US Patent 6469 - Abraham Lincoln

Letters Patent No. 6,469, dated May 22, 1849; application filed March 10, 1849.

"To all whom it may concern:
  Be it know that I, Abraham Lincoln, of Springfield, in the County of Sangamon, in the State of Illinois, have invented a new and improved manner of combining adjustable buoyant air chambers with a steamboat or other vessel for the purpose of enabling their draught water to be readily lessened to enable them to pass over bars, or through shallow water, without discharging their cargoes;..."

Survey: Which is the Real Cranberry?

Cranberries are a staple of Thanksgiving Dinner.  But which is the proper way to serve and consume this quintessential side dish; canned or fresh? Are 'real' cranberries only cooked and served straight from the produce isle or is it not 'real' cranberry unless in the form of a can-shaped log carved into perfect circular slices?


Take the survey:

Which is the proper way to serve Cranberries at Thanksgiving?

Cranberry Trivia

1. The high nutrient and anti-oxidant content of cranberries has many producers marketing them as 'super fruits'.  They also help prevent Urinary Tract Infections. Bonus.
2. Cranberries are native to North America. The Pilgrims called them 'Craneberries'. Whalers used to take them to sea to prevent scurvy.
3.  The Irish band The Cranberries were originally called Cranberry Saw Us, a pun on Cranberry Sauce.
4. Canned cranberry sauce will last for 1-2 years if unopened.  So if you don't get through all of your cranberry logs this Thanksgiving, save 'em for next year's feast...

The Greatest Pet Patents Ever

Searching for the perfect Christmas gift for your pet? Check out these two patented inventions.

Does your pet always seem to wake up too early, or want to go out in the middle of the night? Maybe you two aren't on the same schedule because his time is faster than human time. Well its a good thing that US Patent 5023850 has the answer:

"... clock, watch, and the like for keeping time at an animal's rate, defined in terms of a multiple of human rate by dividing the average lifetime of a particular animal into the average lifetime of a human being. The multiple for dogs is seven..."

Or if finding ways to pass the time or getting some exercise is more of the issue, try US Patent 6701872:

"An apparatus for exercising a curious animal such as a housecat comprises a laser pointer mounted on a shaft driven by a geared motor mounted on a pedestal ... the laser pointer may be mounted on the head of an oscillatory air circulation fan..."

Wondering why you didn't think of these?