Mirage Drive Patent and Expiration

I remember reading somewhere that the Hobie Mirage Drive came out around the 1998 time frame and it is patented world wide. My understanding is that patents last between 14-20 years depending on what type of patent it is. So if the above assumptions are correct, then theoretically the Mirage Drive patent only has a few years left of protection before other companies can copy it's design.

Wouldn't it be great if a similar peddle drive system could be utilized on a Malibu S14 or a Tarpon 14? The Mirage Drive is what sold me to getting my Outback, but other than that I think it's not as great a boat as it could be if there was competition from other manufacturers. Not only that, Hobie is kind of like the Apple of Kayaks - their brand is very expensive and because there is not much alternative, we're stuck paying the big bucks. If you compare a Revo w/o the peddle to a Tarpon or a Trident, which one would you choose?

I for one would love to see the peddle system on other kayaks such that (1) we can have options to chose from and (2) the Mirage Drive won't cost $505.

No thanks,
Got a Kayak to paddle and exercise my arms. I already have a bicycle and lounge chair at home.

Sent from my phone cause I can

Looks to me like the patent was filed in 2005 and granted in 2009.

http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090311926

-Allen

Looks like the utility patent claims priority from a provisional app filed in Aug 2005.

Q:  Why would the PTO issue a patent in 2009 on an application claiming priority from a provisional filed in 2005, if the invention was already for sale in 1998?  Seems like the on-sale bar would apply, by a long shot.  whatevs - I've liked my hobies too much over the years to think that hard about it lol   

viva la hobie

?? im not a patent attorney

its good to be able to paddle and exercise your arms.

Plus, when the patent expires then you can have a $200MM multinational corporation make peddle drives on three different kayak brands as well as your fishfiner, gps, trolling motor, downrigger, paddle, pfd, diving gear and camping gear.

Its good for business, its the American way. 

they will just renew the patent.

they will just renew the patent.

Renewing a patent does not make it indefinite.  In the US, you have to regularly renew a patent to keep it current.  It still expires 20 years from the filing date, even if you renew it.

Errrr ... I think ....

-Allen

I love to paddle too, that's why I have an SC as my first yak. However I love the advantage of jigging my iron and "trolling" along the edge of the kelp beds for those large lings. Can't really do that with a paddle kayak.

Viva la Hobie!

I love the advantage of jigging my iron and "trolling" along the edge of the kelp beds for those large lings. Can't really do that with a paddle kayak.

 
I must be doing something wrong,
Either that or someone forgot to tell the lings I catch.
 

Patents do not renew.  Patents are issued for a set term (varies depending on the type).  Unless maintained through submission of periodic maintenance payments, patents go abandoned before the full available term.  You cannot buy a term extension (although wouldn't that be something lol)

fees ... pto gotta make that chedda somehow

No thanks,
Got a Kayak to paddle and exercise my arms. I already have a bicycle and lounge chair at home.

Sent from my phone cause I can

I'll keep this stored away somewhere for the day when...when you come over to the dark side.
Then I can say "Told ya so!" 
Then you will shake your head saying, "Why didn't I listen sooner?? Oh so many lost years." 

That's what happend with the little honda 50 engine the paten exp and bam tons of junk Honda replicas flood the market

I must be doing something wrong,

Yeah.  The mouth is too far open on that hawg trough ling.   

-Allen

LOL Hahaha!!!

Sent from my phone cause I can