I’m fairly tall and have had to push a wheel chair a lot so it sounds like a pretty good idea to me…actually i think the medical equiptment industry as a whole is ripe for some good affordable innovation,I have had to come up with several DIY solutions for my 9 year old with CP to make things easier for moving,bathing etc. i even modified his headrest with small built in speakers and a holder for i-pod as he loves music but i couldn’t keep earphones or ear buds on him with all the constant head movements…worked like a charm.

Interesting idea but I would bet there are some strollers and wheel chairs that offer this feature thus making it not patentable.

Dont let my negativety stop you though. Do some google searching and also search google.com/patents and see what you come up with.

did my research.i have my patent thank you.

Thats great. Congratulations. What is the patent number? I am always very interested to read people’s patents on new ideas.

thanks brad but i think we will keep that info. to our selfs.

Susan, I think the patent number is essential if you say it is patented.

You can say something is patented and you don’t have to give the number unless it is a legal issue. I have a patented product and I don’t have to reveal the number to anyone – not on the label, brochure, website, etc.

Brad, you can search Susan’s name and see her patent – you don’t need the number. Go to http://inventors.about.com/od/hottosearch/ss/in... or some other site.

thank you julie,you know were to go now everyone….

Julie,

Although you do not have to include your patent number on your products, it almost always a good idea and without doing so you make it very difficult to sue people for infringement. Here is something I copied from a IP law firms website:

Patent Number

Patented products (articles) sold or offered for sale should be marked with the U.S. patent number. This marking is simply the word “U.S. Patent” or “patent” or abbreviation “pat.” followed by the patent number.

This marking should be “fixed” to the product by molding, engraving etc. methods. When, from the character of the product, this cannot be done, a label bearing the marking should be placed on the product or packaging.

Patent marking permits the patent owner to seek monetary damages (in addition to injunctive relief) in a patent infringement action without proof that the infringer had actual notification of the patent.

In addition, the public notification in and of itself might avert infringement issues.

Brad, Thank you for the education – I didn’t know some of it. When I first got the patent, I was so proud that I had it put on the woven/satin label and on the website and the business card and the… (got the picture?). Since I am now in year 8 of production, with a name change, the new label and new website do not have the patent on them. However, I do have the word ‘patented’ (and MADE IN THE USA) on everything. If I ever am fortunate enough to get into wholesale sales, I will have the label re-done with the number. Again, thanks.

Can you just include the first three numbers of the patent? i.e. U.S. Patent # 745 I see this done and wondering if this is legal to abbreviate? are the first three letters always unique to patents to do this, Iam looking at a product marked like this right now… Might this be the best solution to help with infringement but not make it super easy for some to review your claims and try to design around them?

hi karen here is the patent # you wanted #us61/288,278( this is the provisional patent application #) if there is anything else you want to know feel free to ask. thank you

Hi Susan, I believe only a patent number is to be listed on a product or product packaging. For folks who have a provisional patent or have applied for a patent then the product or package can have “Patent Pending”, but it is not required. I have also seen “Pat Pending” and “Pat Pend”. I would not disclose the application numbers.