Interesting Lionel patents

[passenger1955]

I am curious about these 3 patents and how they might impact existing products. Please give them a read if you have a chance.

Throttle with momentum input:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US8030871B1/

Train control throttle with touchscreen:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20150306512A1/

Touchscreen throttle with more than one configurable light icon:
https://patents.justia.com/patent/10434429

[Alan]

Completing the list...
https://patents.google.com/patent/US8807487B2/en

[G8B4Life]

I had a quick breeze through the Lionel patents. I'm so glad I'm not a patent attorney.

My take is that as TR is patenting his stuff as well he's versed enough in patents to know what the score is and we probably have little to worry about.

I also think (remember, not a patent attorney) that yes while a patent protects your invention that doesn't stop (protect your patent) from someone else independently inventing the same outcome as yours with a different process or design.

- Tim

[passenger1955]

My read on this is...

The first patent listed claims any train throttle with an input that allows you to modify the acceleration/deceleration rate of the train.

The third patent listed claims a touch-screen throttle that contains more than one light icon that is configurable.

The 2nd patent listed seems pretty specific (the processor in the touchscreen would need to download train commands from an external device).

I think light icons is a pretty trivial topic.  Its the momentum one that I don't like.

[Tom]

Can someone cut to the chase on this (Patents): what is the problem vis-à-vis Railpro?  I assume it is potentially not good. Is not RailPro patented quite a lot?

[Alan]

RailPro is patented. Link in my post above.

I believe the thread is for novelty and FYI. It was interesting to browse the patents. Since RP successfully obtained a patent there is no threat.