An anti-gravity space vehicle?

Jay Honeck opined

AvWeb reported today that a patent has been issued for an anti-gravity space
ship. At first I thought it was a joke, but a little Googling came up with
this: (Sorry for the bizarre formatting):
************************************************* *
USPTO issues anti-gravity patent
US 6,960,975 titled "Space vehicle propelled by the pressure of inflationary
vacuum state," has a first claim
lots snipped
"[Approving these kind of patents can] make it easier for scam artists to
con people if they can get patents for screwball ideas."

But despite their best efforts, mistakes are inevitable and patents may be
granted to unworkable ideas. Some 5,000 examiners must currently handle a
load of 350,000 applications per year.

If you haven't realized it yet, the Patent Office is severely broken. Almost
anything can be patented.


-ash
Cthulhu in 2005!
Why wait for nature?

Patented, yes. Enforced, no. What good is an unenforceable patent??
-Robert

It gets you your moment of fame. Hmmmm, what will I patent???????




Robert M. Gary wrote:

Patented, yes. Enforced, no. What good is an unenforceable patent??
-Robert

("The Visitor" wrote)
Patented, yes. Enforced, no. What good is an unenforceable patent??

It gets you your moment of fame. Hmmmm, what will I patent???????


Interesting (aviation!) patent history - both pages, 1 & 2.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?V23D12A2C
(Same link as below ...wait for it)

Popular Mechanics - Jay Leno.
An Unknown American Classic
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/sub_coll_leno/1302921.html?page=1&c=y

(From page 1)
[Morey received his first patent before 1800 for a rotating, steam-powered
cooking spit. It was one of the first patents ever issued in the United
States, and it was signed by George Washington. While his contemporary
inventors were being granted patents for handy things like "improvements in
windmills" (Joseph Pope, 1793) and "an improved way of making nails" (Jared
Byington, 1796), Morey took out a patent for a device that "raised water by
the use of wind."

Sadly, few people have ever heard of this guy.]


(From page 2)
[Morey was granted a patent for his "Gas or Vapor" engine in 1826. This time
it was signed by President John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay, secretary of
state. That'd be like Bush and Powell signing a patent today.

Here's the best part: Samuel Morey had a strong premonition of the future
ramifications of his invention. "I see no reason," he wrote, "why it may not
be applied with the greatest advantage in drawing carriages on good roads
and railways and particularly for giving what seems to be much wanted
direction and velocity to balloons."]


Montblack

Interesting trivia.

But:

On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 22:09:10 -0600, "Montblack"
wrote in
::

That'd be like Bush and Powell signing a patent today.

Actually, that would be like yesterday. Today it would be Rice not
Powell. :-)

Robert M. Gary opined

Patented, yes. Enforced, no. What good is an unenforceable patent??
-Robert

One of the things that have been patented is the xor cursor. SOmething that had
been in use for years before the patent was issued. It was/is a pain and
expensive to break such stupidities.


-ash
Cthulhu in 2005!
Why wait for nature?