Chapter 5 - Patents, representation of ideas Flashcards
What is a patent? And describe what they do and how they can be granted.
A patent is a form of legal protection for a design or an idea. A patent will prevent anyone from stealing a design during all stages of the design and manufacturing process. This prevents a company from stealing a design and making it before the original company does. They can be granted if the inventor can prove the design is theirs and there is not already a company which has a patent similar to this one.
Give two examples of products which have been patented.
1, the Dyson vacuum and the black and decker workman’s bench.
What are the 4 criteria which must be followed for a patent to be granted?
1, It must be new, and must not have shown or discussed publicly before the patent is filed
2, It must involve an inventive step. The idea must not be obvious to someone with reasonable prior knowledge of the subject.
3, It must be capable of being industrially made.
4, It must not have been excluded, an invention can not be patented if it is one the excluded list issued by the patent office.
What protection is offered to logos etc and designers drawings?
Logo, slogans and names can be protected by a trademark. Designers drawing are protected by design rights, similar to copyright which protects work from authors and artists.
What is the downside of a patent?
They are very expensive and have to be obtained through counts. Often individual designers cannot afford patents so they have to sell their design to a bigger company.
How long does a patent last and why?
Most patents last up to 20 years, the reason why there is a time cap is to force the designer to update and improve their design it allows for technology and design to grow.
Name the 8 ways in which ideas can be communicated?
Mood boards, rendering, orthographic drawings, modelling, mock-ups, prototypes and presentation boards.
What is a mockup?
A mock-up is a type of rough prototype. Mostly made from low-cost materials such as MDF, card etc. It can be used to test ergonomics, aesthetic features of the product etc. Clay is also very useful for grips and handles etc.
What is a presentation board and where are there used?
A presentation board normally displays high-quality drawings, rendering etc. This is used to present ideas to the client or the public to gain interest and understanding of the design and features.
