ECCENTRIC PATENTS

Southland Times, Issue 18962, 8 June 1923, Page 7

ECCENTRIC PATENTS

LOOKING GLASS TO CATCH FISH. The Patent Office at Washington receives some extraordinary applications from eccentric inventors, says a correspondent of the Manchester Guardian. Not long ago an ingenious gentleman patented a looking glass fish bait. It consists of an artificial fish, with a small mirror in its side, and the whole is highly polished. “A fish,” explained the inventor in his specification, “seeing his image upon looking therein, will appear to see another fish approaching him from the opposite side with intent to seize the bait. This will not only arouse his war-like spirit, but will appeal to his greed. He will seize the bait quickly in order to defeat the approaching rival.” The inventor, who appears to consider himself an expert authority on the psychology of fishes, added: “In case the fish is suspected of cowardice, I may make the mirror of convex form in order that the rival or antagonist may appear to be smaller.” Another practically minded person has devised a convenient hat for winter wear. He liked, himself, to walk along the street with his hands in his pockets, and was bothered by the necessity of taking them out in order to lift his hat to ladies of his acquaintance. So he has invented a hat that lifts itself. All he has to do is to lean forward and—hey, presto!— off comes the hat. He leans backward, and on it goes again. Perhaps the greatest curiosity of all, however, is the records of the office in the case of a former “examiner” on its staff who resigned some fifty odd years ago because he had come to the conclusion that there was nothing left for anyone to invent and patent. Therefore, he reasoned, he would soon be thrown out of a job. So he anticipated dismissal by voluntary resignation.