Well hello. I want to lie down in my bed. And cover my head with an umbrella. That's just a normal thing. All the time. So this is a patent that is for a pillow with a retractable umbrella. I guess this would be effective maybe at the beach...but...that's like it. I don't know how often people are like ' dang, i really wish my umbrella was attached to my pillow. that's just my dream'. well obviously it was someone's.
In terms of validity, it is quite valid. In terms of prior art, it does use a basic umbrella, a pillow, and devices that extend. It utilizes existing technology, so it passes enablement. However, it is quite obvious idea. Anyone could do this. And it is quite common sense.
The idea is silly and i'm not sure who uses this.
I would not mind this product. If you're sleeping in a room with a roommate who needs the light from above and you want to sleep you want to cover that light and what a good way to do it. This is silly but i still see some use for this.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't think I am going to use. Plus, it sounds like it would take some space. I would rather use the space to put something else around me. Unless the invention can be used when upstairs neighbor's floor is leaking, I can't think when else people can use it.
ReplyDeletewat.
ReplyDeletethis is kinda silly but I feel like someone would want it.
Sure, cover my face only when it rains and let my body soak with water. Maybe they should promote that umbrella is a UV-blocker for day-sleeping vampire.
ReplyDeletethis idea is ridiculous. It would only work outdoors but I don't know anyone who uses pillow outdoors....
ReplyDeleteAs ginger who enjoys sleeping on the beach, this device is for me. I think its a great idea to protect peoples' faces from being burnt outside. Additionally, David brought up a good point, but I feel that a face mask would be more appropriate for that situation.
ReplyDeleteI actually think this is a cool idea as well, but the idea seems to fail the nonobvious test. For example, I've seen people who wear a hat with an attached umbrella to it for sun-blocking purposes.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome idea. Dr. Lavian did mentioned that combining technologies mentioned in multiple patents is okay to do so, if the newly invented technology results in a very different idea, leading to a unique patent. I believe that this is the case with this patent, but it definitely does seem obvious. In all honestly, it just seems like an umbrella, more than an umbrella and pillow system. I'm wondering what sorts of questions the USPTO examiner had with respect to this patent, and how the patent even got approved in the first place!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I would totally use this. I like David's suggestion about using it when a roommate needs to keep the light on, especially if you're someone like me who can't use an eye pillow or face mask because it presses too hard on your eyeballs... But as Rahul pointed out, I am also curious as to why the USPTO passed it. At first glance, it seems pretty obvious. Though what I think may be non-obvious for two reasons. First, you're attaching an umbrella to a pillow, which is rather soft and doesn't have a lot of support. So in order to make sure the umbrella doesn't just collapse and fall over while keeping the pillow squishy, it takes a bit more effort. Second, it is a retractable umbrella, which is different from what we have seen before. From the patent pictures, it seems like not only does the umbrella close but it also can be put down next to the pillow. I feel like those two aspects may be why the USPTO did pass the patent, even if the idea isn't the most fleshed out.
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