The Search for New Patents
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THE weekly inspection of new patents conducted by this journal often brings to light some interesting facts, apart from the information sought. When it is considered that from 300 to 400 new patents are published every week, it awakens admiration for the ingenuity of inventors.
There are many occupations and trades which seem to be prolific in inventions ; for example, the chemical industry is always to the fore, and of all specifications those on this subject are the most incomprehensible to the layman.
An interesting point is the quaint method of expression favoured by patent agents. Where an ordinary person would speak of "a number of holes," the patent agent prefers the term "plurality of orifices.!' Sometimes one's vocabulary is enlarged ; for example, everyone is familiar with the word "bifurcation," but it was left for a patent specification to teach us " furcation." The length of the specifications varies between wide limits, from only a few lines to possibly 50 or more pages.
Many specifications are very difficult for a reader to understand, even though he has technical knowledge of the subject. We must, however, say a word of praise for the writers of the specifications which most concern us: we refer to the commercial-motor engineers. Their patents show clearly the hand of the engineer rather than that of the patent agent, and, being usually clear and to the point, are of a type which others would do well to copy.