An interesting patent search surprise

[cougar1717]

While researching something else, I stumbled upon this patent of an interesting firearm design that has become a rather desirable rifle right now. I thought the exploded diagrams and claims were interesting enough to share. I won't give any more hints, but you'll know it when you see it.

http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?Docid=...&SectionNum=&idkey=NONE&Input=View+first+page

 

[Crowcifier666]

Bolt action AR? Gimme a break....

 

[dvdcrr]

This plug in is not supported

 

[jmr40]

Bolt action AR? Gimme a break....

Technically not an AR, but this type rifle is becoming quite popular

 

[jmorris]

I would take one of these for a spin.

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek016.html

 

[Walkalong]

Wouldn't we all. Super nice set up. With Ruger coming up with something along those lines we may see more standard production more affordable options. For us mere mortals who cannot shoot at the level of the Tubbs rifle.

 

[Howard Roark]

It's interesting that the T2K was brought up in that Rock McMillian has said that there is nothing unique and patentable about the T2K rifles. Every single part of it has been done before, therefore it is not patented.

He also said that if anyone wants to try to manufacture them cheaper, they're welcome to try. He's doing the best that he can with $2 mil worth of CNC, EDM equipment and qualified labor.

His business model is perfect in that he regulates demand by increasing the price of the rifle to meet production. This allows them to make other products which have more demand and more margin per unit. I know a person who owns a very well equipped machine shop that tried and the project never got off the ground. They found out how expensive it really was build.

I'm not surprised that a patent was granted for this rifle though. The number of patents issued yearly from 2004-2014 has risen by almost 40%. The problem isn't getting the patent, it's the cost of defending it.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Whats with that buttstock on the Ruger? Can it be adjusted for shooters 4 to 8 feet tall?

 

[Walkalong]

He also said that if anyone wants to try to manufacture them cheaper, they're welcome to try.

To be competitive with that rifle, sure, but lessor rifle along the same lines could be cheaper.

 

[jmorris]

Whats with that buttstock on the Ruger? Can it be adjusted for shooters 4 to 8 feet tall?

Looks like you could get the LOP short enough for a 3' tall kid and ER would be fine for irons. You wouldn't want a 25 lb kid getting scope doped anyway...

 

[barnbwt]

"The number of patents issued yearly from 2004-2014 has risen by almost 40%. The problem isn't getting the patent, it's the cost of defending it."

I think that's called "the patent system failing" like it has been since the beginning --the whole premise of the scheme was the registered patents would be legally unassailable in a court of law (hence the careful review process to assure this), thus freeing their owner from some of the burden of defending them. Probably cheaper now to bribe some politicians to imminent domain your thieving competitors' factory than to engage them lawfully

TCB

 

[WestKentucky]

"The number of patents issued yearly from 2004-2014 has risen by almost 40%. The problem isn't getting the patent, it's the cost of defending it."

I think that's called "the patent system failing" like it has been since the beginning --the whole premise of the scheme was the registered patents would be legally unassailable in a court of law (hence the careful review process to assure this), thus freeing their owner from some of the burden of defending them. Probably cheaper now to bribe some politicians to imminent domain your thieving competitors' factory than to engage them lawfully

TCB

I'm feeling some spunkiness in that post...barn...got something to get off your chest?

 

[Nature Boy]

Defending against "Patent Trolls" is just another hidden cost in everything we buy these days.

 

[barnbwt]

"I'm feeling some spunkiness in that post...barn...got something to get off your chest?"
Nothing other than the usual. It's just that the patent system has failed the firearms industry (like, specifically) since pretty much the inception of this nation. IIRC, even before the famous Colt/Smith wars, many an enterprising entrepreneur saw his ideas stolen immediately after patenting, and the legal tools insufficient to keep from bleeding capital away in legal fees (which is kind of the whole purpose in defending your patent, btw). Since the beginning, the only way for a firearms company to survive was to keep innovating ahead of the competition until it had grown massive enough to dedicate a full-time legal operation to patent enforcement and predation.

As such, the practical effect is the patent system protects the standing of large, entrenched corporate interests, while needlessly bleeding innovators of time and money while most vulnerable to the same. Probably wasn't always quite so bad before the corporation was a thing, but it's here, now. Look at the share of patents granted under corporate auspices vs. private, and its 'patently' clear what's going on. No one with a clue who plans to strike out on their own with a product is even going to bother with the process; that time would be better spent getting a product to market so someone else can copy it later (by that time you've moved on to the new model and the money's in your pocket)

TCB

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

^^^^^ What Barn said,
Ruger didn't think twice about stealing a Kel-tec design.
Why? Kel-tec doesn't have the legalese power of the mega corp Ruger.
I personally have designed some items for the printing industry.
The first was out-dated before a patient could be attained. (never sold the first unit)
The second, everyone said "you need to patient this!" I told them they were free to patient the devise, but in the mean time I would sell as many as I could. I did just that, and before a patient could be obtained I sold a thousand units before the devise had run it's course. If I had waited for a patient I would never had made a penny on it.
Even if you could have more lasting longevity to it's usefulness, the Chinese won't honor US patients anyway!
STW