We have not had any Wacky Hatty Inventions lately. It is time for more.
This is a device, Patent # 675,700, June 4, 1901, designed to hide a hearing aid under a hat. In 1901 they were not very discrete. It affords the opportunity of carrying a receiver of unusually large size without attracting attention.
The ear tube is not really discreet.
Is there a modern application for this – forget iPods just keep a boom box under your hat!
You have to be careful if you want to use ideas from these patents as it is very likely they have been improved upon and used in subsequent designs which would have then be newly patented. I am presenting this information for entertainment and information and NOT as legal advice (I am not a lawyer for one thing).
I repeat this information from my previous postings
If you are interested in patent protection you should visit the US Patent Office site. I did not research the patent laws as they applied in 1901. The bottom line is that provided you comply with certain conditions such as continuous filing with prescribed fees, under current laws you are protected for 10 years (twenty years prior to 1989). I am NOT a lawyer and I am definitely not giving you any legal advice. It’s complicated and before you assume you are in the clear you need to research similar patents that might be in force that “improve”on an earlier patent that may not be in force, such as the one in this post. In addition these patent and indeed, copyright (a different thing) laws are different even among the developed nations. So take care!
