The Electrical experimenter

May, 19 1 THE ELECTRICAL EXPERIMENTER 69
Edited by H. GERNSBACK
In this Department we publish such matter as is of interest to inventors and
particularly to those who are in doubt as to certain Patent Phases. Regular inquiries
addrest to "Patent Advice" cannot be answered by mail free of charge.
Such inquiries are publisht here for the benefit of all readers. If the idea is
thought to be of importance, we make it a rule not to divulge details, in order to
protect the inventor as far as it is possible to do so.
Should advice be desired by mail a nominal charge of $1.00 is made for each
question. Sketches and descriptions must be clear and explicit. Only one side of
sheet should be written on.
SAFETY-FIRST OIL CAN.
(144.; John lirent Marshall, Cincinnati,
Ohio, suhmits drawing and description of a,
what he calls, safety-tirst oil can, and wants
to know if it can be patented.
Ans. The idea as submitted contains
nothing new to our mind and we are quite
positive that no patent can be obtained on it.
LIGHT DIMMER.
(14.S.) Arthur Xorris, Dehance, Ohio, has
submitted a light dimmer which acts on the
principle based upon the rotary potentiometer,
the idea being to place a high resistance
between supplj- wires and the light.
Ans. Tliis is a very good idea and we
are quite certain that the device can be patented.
We have never seen anything like
it on the market and providing the device
can be made cheap enough and incorporated
in a lamp socket, there should exist a good
demand for same. We would advise our
correspondent to get in touch with a patent
attorney at once.
SPARK PLUG.
(146.) Clarence Melotz, Florence, Neb.,
submits what he calls a sootproof spark
plug. The arrangement is such that the
spark is supposed to keep a small cup from
carrying carbon. Our advice is asked.
Ans. There does not seem to be anything
new contained in this and at the present
time there is a very similar spark plug on
the market under the trade name of the
"Soot-proof" spark plug.
PROPELLER.
(147.) .-\lison J. Kurth, Colorado Springs,
Col., encloses sketch and description of a
propeller for motor-driven boats. Instead
of using a propeller, a certain perforated
disc is used and our correspondent would
like to know if we advise him to have it
patented.
Ans. While this propeller no doubt works,
it is impossible to determine its efficiency
without actually testing it out, in practice.
It is very doubtful to our mind, however, if
this propeller should be more efficient than
the regular one. In the absence of actual
tests, we would not like to finally commit
ourselves and advise our correspondent to
try out the device in practice before applying
for patent.
AUTOMATIC VOICE RECORDER.
(US.) Joseph Prochaska. Chicago. 111.,
suhmits to us drawings and specifications
of a novel idea, particularly for use by
physicians whereby it is possible for a
patient to call up the doctor while he is
not at home and instead of the doctor
answerin.g. the phonograph does this for
him, all automatically, telling the patient
where the dnctor can be located or when
he will return.
.\ns. The device is well worked out and
while there does not exist an urgent demand
for this invention, there is no doubt
quite a number of people who would be
interested in owning such an apparatus. We
think a patent might be obtained upon the
mechanical features embodied in this device.
"PERPETUAL MOTION."
(149.J Percy .Muirhead, Dayton, Wash.,
submits a scheme of "Perpetual Motion" in
which is utilized a Radiometer which as
is known, works by light striking it. He
wants our opinion of this scheme.
.A.ns. There is no such thing as "Perpetual
Motion" and by using a Radiometer,
this rule is no exception, for the simple
reason that the Radiometer employs light
which is a form of energy, and for this
reason the scheme cannot be termed "Perpetual
Motion" and no patent could be obiiained
on the idea.
WINDOW ATTRACTION.
(ISO.) L. E. Summerton, Maryville.
Tenn., has submitted to us a window attraction
and he v.ould like to know if it is
worth while patenting. .'\lso if there is
a ready sale for such a device. The idea
consists of an electrical arrangement whereby
a small artificial bird acts as a woodpecker,
pecking against a piece of wood
every few seconds.
.^ns. This is a very good idea and by
elaborating it a little more, we are quite
certain there would be a good market for
a thing of this sort. By using a plurality
of birds, a very interesting window attraction
would be had.
WAVE MOTOR.
(151.) C. Mattison, Oakland, Calif., submits
drawing and description of a wave
motor to be used in the ocean to utilize
the power of the waves. He wants to
know what we think of it and whether it
is practical.
.•^ns. There is nothing new contained
in the idea, which is not a good way of
solving the problem. The first requisite
necessary for a good wave motor is that
it must automatically adjust itself to the
various water levels as the tide rises or
falls. Such an idea was shown in our
February issue from which it will be readily
seen that the device will of necessity
have to be somewhat complicated for best
results.
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