"Jim Stewart" wrote: (clip) Sounds like the temperature drop issue was
raised to evade the requirement that the patent not be obvious to one
skilled in the arts.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I don't think that would be a valid way of obtaining a patent on an idea
that is already in the public domain. But, unfortunately, part of the game
is intimidation. Very often people who are in the right cave in because of
fear. Or they don't have the resources to go through a lengthy litigation,
even one they could win. I have an acquaintance who successfully resisted
the threat of an infringement suit, and wound up with a written admission
from the other party that they were in the wrong. He also wound up with
about $50,000 in attorney's fees.