OT: Alabama receives patent for popup sideline medical tent
February 12th, 2018 at 10:34 PM ^
Sponsored by Viagra.
February 13th, 2018 at 5:11 PM ^
I sometimes create a pop up tent in bed when I get morning wood.
And I'll see myself out after at one
February 12th, 2018 at 10:35 PM ^
every outdoor sport from pretty much every level
February 12th, 2018 at 11:18 PM ^
Why? Does every outdoor sport being played have to hide medical work during a game from an opponent and TV cameras? When you see this thing popping up at 8 yr old soccer games then we’re probably pretty fucked as a society.
February 13th, 2018 at 12:40 AM ^
convinces me we are already there.
February 13th, 2018 at 3:41 AM ^
...this wouldn't necessarily preclude someone from using any other tent concept as long as it doesn't violate the patentable portions of this structure.
February 13th, 2018 at 10:15 AM ^
I thought about this when I was reading it - there might be some interesting variations on the concpet now, but of course, some team somewhere will probably overreact and try out some tiny Coleman tent with hilariously bad results.
As for the article, I think there's probably a surprisingly large market for this, especially now that we see games at lower levels of competition becoming a little more sophisticated in their setup.
February 13th, 2018 at 10:35 AM ^
Lower levels? Hell, if Purdue instituted this set-up on the sidelines of Ross-Ade Stadium, they'd advance the quality of their medical facilities by 30 years.
February 13th, 2018 at 5:16 AM ^
If a player is receiving attention by a medical professional then they are a patient and have a right to a reasonable measure of privacy. I’m sure one could make some tie in to HIPAA as well.
February 13th, 2018 at 8:17 AM ^
It's more about giving players privacy while they're looked at. I could certainly see this at every HS football game or games where injuries are more likely to take place. If someone has to, say, take off their pants to look at an injury -- they're not going to want to do that in front of a bunch of people.
February 13th, 2018 at 5:32 PM ^
You could just as easily take the gator back to the locker room for that too.
February 13th, 2018 at 10:54 AM ^
1) why do you care so much
2) If a pee-wee football or soccer teams wants to buy a tent and use it, there is no big issue.
I'm not sure why you're so fired up about this product
February 12th, 2018 at 10:36 PM ^
Damn, I guess they really do have an engineering dean!
February 12th, 2018 at 10:41 PM ^
It's so they can give cash payments in game
February 12th, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^
well SEC football is just more in tents
February 12th, 2018 at 11:17 PM ^
Eye see what you did there
February 13th, 2018 at 12:45 AM ^
Best pun I've seen in a while.
February 13th, 2018 at 9:12 AM ^
I agree, at least tent-atively. But let's not argue about this and rather declare a detente!
February 12th, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^
hide your concussion in style!
February 12th, 2018 at 10:50 PM ^
Be glad Ohio State didn't get the patent. They would have turned it into an outhouse, to replace the coolers.
February 12th, 2018 at 11:28 PM ^
Purdue is interested and would like to subscribe to this newsletter. 2 tents could replace their locker rooms.
February 12th, 2018 at 11:43 PM ^
Well, their medical facilities could use an upgrade.
February 12th, 2018 at 11:02 PM ^
I looked at it. I don't get what had to be patented. I mean, there are dozens of popup tents, from ~$100-250, that come with side curtains. Not sure why something with sides permanently fixed on had to be created...
But hey, congrats to the Mech Eng students...
February 12th, 2018 at 11:03 PM ^
So here you go, issued claim no. 1, for which the University of Alabama now has the right to exclude others from making or selling:
1. A tent frame assembly comprising: a first hub comprising a first pivotable bracket; a second hub comprising a second pivotable bracket, the second hub being separate and spaced apart from the first hub; and at least a first frame member, a second frame member, and a third frame member, each frame member having a first end and a second end, the first ends of at least the second and third frame members being coupled to the first pivotable bracket, and the second ends of at least the second and third frame members being coupled to the second pivotable bracket, wherein: each pivotable bracket is pivotable relative to the first and second hubs, respectively, between an extended position in which at least a portion of each of the second and third frame members are spaced apart from each other and the first frame member and a collapsed position in which the frame members are stacked adjacent each other, each pivotable bracket comprises a first V-shaped plate and a second V-shaped plate, the V-shaped plates being spaced apart, each plate defining openings that align with corresponding openings in the other plate and with a corresponding opening defined through each of the second and third frame members, each of the second and third frame members are pivotably coupled between the V-shaped plates via a frame member fastener, each frame member fastener extending through the corresponding aligned openings in the plates and the respective frame member, the respective frame members being pivotable about the respective frame member fastener, and each pivotable bracket is pivotably coupled to the respective hub via a bracket fastener, wherein each pivotable bracket pivots about the respective bracket fastener.
February 12th, 2018 at 11:10 PM ^
by a surveyor?
February 12th, 2018 at 11:38 PM ^
the only period in that was at the end - that's one sentence!
February 13th, 2018 at 5:25 AM ^
I noticed that, too, Ped. U.
(English 9, mastered)
February 13th, 2018 at 9:00 AM ^
It's almost as if they were following the requirements of some kind of manual for patent examining procedure or something.
February 13th, 2018 at 12:33 PM ^
Source: I am a patent attorney, comprising: a law degree and an undergraduate engineering degree, said law degree comprising a period of about three years at University of Michigan.
February 13th, 2018 at 12:24 AM ^
Us surveyors resent and/or resemble that remark.
February 13th, 2018 at 12:47 AM ^
Serious question: Why did you decide to become a surveyor? Was it so you could be outside while working? I have always wondered how and why people become surveyors. I mean it wasn't even on my radar when I was pondering a career.
February 13th, 2018 at 6:35 AM ^
It's the perfect combination (for me) of being outdoors and using some math/analytical skills. The historical research and evidence gathering can be fascinating at times. 30 years and I honestly can't think of anything I'd rather do.
February 12th, 2018 at 11:48 PM ^
That patent sucks. Way too specified to enforce IMO. Doesn't pass the obviousness test.
I'd love to see like LSU "infringe" it and challenge the claim in court tbh.
February 12th, 2018 at 11:13 PM ^
It's basically an ice fishing shanty but bigger. Most of them have the same exact setup where you can flip the roof and sidewalls over you once your inside.
February 12th, 2018 at 11:33 PM ^
When I hear “patent” and engineers, I think more of stuff like this
https://youtu.be/fUyU3lKzoio
February 12th, 2018 at 11:55 PM ^
what it says about the sport or its future when you need on of these on your sideline.
Of course, the networks will be providing us "exclusive excess" to the inside of the tents before a year is out.
February 13th, 2018 at 3:49 AM ^
Intended or not
February 13th, 2018 at 5:02 AM ^
Brought to you by AT&T, in association with Honda and Papa Johns. The Bud Light tent cam will be on every NFL sideline this fall.
February 13th, 2018 at 12:51 AM ^
I did the same thing over my moms clothes line when I was 5!
February 13th, 2018 at 6:14 AM ^
except the only equipment inside were portable coolers in case players needed to take a dump during the game.
February 13th, 2018 at 7:09 AM ^
Hookers in the SEC rejoice! They can now work on the sidelines of games on Saturday.
February 13th, 2018 at 7:20 AM ^
Are they going to patent independent networks of boosters paying recruits and players in waffle houses?
February 13th, 2018 at 10:09 AM ^
it's a tent with medical equipment in it. you could do the same thing in a large camping tent. congrats on the patent.
February 13th, 2018 at 10:51 AM ^
To hide their misdeeds.
February 13th, 2018 at 11:29 AM ^
That's awesome. Way to encourage people kids.