The patent link is posted here at http://www.google.com/patents/US4344424.
Anti-eating face mask was created to prevent the growing problem of obesity. Lucy L. Barmby of Sacramento is credited as making this anti eating face mask. To describe what it does, this is the exact excerpt from USPTO stating what it does. "An anti-eating face mask which includes a cup-shaped member conforming to the shape of the mouth and chin area of the user, together with a hoop member and straps detachably engageable with a user's head for mounting the cup-shaped member in overlying relationship with the user's mouth and chin area under the nose thereby preventing the ingestion of food by the user."
After researching many patents out there, this is one of the top ten silly patents that I was able to find. It's interesting that someone invented this to prevent people from eating to prevent obesity. I find it amusing because one can just take the mask off in order to eat. It will be difficult, but I don't see why not. It's not obvious because I believe we wouldn't have thought of an idea to prevent food from going into our mouth. Based on my research, no prior art seemed to have existed regarding this invention. As such, patent is valid. Personally, I am not sure who would actually purchase this and use it on their daily lives. This should be suitable for weight-loss companies that are trying to develop a suitable program.
Yes, there definitely is a big flaw here: being able to take off the cup. As for prior art, couldn't one just use a mask or any other product that overs the mouth for the same purpose?
ReplyDeleteI thought wearing a mask would constitute a prior art, but it looks like the way it's structured, it's more complicated than wearing a mask. I will post a photo in a second to show you that. In any way, it's a step towards innovation, in my opinion. Not quite there though. I wonder if they actually sold this to anyone.
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