If patents could indicate anything about a business community, then Springfield is a place for fishing, food and manufacturing – and sometimes all three rolled into one.
A review of patents on file with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database shows a recurring theme of inventions for the outdoors, food production and industrial manufacturing sectors coming from the Queen City.
According to the searchable database, there were 1,266 patents approved between 1976 and Nov. 18 that contain “Springfield, MO” in the filing. There are another 1,421 patent applications with “Springfield, MO” on file with the federal office.
Now, not all of these patents originated in Springfield.
Sometimes, one of the inventors or applicants lives in Springfield or the assigned company does business in Springfield. Other times, the inventor cites the previous work of a company in Springfield or the potential to sell to a company in Springfield. Mid-America Dairymen Inc., Bass Pro Shops, Dairy Farmers of America and Tracker Marine are cited often.
Common local inventions in manufacturing are belt tensioners, pulleys, suspension systems, torque convertors and axle assemblies. Food items created are frozen yogurt mixes, animal feed, a drive-in window, snacks and hot oil fryers. Outdoors enthusiasts wax creatively on fishing rod holders, bird feeders, a pontoon boat, a golfing divot repair device, hunting stands and fish finders.
In others, it’s clear the imaginations run wild. Isn’t that what’s great about inventions? There is no limit to an idea. Of course, realities such as funding, markets and production come into play, but at the patent office, there is no such policing.
So let’s run wild with a few of the standout patents, maybe even a few oddballs, hailing from Springfield.
• “Ice cream sandwich” Patent No. D283,748, issued to James Duty in 1983. Not the original ice cream sandwich, of course, but this one is imprinted with the design of an apparent replica Arkansas Razorbacks logo. Eat your heart out, Mizzou Tigers fans. Woo pig sooie!
• “Snowball making device” Patent No. 5,080,572, issued to David Sage in 1992. This has stocking stuffer all over it.
• “Toilet seat lifting aid” Patent No. 4,850,062, issued to Phillip Gibson and Ival McNutt in 1989. Men never have to touch the underside of a toilet seat again … like the StepNpull on doors but for our rumps.
• “Musical wall hanging” Patent No. 4,813,329, issued to Jim Griffin in 1989. The forerunner to the animatronic Big Mouth Billy Bass singing fish, in the shape of a musical note.
• “Bird feeder with squirrel guard” Patent No. 4,867,104, issued to Lonnie Vandiver in 1989. For those pesky rodents; would save on BB gun ammunition.
• “Birdfeeder attached to a mailbox” Patent No. 4,942,845, issued to Fred Lane in 1990. If squirrel fighting is not your thing, let the mailman contend with them.
• “Doll” Patent No. D531,235, issued to Paula Garcia, Carter Bryant and Margaret Leahy in 2006. Specifically, it’s the Bratz doll. Yes, there is a Springfield connection in the person of Bryant, who says he got the idea for the doe-eyed sassy dolls after driving past Kickapoo High School in 1998.
• “Aerobic skipping exercise device” Patent No. 4,813,665, issued to Jim Carr in 1989. It’s a swinging bar over a mat; keep your feet moving or it’s a face plant for you. The patent abstract notes, “A light beam may be utilized to replace the flexible rod.”
• “Apparatus for measuring fish” Patent No. 5,097,617, issued to Gene Craven in 1992. No more fish tales.
• “Giraffe handling chute” Patent No. 5,441,016, issued to Tod Ricketts in 1995. Now, that’s a niche market.
• “Flotation cushion for use by pregnant women” Patent No. D350,586, issued to Nancy Francis in 1994.Get comfortable and sun-tanned, at least on one side.
• “Outer wrap clothing” Patent No. 5,535,449, issued to Nancy Dickey in 1996. Almost a Snuggie; exclusively for kids.
Maybe this walk through patent alley might spur on another new invention in Springfield. The sky’s the limit.
Springfield Business Journal Editor Eric Olson can be reached at eolson@sbj.net.[[In-content Ad]]
