So, have they patented the use of fire hydrants for survey control? That sounds a bit exclusive since I've been using them for the past 30 years.
I couldn't find any "hardware" for sale, so I think it's a patented concept. Is that how it works? Now anytime I want to use a Fire hydrant I have to register with the Fire Hydrant Survey Control police? Well good luck with that!!
Dtp
PS I think that I will patent rocks as turning points, and rail road spikes as benchmarks!
Really?
They patented a scribe on a fire hydrant?
Love their photos, yeah that top nut is super solid.
F&%^$tards.
Would always put an "X" on a top flange bolt for a TBM and use more stable objects for actual BMs.
For this to work for me it would need to be filled with concrete and not be connected to any water system.
B-)
And it isn't even April Fools Day for 5 more days!
I think we know how notorious hydrants are. Someone needs to ask the company if they have any stability data.
But the patent system is a joke in itself. Here's an essay on the subject. For instance, someone has a patent on the use of a laser pointer as a way to exercise a cat, which I think was obtained just to show how ridiculous the system is. On further search there are MULTIPLE similar patents like this.
I agree, because hydrants move. They get hit, they get replaced, and they can move due to temperature changes and water pressure. It's asking for trouble, if you ask me. I'll admit I use them for TBM's sometimes, but I don't consider them the best option. I certainly don't use the top of the valve, which they appear to be doing.
Amazing!!
"Unfortunately, to operate most pet toys, the owner must use repetitive motions over long periods of time to keep the interest of the cat. These repeated movements over an extended time can cause soreness, strain and even pain for the owner's fingers, wrists, elbow and hand."
Hilarious ... from the FAQs ... good luck enforcing this ...
We have been using hydrants for control monuments on our surveys. What should we do now?
Ask the municipality for a copy of their Licensing Agreement that allows for the fire hydrants to be used in accordance with the applicable Hydrant Monument patent. If they have no Licensing Agreement then you must immediately stop using the hydrants. Any infringement is considered a serious matter.
A few decades ago I was working at IBM; my coworkers and I were getting a good laugh about a patent that was written up in Electronic Engineering Times. I can't remember the details, but it had something to do with supernatural power transmission. Anybody have a link to it?
wow!
so now ... using an item, I have(had), been using for the past 30 years, can now land me in legal problems?
I don't see how the hydrants' use as a "monument", can be patented.
If they can(and have), then why can't all the pins set from 1800's on, also be patented?
Oh, guess what, you're infringing on my patent if you locate that property pin that Joe Blow set 75 years ago.
I truly don't understand this...
I have been in contact with this company, my correspondence is included below.
"To who it may concern, I am contacting your company to inquire if you are interested in a joint business venture. This venture would consist of obtaining a patent, then eventually lead to the production and sale of Portable Vertical Benchmarks (PVB’s)
I already have contacts with all of the major car manufacturers and they have already began incorporating features into their truck bumpers that will allow for the use of a PVB.
I am in possession of detailed schematics for a model that mounts on the truck bumper as well as in the hitch receiver mounted to Sport Utility Vehicles (SUV’s). This model can also be adapted to small cars, ATV's, UTV's, lawn tractors and even golf carts!
This device will revolutionize surveying as we currently understand it. Imagine being able to immediately start work when you arrive at the job site by simply placing a level rod on this device, while all the other survey companies waste time running levels from technologically obsolete bench marks that are Non-Portable (NP).
My business plan is to initially offer a base model, which is called the Fixed Non Adjustable Portable Vertical Benchmark (FNA-PVB) It will feature an elevation rounded to the nearest US Survey Foot (Metric units will be available with a 3.2808% price mark-up).
The flagship product will be a Fully Adjustable Portable Vertical Benchmark (FA-PVB). Without getting into the proprietary aspects of my invention, the FA-PVB can be adjusted to any elevation, with the highest precision using an ordinary tire lug wrench.
Please respond at your earliest convenience, as I have numerous interested investors that are waiting for the go ahead to move into production phase as soon as the patent is obtained. Also be aware that I will not share the specifics of my invention without a significant good faith gesture.
Yours faithfully, Name Witheld"
Douchbags.
I didn't read all of the info, but are they saying they have a patent on using any existing hydrant as control, or using some sort of tag of one of "their" hydrant assemblies as a survey monument?
I don't see how they can enforce or police this unless the control is published. I very rarely ever use fire hydrants for any type of control after hearing the stories here of how much they move.
wow!
It doesn't make much sense to me either. How can anyone patent the use of something they don't own?
wow!
> It doesn't make much sense to me either. How can anyone patent the use of something they don't own?
I don't think ownership matters, it's the novelty of the concept that counts. And this concept isn't novel. They may hold a patent, but if they ever try to enforce it against an agency with staff counsel, I think they'll be in for an expensive disappointment.
Well heck that's a good idea.
I'm going to get my patent in for my "60d Spike Control Point System" in right away so I can retire on all the royalties you guys will be sending me.
wow!
I see notes on construction plans all the time with flange bolts being used for TBM's.
I doubt the practice will ever change. I personally like cutting squares or crosses in the tops of headwalls or other massive structures.
Well, I can breath easy. By the time you get your patent approved I'll be retired.
I find it amusing that
a) their patent documents (see links on their site) show the bolts or other features marked "WGS-84." Do they plan to move the hydrants a few cm per year to stay at the coordinates?
b) Their illustration of a GPS device (item 62) is a handheld, and is not over any particular feature of the hydrant.
Kinda makes you wonder where their team got the combined 110 years of survey experience.
-------
IANAL but do have experience obtaining patents. I would suggest that a sufficient defense against their patent for surveyors would be prior art in the form of field notes from well before their date of application (2000) showing measurements to hydrants in two and three dimensions.
Someone selling hydrants with specific markings intended or advertised for survey use might have a hard time dismissing claims of infringement. Likewise someone selling attachments for mounting on a hydrant to mark a position.
I don't find any claims for using them in one dimension (e.g, vertical) only.
In analyzing a patent, everything before the "what is claimed is ..." list at the end is just to aid in interpreting the claims and has little effect. The claims always look very repetitive. That's because you try to claim as much as could possibly get away with but, knowing that some claims might be ruled invalid, you make sure that the claims are restated covering different aspects so that some claims might be upheld.
"Kinda makes you wonder where they got their 110 years experience"
There must be 110 employees...
