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Patexia Contest

CONTEST

Competed

Ear Warmer

Prior Art Search
Prize
$5,000
DEADLINE
This contest is closed.

Problem

We request previously undiscovered prior art including products in use, patents and non-patent literature (for example advertisements, technical descriptions, etc.) in English and foreign languages that can help invalidate claims 9-11 of US patent 6,920,645 (‘645) - “Apparatus and method for making an ear warmer and an ear warmer frame” and claims 14-20 of US patent 6,735,784 (‘784) - “Apparatus and method for making an ear warmer and an ear warmer frame.”

These patents describe ear warmers formed by enclosing a solid frame between two pieces of membrane material, both with the approximate shape shown in the figures below.

If you are new, see patent and prior art basics and tips for Patexia's prior art contests, and refer to the submission notes below. The prize is guaranteed to be paid if we receive a qualifying submission. The following questions will help you understand what we are looking for in this study.

 

Fig. 1: [Fig. 28 from 645 patent]

 

 

Fig. 2: [Fig. 29 from 645 patent]

 



 

 

 

Fig. 3: [Fig. 10 from 784 patent]

 

 

Fig. 4: [Fig. 21 from 784 patent]

 

Questions

 

The reference(s) should clearly satisfy the following:

For claims 9-11 of the ‘645 patent and claims 14 – 21 of the ‘784 patent:

  1. Was it published before April 5th, 1999 (clearly dated)?
  2. Does it show ear warmers shaped approximately like either of those in Fig. 1?
  3. Does the ear warmer have a shell?
  4. Is there a solid frame inside the shell?
  5. Is the frame single-piece (unitary)?
  6. Does the frame have an ear portion that defines an opening?
  7. Is the width of the middle portion smaller than the width of the ear portions (as in Fig. 1)?
  8. Is the frame inside the ear portion substantially circular?
  9. Is the frame approximately shaped like that in Fig. 3?
  10. Is the outer shell made by attaching (sewn/glued) the edges of two flat pieces of material shaped like Fig. 1?

Contest entries can alternatively include a combination of several references from which the above ear warmers are obviously made.

Have a question about this contest? Ask a Question

Questions

#QuestionValue
1Was it published before April 5th, 1999 (clearly dated)? 0
2Does it show ear warmers shaped approximately like either of those in Fig. 1? 0
3Does the ear warmer have a shell? 0
4Is there a solid frame inside the shell? 0
5Is the frame single (unitary)? 0
6Does the frame have an ear portion that defines an opening? 0
7Is the width of the middle portion smaller than the width of the ear portions? 0
8Is the frame inside the ear portion substantially circular? 0
9Is the frame approximately shaped like that in Fig. 3? 0
10Is the outer shell made by attaching (sewn/glued) the edges of two flat pieces of material shaped like Fig. 1? 0

Additional Notes

Submission Notes

  • Submission deadline is Friday January 18th, 2013
  • All work must be prepared by a single researcher
  • Maximum of one entry per person allowed
  • Entries must be in English
  • Please make sure to answer all the questions and detail how we can find your answers in the references
  • In case you are submitting foreign references, please provide a translation of key sections
  • If you were referred, the referral prize ($500) will be paid to the referring user from the total prize pool of $5000.
  • The prize will be paid out and distributed between contestants for the best answers based on the number of questions answered. If only some of the questions are answered, only a portion of the prize may be paid.
  • If your reference has already been submitted by another researcher before you or is among the known references, it will not be considered for the contest (see list below).
  • Please use “Ask a Question” to post general questions or feedback about the contest to the community.
  • For specific questions, you can contact us directly by email at contests@patexia.com
  • All submissions are subject to Patexia's contest legal terms. Failure to follow these rules may lead to disqualification from the contest

If you have a minute take our contest judging survey to help us improve your contest experience.

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  • Le Gette, et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0026661 A1, Mar. 7, 2002, Apparatus and Method for Making an Ear Warmer and an Ear Warmer Frame, (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/986,103; filed Nov. 7, 2001).
  • Le Gette, et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0020003 A1, Feb. 21, 2002, Apparatus and Method for Making an Ear Warmer Having Interior Seams, (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/978,591; filed Oct. 18, 2001).
  • Le Gette, et al., Ear Protection Device, Specification and drawings of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/024,523, filed Dec. 21, 2001.
  • Advertisement: The PODZ ear warming eye glass retainer, Shred Alert Products of Hood River, Oregon.
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