Comments on: Patents and screwdrivers

By: Aristotle Pagaltzis

Aristotle Pagaltzis — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:36:30 +0000

Without patents, people would have no incentive to develop new things.

What a bleak view of mankind. Not everyone is driven by money alone, fortunately. There are still those for whom curiosity is a force in and of itself, and they’re the ones who make the most lasting impact.

Everything is patented or copyrighted.

Thank goodness that copyright law can be used to subvert itself, so we can have free software and free culture.

By: Curt

Curt — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:14:21 +0000

Without patents, people would have no incentive to develop new things. It’s one thing to think of a great idea, but to take that idea to market, you need capital. Then you need to make that capital back. Without patents, the next biggest company around would take your idea, make loads of money off it, and you would be stuck with the debt. How can we imagine living in a patented world? You are so naive; we are living in a patented world. Everything is patented or copyrighted. From cars to music to breakfast cereal. Patents award the inventor and cover their costs (through either exclusive sales, or through royalties), then the patent expires and the technology is given to the world for free.

By: loan

loan — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 21:16:48 +0000

Patents are dangerous for future… How can we imagine living in a patented world ?

By: Theophani

Theophani — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 15:01:08 +0000

According to the Wikipedia article, the Robertson is used 10% of the time in the US. I looked up the population of Canada and the US just now, and if we assume that the consumption of screws per capita is exactly the same in those two countries, then the number of Robertson screws consumed in the US is greater than in Canada. They are harder to find, but still used a lot.

10% of 297,600,000*X = 29,760,000*X
85% of 32,300,000*X = 27,455,000*X

(where X is the number of screws consumed per capita)
(All this assumes, of course, that those 10% and 85% number are accurate.)

By: eric lyons

eric lyons — Sat, 22 Oct 2005 18:53:09 +0000

yes i agree that the robertson is the best screw, and it is sad to me that its not a worldly used screw. i am a canadian, live in n.b and i use it when ever i can!

By: ROGER LEHR

ROGER LEHR — Wed, 12 Oct 2005 13:30:47 +0000

I’m tired of 2″ and 3″ Phillips head deck screws stripping.
Which home improvement centers, if any carry Robertson screws?

By: pat hayes

pat hayes — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 02:42:52 +0000

To use square-drive screws, just get a generic hexagonal-drive (eg any power driver) and buy a square-drive tip (or two; the wee ones are good for trim screws) at any large hardware store. Ive lived in 5 US states and never been more than a few miles away from a place I could get them, any Loews or Home Depot will do. Absolutely the best drive available, no doubt.
BTW, Deck Mate screws can be driven with a square bit also. Best of both worlds, in fact, if you are willing to shell out the rather high price.

By: Eric Borduas

Eric Borduas — Wed, 10 Aug 2005 03:57:06 +0000

That would explain why it’s so difficult to find screws with Robertson heads in SoCal! Or than Fuller scredrivers don’t exist here either.

Expat living in the U.S.A

By: Ken MacLeod

Ken MacLeod — Wed, 10 Aug 2005 00:25:17 +0000

The WikiPedia article says Robertson screws account for 10% of of the screws sold in the U.S. As far as I can tell from the local home improvement store, that’s probably all from drywall and deck screws which are about 50% Robertson screws, which makes a lot of sense considering those tasks.

By: John Cowan

John Cowan — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 18:14:55 +0000

“If your only tool is a patent, all your customers look like thieves.”

Or something like that.