Assignment #10C | Silly Patents, Part 3

Hi all,

This blog post will detail yet another silly patent. Again, we will be using the same framework as the last two blog posts. Here we go:

Patent 5443036: Method of Exercising a cat

This patent is included in this string of blog posts for the fact that it seems so obvious. This patent details how to exercise a cat, and includes the process for directing a beam of light (i.e. from a laser or hand-held device) onto different areas of the ground. Essentially, the cat would follow the laser beam and run around in an exercising manner.  The cat would move based on instinct, and follow the laser beam due to movement of irregular cells.

In my opinion, this is a ridiculous patent because it is not novel and is obvious. Many forms of prior knowledge have detailed ways in which cats can be trained and exercised using laser beams. Therefore, the fact that this patent included a slight variation (laser beam instead of flashlight) does not merit its existence. The United States Patent and Trademark Office actually admitted to issuing similar patents multiple times, which only further questions the validity of this patent.

Thanks for reading about this patent for the method of exercising a cat! I hope you enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to reading your comments!

Best,
Anish