As proof that people are still out there inventing new stained glass related technologies, there is this very recent patent. So recent that it's only a patent application, from May of 2009, just over 6 months ago.
DYNAMIC STAIN GLASS WINDOW
Don M. Ferris
Application number: 12/471,438
Publication number: US 2009/0233030 A1
Filing date: May 25, 2009
The idea is for a mechanism to revolve one circular stained glass window in front of another stationary stained glass window, to create some kind of light pattern. It's not specified if that light pattern is projected or only visible looking at the panels themselves. Even with the photos of the prototype (figures 11-13) it's a little hard to imagine what the effect is. The prototype appears to have a stationary window with square bevels, and a moving panel with an abstract design. I've never heard of Don M. Ferris and the only thing that comes up on a Google search is the patent.
I've noted before about how patents often patents are written in a way that they are hard to read. Kind of like that last sentence.
I thought it might be because most of the patents I've looked at are more than a hundred years old. But the same applies to this recent patent application. There must be something about patent applications that brings out the craziest language in people. For example, this is the first line of the 2009 patent application -
1. A dynamic stain glass window assembly utilizing a fixed traditional lead came stain glass window and a moveable traditional lead came stain glass window creating a moving light pattern to be displayed comprising in cooperative combination:
Maybe it would be a good idea if there were a requirement to read Strunk and White's 'Elements of Style' before applying for a patent.
Posted by Tom at December 6, 2009 09:31 PM