December 23, 2004

A patent for an invention which automatically detects when a lightbulb is blown, removes it and replaces it. Not explained: How the lightbulb is meant to emit light with an enormous machine completely surrounding it.
posted by Blaise Bailey Finnegan 20 years ago
  • Plus, it's probably more economical to have a standby bulb next to the original one, and a simple device that detects a burned bulb and turns the spare on.
  • What is the "13 claims" at the top right? Does that mean there are 13 people contesting the patent?
  • Not to be confused with lightbulb playhouse.
  • The claims are the description of what is patented. That is where you will find the details of the device, but they will be in lawyer-speak.
  • Hmm. I was actually peripherally involved in a mission-critical lighting system project that included a mechanical system for automatically swapping bulbs in case of a burnout. But like Richer suggests, it used two bulbs in two sockets - the sockets swapped positions when a bulb burned out. There are suggestions in the full text that it's mainly intended as a novelty DIY project.
  • Hell, they'll let you patent anything, as long as you pay the fee. It doesn't have to be usable or marketable. I even have one.
  • What's your patent for? If it's boring, just make something up instead.
  • How many inventors does it take to change a lightbulb? Monkeyfilter: If it's boring, just make something up instead. Monkeyfilter: Not to be confused with lightbulb playhouse.
  • It's boring, and entirely work-related. I'd link to the patent, but it contains my real name & address, and I prefer to stay anonymous.