Out of 26 million Texans, you may have an idea to change the world. You may have had several ideas to change the world. But only a tiny minority of you pushed through the U.S. Patent office from application to successful patent. We've seen Texans change the world many times over. Jack Kilby did it with Texas Instruments in 1958 with the integrated circuit, causing the start of the digital revolution, which, in part, is why you can read these words over your electronic device.
Over the last few years, Texas Business has brought its feature: Texas Business Patent of the Day. This list is of the ones that were either extremely clever, odd or strange. One thing becomes apparent from these patents and the patent that runs daily in Texas Business—Texans have a unique mind set.
Though the history of the Corn Dog is disputed, the State Fair of Texas claims to have introduced the Corny Dog sometime between 1938 and 1942. As a paean to that invention that now sits in the freezer section of every grocery store in the southwest, here are the fried foods the State Fair of Texas has introduced, or tried to introduce, in the last seven years.
Dead Texas musicians live on every time you hear their songs. Their songs play everywhere, so the dead Texas musicians appear to be immortal. Here's the short list.
Don't get caught up with John Wayne religion. For one thing, he's not Texan. He's in some fine movies involving Texas, most notably The Searchers, but none of his movies can make the best cut of Texas movies. Here's the short list.
Unsung Texas Business Journalists Mention that one is a reporter, and there's a spark of interest. Mention that one is a business news reporter, and watch the eyes glaze over. Except to the players, business and economic journalists are unappreciated. While many wish to become sports reporters when they grow up, most do not realize that business journalists cover the Real Game. Mention that reporter covers business, and watch the eyes glaze over. A toast to these below on the short list and the numerous unnamed ones slogging away. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Mexican Food: The Short List No, we're not going to debate the difference between Tex-Mex, Mex-Tex, Mexican and Texican food. Just know these establishments are the pinnacle of Texas Mexican fare. No brag, just fact. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Best Texas Burgers Texas Burgers. . While a hamburger is merely sustenance and gratification for a meal, the memory a good Texas burger can give rise to Homeric odes. The short list. Full Story » TexasBusiness.com
Patti L. Nethery of Conroe, Texas recently received U.S. Patent 8,186,073 for “Quilting Template and Ruler.”
Texas Business Patent of the Day: Quilting isn’t a craft thought to be on the cutting edge of technology. However, a Texas woman has devised an easier way to make quilts.
Patti L. Nethery of Conroe, Texas recently received U.S. Patent 8,186,073 for “Quilting Template and Ruler.”
Nethery applied for the patent on October 29, 2010.
Nethery’s invention relates to a combined quilting template and ruler that is used for marking sewing and cutting lines on fabric for making a plurality of half square triangle pieces used for forming patterns in quilts, according to the patent document.
The ruler can also be used as a cutting edge for initially cutting the bulk fabric into the appropriate size for formation of the fabric blank that will be utilized for creating the individual half square triangles.
A template and method for making snowball blocks is also disclosed.
Half square stencil sets are available that include cutting and sewing lines. They are made of very thin flexible plastic material that is not suitable for functioning as a straight edge for cutting and they are not laid out in such a manner as to allow stitching without cutting the thread.
Typically in quilting, a quilter cuts out the fabric pieces, sews the fabric pieces together to form a quilt block, "squares up" the quilt block, and sews each quilt block together forming a quilt top.
Nethery’s invention includes a combined template and ruler in a single device that can be used to lay out the cutting and stitching pattern and also can be used as a ruler for initially cutting the material and then as a ruler for cutting the sewn material into a plurality of half square triangles.
Use of this device substantially reduces that amount of time required to construct half square triangles from bulk material.
With the combination ruler and template of the invention, a quilter sews the fabric base following a marked design, cuts apart the fabric pieces formed with the marked and sewn design, and sews the fabric pieces together to form a block. The precision built into the rules/templates speeds up the process and eliminates the "squaring up step."
The Texas News Scrawl is a handy reference to stories Texas Business recommends from other news sources. Some of the stories that Texas Business currently suggests include: America’s greatest threat: Unsafe work conditions; The West News proves the value of a great weekly newspaper in a community torn up with grief and chaos; Chinese investors checking out Texas, Austin; Texas makes bounce house operators carry liability coverage, but not plants like West Fertilizer; bSpaceX’s Grasshopper leaping to NM spaceport;American Airlines, US Airways to name post-merger leadership within weeks; Texas power cushion seen at lowest level in a decade; Media outlets reflect Houston's diversity; and more.
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