Local Farmer's Patent Makes History

As a patent lawyer, I rarely mention my profession to strangers, because it too often leads to “idea” conversations. But yesterday, I let down my guard at farmer Rod Slamp’s farm stand outside Davis, Illinois. Rod mentioned that his father had a patent on a hay rake. The original document was long lost, and Rod said he “never thought in a hundred years” he’d ever see it again. I found a copy for him. The patent was filed 77 years ago on Dec. 10, 1941 (three days after an infamous Sunday). I recognized the name of patent attorney Clarence A. O’Brien from a letter opener I acquired a few years ago. Attorney O'Brien's mailing address was simply “Opposite U.S. Patent Office, Washington, D.C.” As Rod says, you “meet the most interesting people” at a farm stand. Some of those people, like Rod's father, make history with their patented inventions.