New Patent Application

**Youngblood** · 02-15-2008, 11:17

I was scanning the USPTO data base and noticed that Tom Hennessy has filed a patent application for his "Rain water collecting accessory for a rain fly or tarp". If you are interested here is the link:

http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...S=ABST/hammock

The patent application number is 20070289667 if that doesn't work.

**angrysparrow** · 02-15-2008, 11:24

Interesting. Amusing.

I've always thought of that device as being a contraption that adds complication where it isn't needed. JMO

**headchange4u** · 02-15-2008, 11:31

Originally Posted by angrysparrow

Interesting. Amusing.

I've always thought of that device as being a contraption that adds complication where it isn't needed. JMO

It could also add some salmonella if bird poop washes off your tarp into your drinking water.

It does seems like a lot of trouble and money to patent something that doesn't seem to be that popular in the first place. How many HH users have or use the water collection thingies?

**warbonnetguy** · 02-15-2008, 11:37

yeah, tarps collect all kinds of stuff, in the spring pollen is the worst, my tarp sometimes gets quite nasty looking, definately wouldn't want to drink the runnoff!

**warbonnetguy** · 02-15-2008, 11:41

hh's patents are his selling points, patented this, patented that, it doesn't matter if the item is any good or not, people see "patented" and assume it is some awesome thing that is worth spending money on. he will probably start selling more of those thingies in a couple months once he can put "patented" next to the picture.

**Brian** · 02-15-2008, 14:30

Originally Posted by headchange4u

It does seems like a lot of trouble and money to patent something that doesn't seem to be that popular in the first place. How many HH users have or use the water collection thingies?

My thoughts exactly. I mean, he must be getting good at this (and have a very friendly patent attorney), but I haven't seen many people using these, nor hear about them using them either. You would think that the patents he has now would be enough to claim "patented products"?

Brian

**Hector** · 02-15-2008, 14:47

Well, I've collected water off a tarp in a pounding rain. Took about eight minutes to fill three 1-liter bottles, what with the shaking hands and all. I mean, I had nothing better to do than soil myself in terror as the lightning strobed around me...

**NCPatrick** · 02-15-2008, 15:12

Originally Posted by Hector

Well, I've collected water off a tarp in a pounding rain. Took about eight minutes to fill three 1-liter bottles, what with the shaking hands and all. I mean, I had nothing better to do than soil myself in terror as the lightning strobed around me...

Whew, sounds really scary. Glad you made it through to tell the tale.

**Coffee** · 02-15-2008, 19:15

I used to think they wouldn't have any use. But I drank rain water off of shelter roofs more than a few times. The trick was to wait until it rained for awhile to wash all the nasties off. I still treated it though. I might be inclined to try it now. I just can't justify it for the little use it would see.

Then again I found a smashed slug this summer in my tarp. Maybe I should rethink it.

Thunder storms are awesome in the hammock. Great story.

**daibutsu** · 02-15-2008, 20:02

I have those funnel things, looked like a good idea while I ordered a hammock. Don't use either those things or the henessy hammock!! Went Speer anyhow. It'll be interesting if the patent examiner doesn't invoke "A skilled artisan in the craft could have crafted this," or whatever that caveat is....