Design Notes for Using Patent Images

Hello All - This posting looks at using the images from patents to begin your design work. By doing this you might save time. Plus, you can do computer modeling to see how devices might work. An example might be taking the images from this old TREADLE-PUMP patent and importing them into Google SketchUp. With other software applications, I think the concept could be useful for mechanical, electrical, fluid flow, thermal and many others areas of engineering and design. I have not tried this concept due to limitations in resources and knowledge. Copying/Pasting patent images does work, however, in simple applications such as this blog. I'm hoping you can get the concept to work and tell the world about it! Good Luck!

FYI - Here's some information you might find useful in Using Patent Images.

Sources of Patent Images - Usually PDF or TIF, sometimes direct copy/paste.
Google Patent Search
esp@cenet
USPTO Patent Search Database
Worldwide Patent Offices

Sources of Computer-Aided Design and 3-D Computer Modeling Software
SketchUp
SketchUp Help Center - What kinds of files can I import into SketchUp?
From/to some of my most used graphics apps
importing objects into SketchUp - CartoTalk
CONVERT SCANNED PAPER DRAWING INTO YOUR CAD-PROGRAM WITH RASTERVECT
AutoCAD DXF - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Importing PDF into CAD Drawings - TeSelle
tiff to dxf Free Download
PDF to DXF Converter
Open Directory - Computers: CAD and CAM: Raster to Vector
Raster to vector - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program
Computer-aided design - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Computer simulation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Open Directory - Science: Technology: Software for Engineering ...

Note - Patent images might be viewed by some as copyrighted. To help you understand this topic, here's some copyright information you might find helpful. Copyright laws are different in various countries. This is further complicated since the same images are typically used in the various patents within the Patent Family, throughout the world. If in doubt, please consult a professional.
Public domain
Copyright
Fair use
Template talk:PD-US-patent

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!