[Trombone-l] Don't pull your F slide out too far

[Fred Hudson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Tall" <davetall at btrb.com>
<snip>
>
> I'm comforted to know that the USPTO's policy of granting trivial
> patents for inventions with prior art and/or obvious to someone skilled
> in the subject isn't limited to software and business process patents,
> but includes stunning and heretofore unimagined inventions such as a
> bass trombone with a single valve tuned to Eb.
>
> Mr. Leonard also has a patent on an inline bass trombone with the thumb
> valve tuned to a minor third and the finger valve tuned to
> "approximately six semitones".
>
> These are nearly as impressive as patent 6368227, "Method of swinging on
> a swing", and patent 5443036, "Method of exercising a cat" (using a
> laser pointer).
>
> What a country!
>

As a veteran of the airbag gas-generator development wars, I would add that 
to the list for which trivial patents are issued.

I once had a colleague whose mantra was "You can't patent sunshine". 
Apparently now you can!

Fred H