Bears territory, according to iNaturalist

A secure graduation cap for "individuals with curly or voluminous hairstyles." US Patent 12588729

Patents are comics

This is the plot of Brainstorm (1983), starring Christopher Walken and Natalie Wood. (US Patent 12623047, issued this month)

The Chicago River this morning along Horner Park.

Re-usable toy wounds for children. Patented this week by Melissa & Doug. US 12623159

The Obama Presidential Center in B&W

"Ring-shaped sausage and method for manufacturing same" US Patent 12622447, issued yesterday.

"Garment with Wipe Zones" Good idea for exercising, or great idea for snacking? US Patent 12575625 (Nike)

D819,128 - issued in 2018 for a design for a "canvas blank." #DesignPatents

"Device With Adhesive to Aid in Depilatory Wax Removal" US Patent 12611023

I am no doubt throwing away some big dollars by not patenting my baby-head cell-phone holder.

"Shoulder-Mounted Platform System" US Patent 12610923

A 1785 taxonomy of disreputable folks.

A trucker hat, but the logo part is actually a "beer shotgun tool." US Patent 12604940

"Hat with an Opening for Hair" US Patent 12604939

Floral cone of shame, patented yesterday. US 12604867

Languid hot dog, Uptown today.

My story about how 924 sailors died of influenza over the course of a month at Great Lakes Naval Training Station. chicagoreader.com/city-life/th...

D1,066,994 - issued in 2025 for a design for an "onion holder for slicing." #DesignPatents

A pre-rolled cigar that you can break open and refill with your "own special tobacco." Patented by "Blunt Wrap USA" US 10517324

"Rage Relieving Device," patented this week. (A desktop pad that plays a recorded sound when you punch it.) US 12599826

A cord to keep you from losing your cordless earbuds, patented yesterday. US 12599222

Antlers show, then a quiet walk home on a warm, breezy night. 10/10 Chicago experience

"Spacecraft Landing and Recovery Inflation System" US Patent 10479533 (Boeing)

Patented today: enlisting beavers to help extract water-soluble minerals from the ground. US 12593744

Crater Carroll 😢

NASA's 2020 patent on a new method of getting to the Moon. (Designed for probes, not for crewed missions.) US 10696423

stations of the cross, Lower Wacker Drive

"Uplifted Hands Assist Device for Praying Like Moses" Patented today. US 12588778

"The applicant respectfully traverses the rejections. Minor amendments to the claims are made for purposes of clarity."

D10,077 - issued in 1877 for a design for a "milk-jug." #DesignPatents

Shorts with a "beverage pocket" and bottle opener, patented by Wilson Sporting Goods. US 12490790

Pet diaper with a "tail hole." Patented yesterday. US 12575545

The Hormuz memes remind me of how in World War I, the US Navy, working with Thomas Edison, asked inventors to come up with ideas for stopping U-Boats. Immediately, people were like "giant nets!", "electrify the sea!" and the Navy had to tell them to stop.

The nearest Irish pub. I'm good, thanks. ☘️

"Pet Sling Carrier" US Patent 12564275

The worst online safety invention I've seen: "Protect" women by turning their avatars' underwear into hyperlinks that send online creeps to a "punishment site." US Patent 12564791

Today in design patents: D1117623 issued for a system of palletized gas cylinders. Risky Jenga. #DesignPatents

A controlled burn at Montrose point today

Weird find in a flower bed around a historic building on site: a Tent Pin designed by Cecil M Wickstrum. The patent is from 1928-29. Tent poles should be like this now. You can adjust the placement of a tent wall with hooks on the pin. Pretty nifty. Also it’s heavy as hell and built like a hammer.

hiding behind a judicial ruling from decades ago made by a rural judge. we are the only state that actually has this rule it is ridiculous it’s beyond time that cycling is not treated as second class transit it adds fuel to the anti bike fervor and shields poor infra builders missing you Bean

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"Versatile Wearable Item And Method Of Using A Wearable Item" US Patent 12557861

An app that helps you walk in heels. US Patent 12551139

Today was our weekly neighborhood ICE Out protest day. We are getting a lot of honks from commuters on the way home. We got a few honks from Minneapolis police. Minneapolis firefighters always honk.

This is what every patent sounds like

Treat COVID with a tanning bed? US Patent 12551717, issued this week for "Therapy, Treatment, And Process For Photodynamic Inactivation Of COVID-19"

A "child care mannequin," patented this week. US 12551030