 |
| Click for a larger copy |
Per standard Patent Office practice, I present Charlie Sheen's patent: Chapstick Dispensing Apparatus. I say "per standard practice" because, like the USPTO, I'm getting around to this long after everyone else stopped caring about it. For the Office that usually means two years late, but with Charlie Sheen a few weeks appear to have been enough. That's more than enough time for him to get boo'ed off the stage in Detroit and all of his (un-paid) friends to abandon him to the wolves. And in case you didn't know, Sheen's real name is Carlos Irwin Estevez, as evidenced by this patent.
Honestly there's not too much to say about this beyond the fact that Sheen has a patent. It's not as awesome as van Halen's but the subject is much more odd. I guess we know what he talks about when he's finally crashed after a 72 hour drug induced sex-fest with whoever he's paying to tag along with him this month. "Hey baby. I know you're tired and probably worried about getting a UTI but I've got this idea for a rad chapstick holding devices for next time we're in the Bahamas." Don't get me wrong: I'm not judging him for those 72 hour drug induced sex-fests. If anything my sarcasm hides a little jealousy. My bet is most guys won't deny it if they're honest. In any case, it's just a chapstick container that has an attached cap, "tactile protrusions" (element number 130) on the side so it is easier to grip, and a place to attach a lanyard. I guess doing coke by ounce makes it tough to hold onto your lip balm after a while.
 |
| Click for a larger copy |
The cap has a "finger-engaging cradle 102 [attached to] the top cap 100 by a living hinge." By the way, a "living hinge" is a real thing. It's a hinge formed from an integral thin band of material bridging between two thicker materials as opposed to two separate elements joined by a pin, like a door hing.The patent also goes to great lengths to describe the problems with prior lip balms as highlighted to the right. It's worth reading.
On a more procedural note, work has been kicking my ass recently, and these posts take more time to write up than I'd originally thought. So I apologize about the slow pace of updates. And in the event you did get the "tiger balm" reference in the title and still read this far, I commend you and suggest you watch this.
