Patentsomnia

A Threaded Bolt (or a Screw), Two Washers, and a Nut…

Sun, 24 May 2026 02:31:34 GMT

This week we’re looking at body piercing technology, from a medical piercing device of the 1950s to an interesting 21st Century use for facial piercings.

The second one is especially full of repetition, so is very boring to put you to sleep…until you think about what the actual invention is. (Get through this one and this episode title will all make sense.)

For a preview of a later episode, check out the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization's annual page for absurd patents:

https://www.wipo.int/en/web/patents/2025-patent-picks

(Let me know if there's one you'd like to hear!

patentsomnia@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575451991080

https://patents.google.com/

US 2,568,207 SURGICAL PIERCING DEVICE

US 7,066,592 FRAMELESS GLASSES ATTACHING TO BODY

Take Me Out to the Ball Game...

Sat, 16 May 2026 01:30:03 GMT

America’s Favorite Pastime in the 1800s led to several patents for baseball gear and related items. Tonight’s selections focus on three patents directed to game simulations, either to bring the thrill of a game at home or to fans following a game at a distance. Play ball!

https://patents.google.com/

US No. 540,197 GAME BOARD

US No. 292,709 CHECKER AND BASE BALL COMBINATION GAME

US No. 543,851 BASE BALL GAME ILLUSTRATING APPARATUS

How a GE Scientist and a Hollywood Starlet Impacted WWII and Today (Part 2 of 2)

Sat, 09 May 2026 18:40:14 GMT

“Tactical to Practical” – when technologies perhaps originally developed for military use make their way into common civilian life. Continuing from last week, we have the second of two such inventions, each by a brilliant woman who was a trailblazer in her field, as well as an inductee of the Inventors Hall of Fame (www.invent.org). To learn more, www.patents.google.com

US No. 2,220,860 FILM STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF PREPARATION

https://www.invent.org/inductees/katharine-burr-blodgett

US No. 2,292,387 SECRET COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

https://www.invent.org/inductees/hedy-lamarr

How a GE Scientist and a Hollywood Starlet Impacted WWII and Today (Part 1 of 2)

Sat, 02 May 2026 02:38:27 GMT

“Tactical to Practical” – when technologies perhaps originally developed for military use make their way into common civilian life. Tonight we have the first in a series of two such inventions, each by a brilliant woman who was a trailblazer in her field, as well as an inductee into the Inventors Hall of Fame (www.invent.org).

To learn more, www.patents.google.com

Part 1: US No. 2,220,860 FILM STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF PREPARATION

https://www.invent.org/inductees/katharine-burr-blodgett

Part 2: US No. 2,292,387 SECRET COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

https://www.invent.org/inductees/hedy-lamarr

I'm Forever Your Girl

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 02:51:55 GMT

Continuing from last week, we have another 80’s icon/inventor: Paula Abdul! Note that this one is a published patent application, but not an issued patent. It looks like it was abandoned for failure to respond to an Office Action. However, patent applications are published after 18 months, so we can still enjoy it.

For more info:

https://patents.google.com/

US Application No. 20090196451A1 DYNAMIC MICROPHONE SUPPORT APPARATUS

Check out Paula’s moves here (the tap intro is still a classic):

“Straight Up” original video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El1kgCqD7Xk

Other Than Being Musical Icons, What Do Eddie Van Halen and Michael Jackson Have in Common?

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:03:22 GMT

So what else to Eddie Van Halen and Michael Jackson have in common?

Both of them invented devices related to their signature performance elements and were granted patents for their innovations.

If you'd like to learn more:

https://patents.google.com/

US No. 4,656,917 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SUPPORT

Eddie Van Halen's guitar "tapping technique"

“Eruption” clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-H2laU7sQU

US No. 5,255,452 METHOD AND MEANS FOR CREATING AN ANTI-GRAVITY ILLUSION

Michael Jackson's "lean"

https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/22/health/michael-jackson-dance-moves

(If you have any suggestions for other artists and their patents, drop me a message at patentsomnia@gmail.com or on my Facebook page.

Early 20th Century Basketball Inventions

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:02:44 GMT

Good evening. Tonight we'll be listening to a few brilliant innovations in the art area of Basketball Equipment:

US No. 1,187,029 BASKET BALL AND SIMILAR PLAYING BALL

US No. 1,757,350 BASKET BALL BASKET SUSPENSION

US No. 2,413,952 ELECTRIC RECORDING OF BASKETBALL GOALS

If you would like to read these for yourself or see the accompanying drawings, you can look them up on Google Patent Search: https://patents.google.com/

Also, if there is a subject you would like to hear, please check out my Facebook page here.

Thanks for listening, and good sleep...

Bed Innovations from the Turn of the Century

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:25:42 GMT

Tonight we'll read a set of patents from the late 1800s-early 1900s in the art area of Beds. If you'd like to see the drawings or read them for yourself, go to https://patents.google.com/ and enter the number. Tonight's are as follows:

US No. 665,243 MEDICAL BED

US No. 559,778 BED LOUNGE

US 584,699STUDIO FOLDING BED

Good night and good sleep...

Trailer

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:51:46 GMT

Good Evening, and welcome to Patentsomnia, a podcast that helps put you to sleep with the soothing voice of a Patent Attorney reading actual issued patents from the last 200 years.