There is an interesting article in our local paper today about the automobile coffee cup holder.A Mr Albert Lalonde originally from Timmins Ontario prototyped a coffee cup holder out of wood and in 1986 he was granted a patent in New York which expired in 2003. In 1986 he made a deal with a manufacturing co. in Chicago to recieve $4.00 for every one built. So when enjoing your Tim Horton coffee in morning traffic and using your coffee cup holder remember both originate in Northern Ontario. Mr Lalonde is now a bright and witty 92 years old and lives in a retirement complex outside Ottawa. He has the original wooden example in his living room still today.
The really important thing to remember is we hobbiest are always trying to make things easier as we go along and maybe some little item that you have made might deserve a patent.
