Design Notes for Low Cost "People-powered" Tools

FYI - Here's some information you might find useful in designing Low Cost "People-powered" Tools.

As a start, how about these old "People-powered" Tools patents that have expired due to age (generally more than 20 years old from the filing date). Expired patents are free to use by anyone.
PORTABLE DENTAL ENGINEUS Pat. 236080 - Filed Aug 24, 1880
TREADLE MECHANISM FOR DENTAL ENGINESUS Pat. 229614 - Filed Mar 30, 1880
DENTAL ENGINEUS Pat. 590246 - Filed Mar 17, 1896
DENTAL ENGINEUS Pat. 561561
DENTAL ENGINEUS Pat. 397556 - Filed Jul 30, 1888
COMBINATION DENTAL CHAIR AND ENGINEUS Pat. 1527475 - Filed Nov 22, 1924
DENTAL ENGINEUS Pat. 539645 - Filed Jun 9, 1894
DENTAL ENGINEUS Pat. 550114 - Filed Jan 30, 1895
DENTAL ENGINEUS Pat. 1649181 - Filed Jul 24, 1922
IMPROVEMENT IN DENTAL DRILLSUS Pat. 123559
SAW CHAIN GRINDERUS Pat. 3071026 - Filed May 21, 1959
MOTORUS Pat. 452832
SEWING-MACHINE OR OTHER MOTORUS Pat. 322422 - Filed Jun 1, 1885
MANUAL MOTORUS Pat. 364406
IMPROVEMENT IN SCROLL-SAWING MACHINESUS Pat. 170456 - Filed May 11, 1875
CIRCULAR SAWING MACHINEUS Pat. 355589
TREADLE-POWERUS Pat. 425571

To search for more "People-powered" Tools patents, try the following. Please remember that newer patents are probably not expired, and therefore active.

For a Worldwide search, go to esp@cenet.

1 - In the "International Patent Classification (IPC)" field, copy and paste in the following - a61 OR b25 OR b23 OR b24
2 - In the "Keyword(s) in title or abstract" field, copy and paste in the following - motorless
3 - Press SEARCH. View your results.

For another Worldwide search, go to esp@cenet.
1 - In the "International Patent Classification (IPC)" field, copy and paste in the following - a61 OR b25 OR b23 OR b24
2 - In the "Keyword(s) in title or abstract" field, copy and paste in the following - (treadle* OR human) AND (powered OR driven)
3 - Press SEARCH. View your results.

For the U.S. only, go to U.S. Issued Patents.
1- In the "Query" field, copy and paste in the following - (CCL/173/$ OR CCL/81/$ OR CCL/74/$ OR CCL/83/$ OR CCL/433/$) AND (ABST/(motorless OR treadle$) OR (TTL/motorless OR treadle$))
2 - Press SEARCH. View your results.

For the latest in U.S. only, go to U.S. Published Applications.
1- In the "Query" field, paste in the same search string above.
2- Press SEARCH. View your results.

In addition, here's some other information you might find interesting.
W.F. & John Barnes Patented Foot-Powered Machinery
Build an 1805 Treadle Lathe at Tools for Working WoodMake Your Own Treadle Lathe - Download How to Make a Treadle Operated Wood-Turning Lathe: Workshop Equipment Manual Number 6 (Workshop Equipment, 6) by Bob Ingham and Paul Smith (Paperback - Nov 1986)
How to Make and Use the Treadle Irrigation Pump by Carl Bielenberg and Hugh Allen (Paperback - Dec 1, 1995)
Handy Farm Devices: And How to Make Them by Rolfe Cobleigh (Paperback - Feb 1, 1996)
Treadle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

So what can you do with all this information? Here's some suggestions.
+ You could make and sell the device described in the expired patent. Please note that just because something is patented or written, it might not work all that well or might not be safe in today's standards. Use your own judgment, or seek help, to stay safe and out of trouble.
+ You could "translate" the expired patent into easy-to-understand instructions for others to make the device. These instructions could use easy-to-find materials, like trees, plants, rocks, people, scrap materials, etc.
+ You could recruit the inventors or authors to help you, since they are experts in their field. Some of the inventors of older patents might be retired now and might be looking for something to do.
+ Existing manufacturers of "People-powered" Tools could use this information to make their already fine products even better, more efficient, or less expensive.
+ You could use the information to brainstorm new ideas. Build on the work of others.

Here's some brainstorming ticklers to help you launch in new directions around the topic of "People-powered" Tools.
TOOL ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING-MACHINESUS Pat. 798299 - Filed Feb 21, 1905
WOOD-CARVING MACHINEUS Pat. 480524 - Filed Aug 24, 1891
ENGRAVING AND CARVING MACHINESUS Pat. 132594
ROTARY HAND TOOLUS Pat. 3908487 - Filed May 6, 1974
MACHINES FOR SCOURING THE BREAST FLAPS OF LOUIS HEELSUS Pat. 2724938 - Filed Feb 17, 1953
ROTARY CARVING TOOLUS Pat. 2569874 - Filed Jun 21, 1949
ETCHING TOOLUS Pat. D200732 - Filed May 28, 1964
MOTORIZED HAND TOOLUS Pat. 2242475 - Filed Jul 14, 1939
Choosing Rotary Tools
Buying Guide: Rotary Tools
Portable one-hand operated rotary torque producing toolUS Pat. 4249617 - Filed Oct 22, 1979
Squeeze-ratchet tool assemblyUS Pat. 4524650 - Filed May 18, 1983

That's about all for now. As background, the site "Design for the Other 90%" said to "GET INVOLVED", so I did. I plan to continue posting these LOW COST DESIGN TOPICS on my Blog for a while yet. Let me know if you have a topic you would like covered. I'm open to suggestions on improving my blog format, too. Please e-mail me directly.. I hope you find this helpful. I'm sure you can do much better though! Good Luck!!

For more of my LOW COST DESIGN TOPICS - Click on the tag below "design for the other 90%".

See disclaimers on TG Ideas LLC publications and website - http://www.athenet.net/~ideas/, Thanks!