Link to Ryobi Patent on Vacuum/flotation table and outfeed table, too

[LCHIEN]

http://www.google.co.id/patents/down...erview_r&cad=0

Interesting read, appears to be very close to the actual products released. although the fist illustration shows a vacuum table made more like ab auxiliary table, The saw looks very like a BT3000

[Turaj]

Interesting indeed. I am confused about one thing though. The patent is dated 1998 but I am quite sure the products were available well before then. What am I missing?

[LCHIEN]

Interesting indeed. I am confused about one thing though. The patent is dated 1998 but I am quite sure the products were available well before then. What am I missing?

Patents can take years to issue. However, once a patent is filed then the company can market it. A realistic scenario is that Ryobi may have worked on the design starting in 1993, filed and initially sold product in 1994 or 1995 but the patent did not issue until 1998.

[Turaj]

... A realistic scenario is that Ryobi may have worked on the design starting in 1993, filed and initially sold product in 1994 or 1995 but the patent did not issue until 1998.

That makes sense. Thanks

[pelligrini]

A lot of products will have 'Patent Pending' on it. I don't notice that wording all that much on more recent products though.