New Machine Review - - Lf Quantum

[volusiano]

Originally Posted by fastdunn

Actually, the idea behind this tensioner of Swingway or LF is pretty simple. It's about having variable leverage radius (proportional to drop angle). I thought manufacturers don't make one due to copy right issue. Makes me wonder why other manufacturers don't do it now but LF does it.

I wonder the same thing myself. Unless LF came up with a completely different idea than this that wouldn't infringe on SW's patent. But then I would be very curious to understand what the new LF idea is and whether they've patented it or not.

[SW Stringer]

Originally Posted by volusiano

I wonder the same thing myself. Unless LF came up with a completely different idea than this that wouldn't infringe on SW's patent. But then I would be very curious to understand what the new LF idea is and whether they've patented it or not.

Last time I checked the United States Patent and Trademark website for filings, neither SW nor LF had filed for patent protection on anything. LF also let it's trademark on the term L A S E R F I B R E expire. This was a couple months ago. Typically it takes about two years from filing to issuance of a patent if the filing meets muster. Once a product is available to the public it's too late to file for patent protection. The lack of an issued patent in the US (by SW) is the reason why LF can blatently and legally copy anything that SW has produced.

[volusiano]

Originally Posted by SW Stringer

Last time I checked the United States Patent and Trademark website for filings, neither SW nor LF had filed for patent protection on anything. LF also let it's trademark on the term L A S E R F I B R E expire. This was a couple months ago. Typically it takes about two years from filing to issuance of a patent if the filing meets muster. Once a product is available to the public it's too late to file for patent protection. The lack of an issued patent in the US (by SW) is the reason why LF can blatently and legally copy anything that SW has produced.

Hm, I wonder why other stringing machine manufacturers don't take advantage of this and come up with their own design based on the same principle to compete with this. It shouldn't be too hard to modify their drop weight design to incorporate this in.

[SethR]

The new LF tensioner is not anything like the SW tensioner. I know, I have the new one and had the old one. It is completely different. Alot easier to use. Better access to the griper. It takes the slack out of the string. Lighter to work. There is no other way to describe it but totally different. But according to LF, they do have a patent pending.

[Il Mostro]

Originally Posted by SethR

The new LF tensioner is not anything like the SW tensioner. I know, I have the new one and had the old one. It is completely different. Alot easier to use. Better access to the griper. It takes the slack out of the string. Lighter to work. There is no other way to describe it but totally different. But according to LF, they do have a patent pending.

Since the whole Quantum thing has been dragging on and on, if LF has indeed filed for a patent it will have been published for opposition by now (this occurs 6 months after the initial filing) and should be visible online at the US Patent and Trademark Ofiice web site. The filing, if it exists, would likely be under LF or Tim's name (if he is the owner of the company and/or the the idea). I am not motivated enough to do the search, but it is simple enough should anyone want to confirm this.

[SethR]

You guys got my curiosity up. I just asked and here is their answer.

Seth

Hey Seth. It would be highly inappropriate for us to discuss matters of Stringway. I can tell you that there are currently 2 US provisional patents pending for the Smart Weight tensioning system. In a nutshell, this common and routine patent application process provides for full patent pending protection during the 12 month time frame allowed for the non-provisional patent application to be finalized. It also allows for the product to be made available for sale during the patent pending process of both the provisional and non-provisional application periods. We are 100% certain of the uniqueness of the design and have absolutely no concerns whatsoever of infringing on whatever other US patents may or may not have ever existed.

While I’m not an expert, I believe only finalized, non-provisional patent applications appear in the USPTO website.

[hollywood9826]

Thats reads like a very nice cut and paste job from an email his lawyer sent him on how to react to questions regarding the topic

[Il Mostro]

Utility patent or design patent? Huge difference. Since they use the word "design", I wonder. FYI, design patents are virtually useless for this type of application (in terms of intellectual property protection), other than being able to claim that it is a "patented" product. Unless they have been completely asleep at the wheel, it would have been published by now. And you can bet your *** that patent infringement/protection has to have been top of mind all along, given LF's relationship with SW and that company's patented products. If there was a line on LF in Las Vegas, you could call BS on every statement they make and make a mint.

[AmericanTemplar]

Originally Posted by Il Mostro

Utility patent or design patent? Huge difference. Since they use the word "design", I wonder. FYI, design patents are virtually useless for this type of application (in terms of intellectual property protection), other than being able to claim that it is a "patented" product. Unless they have been completely asleep at the wheel, it would have been published by now. And you can bet your *** that patent infringement/protection has to have been top of mind all along, given LF's relationship with SW and that company's patented products. If there was a line on LF in Las Vegas, you could call BS on every statement they make and make a mint.

Good stuff Il Mostro! You're posts have been quality.