Small Business IP Protection and Management

Impact of KSR v. Teleflex

There has been a substantial amount of commentary on the KSR v. Teleflex decision.  The impact of the decision was expected to be far reaching.  Currently, the USPTO is in the process of training Examiners for examining cases in view of the KSR decision, which means we should know soon what the actual impact will be.  However, based upon recent office actions received, and conversations with Examiners, the impact is not expected to be a big as what was expected.  But we should have the answer soon enough.

First Patent Issued in Toledo

What is the first patent to issue to a Toledo inventor?  A preliminary search shows U.S. Pat. No. 10,606 issued March 7, 1854 to Chauncey D. Woodruff for an Improved Mode of Suspending Eaves-Troughs.  Is it possible that it took 20 years for a patent to issue to a Toledo inventor after Toledo was founded in 1833?  Was there an earlier one?  What is the most famous patent to issue to a Toledo inventor?  Who is Toledo's most famous inventor?