Patent issued for anti-gravity device

Science Daily.com ^ | November 9, 2005 | UPI

[js1138]

The U.S. patent office has reportedly granted a patent for an anti-gravity device -- breaking its rule to reject inventions that defy the laws of physics.

I think it has been a mistake to deny these patents. They should grant a patent each on perpetual motion and on anti-gravity. Then they can reject all future applications on the grounds that it's been done.

[R. Scott]

Dollar bills? I want one that grows C notes!

[tet68]

He patented Hillary's Lovely Thighs?
Wait, those don't counteract gravity, do they?

I think we can all agree that they are a repelling force.


She never has to worry about shining them, they're made of
Patent leather.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Yeah, it's a shame when a good guy so totally loses his mind.

[MeanWestTexan]

The relative weakness of gravity (it should be stronger to make the numbers work) intrigues me.

Some iterations of string theory (for what that is worth) postulates that gravity IS strong, but the effect bleeding off elsewhere.

If true (and observable in some meaningful way), I would be hopeful that the relative stregth and weakness could be increased or decreased.

Not so much "anti-gravity" as "no gravity," making lift a much easier business.

[Prime Choice]

Dollar bills? I want one that grows C notes!

Gotta grow 'em first. Then we can selectively cultivate 'em.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

or how about that remarkable fuel-saving device, the transporter???

I have a feeling that should that bloody thing ever get invented/built...the energy requirements will be so great that it will be much cheaper to pop your cargo onto an 18 wheeler and truck it cross country.

[BurbankKarl]

Space Elevator?

[Constantine XIII]

Well, if it takes M x g x h Joules or ft/lbs to move an item up to a height h, then you don't really get any benefit out of using the antigravity. :)

[MeanWestTexan]

"The standard idea of 'anti-gravity' is that of a hovering vehicle. I think if such a device were to switch off gravity's effect on it, said device would instantly be flung into space."

I initially thought, "no it would sit right where it is until some force acted upon it." Then I remembered the Earth (and Sun, for that matter) are cranking along through space at a pretty good clip, so the device would, in fact, soon be parted.

But no so much "flung" as "left behind."

[rwfromkansas]

Tesla made an Earthquake machine. Who knows what has been invented and kept under wraps.

But, I doubt anti-gravity is one of them.

[R. Scott]

Genetic engineering?

[Angelas]

Thanks for the ping. All jokes aside, is this something that could be weaponized? If so, should a private citizen own the patent?

[Lancey Howard]

Love this stuff BUMP

[JasonC]

(1) shut off gravity locally.
(2) raise a weight some distance l through the temporarily "off" gravitational potential.
(3) turn off your gravity-shutting off thingie
(4) lower the weight, performing work
(5) repeat

Of course, if step 1 takes a hundred times more energy than you get back in 4, it doesn't yield net work. So the statement is true if and only if the alleged gravity stopper doesn't care about energy costs every much.

[redheadtoo]

Sounds like a warp drive.

That is exactly what it sounds like. I wonder what the name of the patent holder is, Ephraim Cochran, perhaps?

Does this mean we finally get to meet the Vulcans?

[RightWhale]

The patent office ran out of room long ago for all these working models. Not required or even allowed anymore.

[aculeus]

Love this stuff BUMP

It's Gravity Day on FR.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1518973/posts?page=62#62

[VadeRetro]

That's just what Scotty would do every time Kirk shouted into the intercom, "I need POWER, Scotty!"

[SunkenCiv]

One of the main theoretical arguments against anti-gravity is that it implies the availability of unlimited energy.

...if ya know what yer doin'... ;')