Hensley Patent

[dmac]

Does anyone know the expiration status of the Hensley patent (US4811967)? It was filed (application) 9/2/1987 and published (granted) 3/14/1989. My understanding is that utility patents expire 20 years from application, or 17 years from grant, whichever is longer. Thus the expiration of Hensley's patent should be in 2007. Is this correct? Can they extend the life of the patent?

[thenewkid64]

Originally Posted by dmac

Can they extend the life of the patent?

Not the original, but they can make a minor change and ask for a new patent based on the improvement. That is what many manufacturers do.

[Sean Woodruff]

The orange haha company never owned the patents and the license agreement they had with the patent owner was cancelled.

[TomW]

Originally Posted by Sean Woodruff

The orange haha company ...

haha is an acronym for Hensley Arrow Hitch Apparatus.

Not sure why the new company dredged up this old thread.

Tom

[RIstream'n]

Just giving us all of the info. Thanks Sean

[TROPHYJIM2]

Many Hensley conversations will become relevant again with the new Propride Hitch about to hit the market. As the Propride gets some time on the road with new owners, comparisons will be interesting between the Hensley and the Propride.

[Sean Woodruff]

Originally Posted by TomW

haha is an acronym for Hensley Arrow Hitch Apparatus.

Not sure why the new company dredged up this old thread.

Tom

Sorry, Tom, I didn't even look at the date. I just linked over from another thread and read it. Didn't mean to "dredge" up anything. However, even though I now see it is old, I don't think clarifying something with truth ever hurt anyone.

I now see that the "Similar Threads" links at the bottom are newest to oldest as you go down the list.