Missoula Technology and Development Center: Shaping Solutions for the Forest Service
Patenting Successful Products
Patents can interest industry in producing products the government develops. That's the philosophy behind patents now held by the Forest Service for products developed at the center.
The philosophy appears to have worked for at least one product, an electronic meter that measures the moistness of the layer of decaying leaves and needles (duff) on the forest floor. When forest managers use fire to thin small trees, they need to know just how moist this layer is. If the layer is too dry, the fire may burn the entire layer, leaving the soil exposed. If the layer is too moist, the fire may smolder and smoke without killing small trees as intended. Without the meter, the only accurate way to determine duff moisture is to weigh samples before and after heating them in an oven.
The duff moisture meter is now being sold by Campbell Scientific, Inc., which negotiated a license to use the patents (Patent No. 5,920,195 and 6,078,181). The center developed the meter in cooperation with scientists at the Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station.
This electronic meter measures moisture content instantly,
helping fire managers make better decisions.
The meter will help fire managers determine whether conditions are right before they decide to ignite a prescribed fire. In addition, the meter will help fire managers predict the behavior of wildland fires.
Other center products with patents include:
- Insulated camera box to allow a
camera to take pictures from within
a wildland fire (Patent No.
5,835,806).
- Pull strap that allows firefighters to
open the fire shelter container with
one gloved hand (Patent No.
5,921,388).
- A device that maintains the
brightness of a battery-powered
headlamp as the batteries are wearing
down (Patent No. 4,949,014).
- A portable water bag system using
a nylon duck cover with a replaceable
plastic liner to deliver
water to firefighters
(Patent No. 5,230,566).
- Campground water pump that can be operated by people with disabilities. Just 5 pounds of force is needed to operate the pump (patent to be applied for).
The center developed nylon fabric water bags with
replaceable plastic liners to assure that drinking water was sanitary.
The bags are available in different sizes for carrying
on a firefighter's back,
in a truck, or slung beneath a helicopter.
This pull strap allows firefighters to open the fire shelter container
and begin removing the shelter with just one gloved hand.
Aside from the few products that have been patented, all of the center's work is freely available for use by the public, private industry, or Government agencies. Once the center has developed a prototype, mass production is done by private contractors.
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| The design of this water pump will allow it to be used by people with disabilities. | |
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