Bill Nye the Patent Guy

Yep, turns out Bill Nye isn't just a fun science educator, TV personality, and proponent of science and logic: he's also a patented inventor. 

I watched a fair bit of Bill Nye the Science Guy as a kid (federal mark registration nos. 5767841, 6016692, 2010276, 1573911, and 1794982); there are some pieces of his show I still recall clearly, more than 25 years later. He blended entertainment and science learning for children in a unique way that was memorable to many people, proven by his continued influence on my generation. [Language warning on that last one.]

It is therefore hardly surprising to learn that he is also the inventor of multiple patents. I could not have been more pleased when I recently learned this. 

And, very appropriately, some of them could have been featured on his show, used to explain science to kids (or even adults). Most notable in that category is US Patent no. 5,515,203 Educational Lens. It could have been on his show, as the patent essentially states in the background information section. That section is the most easily readable in any utility patent I've ever seen, and reflects many of the values and statements we've always heard from Nye: science is for everyone, we can make it interesting and educational for all people of all ages, and simple household items can be used for fun science experiments. Unfortunately, the rest of the patent reads fairly similar to others, relying on jargon and special patent syntax found in no other form of writing. The Educational Lens is Nye's first patent, granted in 1995.

Anyone can make this patent with a few simple objects!

His next most famous patent is not as educational in use nor is it written in plain language in any part. Bill Nye, influenced by what I can only imagine, designed and invented a better toe shoe for ballet dancing en pointe. Patent nos. 6,895,694 and 7,254,904 describe the improvement to the toe shoe that helps increase comfort and reduce injuries frequently incurred in this form of dance. 

A better toe shoe

I'd particularly like to learn if the new toe shoe became a more common model, or if everyone is waiting out the last few years of the patents' enforceable period to start mass producing it. Anyone up to some ballet shoe market research?

Later, Nye and co-inventor Steve Goucher patented a Throwing Technique Trainer (no. 7,771,294). Again, Nye's patent is aimed at helping reduce injuries related to specific functions. In this case, it is mostly focused on baseball, especially pitchers, who eventually have stress injuries from repeated, extreme motions. This training tool doesn't change that, but it does work on mitigating injuries resultant from sloppy or incorrect technique. An ounce of prevention, and all that.  

Learn to throw a baseball correctly with Bill Nye

Finally, there is a design patent no. D399,522 for a digital abacus that I'm 90% certain is also his; I feel like there can only be so many William S. Nyes who live in Seattle, and among those, just one who also likes to invent learning tools. It's a binary number-based abacus, which sounds challenging. He shares invention credit with William M. Pease, also of Seattle.

Binary abacus, anyone?

According to the bio on his website, I'm correct (phew!).

Well, I'm off to fill a Ziploc® bag with water and create an Educational Lens.

Women's History Month -- Valiant Women of the Vote: Jovita Idár

In the early twentieth century, journalist and activist Jovita Idár wrote of the modern woman, “Science, industry, the workshop and even the home demand her best aptitudes, her perseverance and consistency in work, and her influence and assistance for all that is progress and advancement for humanity.” She founded La Liga Femenil Mexicanista to promote education and economic advancement for Mexican-American women. 

 

Born in Laredo, Texas in 1885, Idár experienced racism and danger throughout her life. The Mexican-American community in Texas frequently faced violence, and Idár’s family was active in the civil rights movement. She began writing articles for the newspaper her father founded, La Crónica, encouraging readers on both sides of the border to fight against racial and economic injustice. Idár supported the women’s suffrage movement, and encouraged women to vote through her writing. 

 

Understanding the role education had in economic and political success, Idár earned a teaching certificate in 1903. When she founded the La Liga Femenil Mexicanista (the League of Mexican Women), one of the first goals of the organization was to provide educational opportunities for Mexican American children. Idár wrote for the newspaper El Progreso until the newspaper was shut down by the Texas Rangers. She then took over the business of running La Crónica after her father’s death. 

 

Jovita Idár believed that “when you educate a woman, you educate a family.” She continued to advocate for education and equality for Mexican-Americans throughout her life.

#WomensHistoryMonth #ValiantWomenOfTheVote #WomenEntrepreneurs

The Congressional App Challenge

USPTO’s Office of Education and Outreach partnered with the

The Congressional App Challenge

for an interactive, hands-on workshop with middle and high school students on apps and intellectual property. Participants learned a unique 5-step process that helps move mobile apps from conception to creation.

Learn about the 2020 Congressional App Challenge: https://bit.ly/2H7YxH3

USPTO Regional Office Events

Please check out each regional office's event page to see what educational events are offered in the upcoming months.  Classes such as Trademark basic, How to protect your IP abroad, How to search for patents, Learn about design patents and more.  Most are held online.

For Texas Regional Office events

For Midwest Regional Office events

For Rocky Mountain Regional Office events

For West Coast Regional Office events