattered throughout, and the punchline is quite good. Because it is a short novel, I finished reading it in no time.
　Since more than 50 years have passed since Mr. Unno’s death and the copyright protection period has expired, this work can be freely read at Aozora Bunko and other libraries (Hiro).

Tokkyo Tawan Ningen Hoshiki (Aozora Bunko) (only available in Japanese)

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