Thank you Roger for that clarification. <br><br>It's just occurred to me that, at the least, you have prevented someone else from developing, patenting, and marketing the idea, even while offering to turn a blind eye to someone who goes to Jo-Ann Fabrics when that proves more expeditious for the tech and/or the customer. For my part, I stated earlier I will simply order the DC undercover as a convenience, but now also as a courtesy.
<br><br>Paul Bruesch<br>Stillwater, MN<br><br><div><span class="gmail_quote">On 5/1/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Roger Wheelock</b> <<a href="mailto:roger@dampp-chaser.com">roger@dampp-chaser.com</a>> wrote:</span>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div bgcolor="#ffffff">
<div>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Dear List,</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Avery has asked that I post to the
list regarding the Dampp-Chaser patent on the undercover and the backside
cover.<span> </span>As a manufacturer, we
maintain a strong business relationship with our local patent attorneys.<span> </span>When we come up with a new idea we get
their law firm involved.<span> </span>They
complete an initial evaluation of potential patentability.<span> </span>If they make a positive recommendation,
we work with them to complete an application.<span> </span>They obviously use their "special"
terminology and illustrations that deliver a document designed to meet a
government patent inspector's expectations.<span> </span>Then we enter into a review and appeal
process that after some (often seemingly endless) period of time can result in a
patent being issued.<span> </span>Sometimes we
are told that the idea is obvious and not patentable at the end of this
journey.<span> </span>Costs are considerable as
the attorneys charge by the minute at a rate equivalent to $250 per
hour.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Patents are often drafted to include
"anything under the sun" type claims.<span>
</span>Then some claims get rejected during the iterative review process.<span> </span>The patent as issued can then have some
inconsistencies within the document based on these activities.<span> </span>With regard to the patent under
discussion, I believe we had a long list of materials for use as an undercover
or backside cover and tried to achieve maximum material design freedom in the
final document subject to the judgments of the patent
inspector.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">The Mylar was initially used on
upright pianos, but was never tried on a grand.<span> </span>We feel that our current material falls
within the scope of the patent as do most materials purchased at fabric stores,
but others may disagree.<span> </span>We have
heard the argument that the patent was issued for an obvious idea.<span> </span>Indeed this topic is in the news with a
recent Supreme Court ruling saying that too many patents have been issued for
obvious ideas.<span> </span>With these changes
in the air, critics of our patent may have a means to "reverse" it in the
future………if they have the time, energy and money to participate in the
process.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Kindly note we have not been pushy
about the patent.<span> </span>In the numerous
training programs we conduct I simply mention the patent, explain that we are
not the patent police, and ask technicians to do what they feel is right.
</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Our intention was and is to develop
a climate control system that provides maximum benefit to the piano.<span> </span>I was skeptical of the undercover
benefit at first, but over the years I have seen it improve system performance
in many grand installations.<span> </span>In
this regard, we are considering making it standard equipment in the grand
systems sold in </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Europe</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">.<span> </span>I do appreciate the kind comments about
our product in this thread that has certainly morphed from a data logger
discussion.<span> </span>I also thank you for
your support of our organization over the years.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Sincerely,</span></p><span class="sg">
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Roger Wheelock,
VP</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Dampp-Chaser
Corporation</span></p></span></div><div><span class="e" id="q_11248511df0ef1ab_3">
<blockquote dir="ltr" style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px;">
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="background: rgb(228, 228, 228) none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
<b>From:</b>
<a title="avery1@houston.rr.com" href="mailto:avery1@houston.rr.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">Avery</a>
</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>To:</b> <a title="pianotech@ptg.org" href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
Pianotech List</a> </div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>Sent:</b> Monday, April 30, 2007 11:21
PM</div>
<div style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"><b>Subject:</b> Re: Dampp-Chaser Patent
#6,133,519</div>
<div><br></div><font size="3">John & others, <br><br>I just sent this to
Roger Wheelock at Dampp-Chaser. Maybe he'll have something<br>to say.
<br><br>Avery <br><br>At 08:54 PM 4/30/2007, you wrote:<br>
</font><blockquote cite="http://" type="cite"><font size="3">Paul,<br><br>I looked at this
last night. (<a href="http://www.uspto.gov" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">www.uspto.gov</a>) It appears to be the only<br>patent for
a cover to be used in conjunction with a DC system. I<br>didn't look
everywhere, but this was one of the three patents I found<br>for
Dampp-Chaser Corp.<br><br>Anyway, what this appears to be talking about is
the older way of<br>doing it with the mylar type plastic material. I think I
installed<br>only one of those, as it was right around the time that I
started<br>working full-time as a piano tech.<br><br>The undercover in use
now is speaker fabric.<br><br>There is a possibility that there might be a
patent pending. Maybe<br>someone could contact Dampp-Chaser and find out. Or
maybe someone from<br>there will comment here on the list.<br><br>There are
a number of us who want to abide by the law, and it would be<br>helpful to
know exactly what that is.<br><br>JF<br><br>P.S. After reading the patent
lingo, one thing I hope I never have to<br>become is a patent lawyer.
Ugh! :-) No offense to any of you who<br>like that kind of
thing.<br><br>On 4/30/07, paul bruesch <<a href="mailto:tunergeek@gmail.com" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">tunergeek@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
</font><blockquote cite="http://" type="cite"><font size="3">I found the Dampp-Chaser's
patent online:<br><a href="http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6133519.pdf" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6133519.pdf</a><br>(you
might have to create an account to look at the pdf, for some
darned<br>reason)<br><br>According to the abstract, the under/back cover
patent is for a "...moisture<br>impervious aperture free sheet...".
In the detail of the patent write-up,<br>under "Background of the
Invention" it specifies "MYLAR or felt" (caps<br>theirs) "... having a
plurality of apertures or holes..." (which, to my<br>mind, contradicts the
abstract portion... but then again I'm not a lawyer.)<br><br>So, what sort
of fabric/material is Dampp-Chaser's under/back cover made<br>of?
I'm not a rocket scientist, nor even a acoustic engineer, heck, I'm
not<br>even an RPT, but the idea of Mylar back/under cover on a piano
sounds to me<br>like it would sound a bit bizarre. Wouldn't it?? And
wouldn't felt mute and<br>muffle the sound? (see previous
disclaimers regarding my qualifications)<br><br>I wonder what a "plurality
of apertures or holes" means... several holes<br>and/or apertures in the
cover, or is that phrase intended to include an open<br>weave like speaker
cloth, being what it sounds like many techs are using.<br>An open weave
certainly has a "plurality of holes," but it would make a lot<br>more
better sense to say "open weave fabric."<br><br>Please understand that I'm
not trying to get around anyone's patent, or<br>infringe on same... when
the time comes I'll order the DC cover simply for<br>the convenience of
it, if for no other reason. My curiosity is piqued about<br>this patent
for a new way to use a piece of cloth... and I'd just like
to<br>understand it better. Judging from the amount of traffic generated
by this<br>topic, I don't think I'm alone.<br><br>Paul Bruesch<br>Computer
Geek and PTG Associate, who typically plays by the rules but wants<br>to
understand them. And I don't run with
scissors.<br><br><br></font></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></span></div></div>
</blockquote></div><br>