Oregon Patent of the Month – October 2022
Guide dogs help hundreds of thousands of people every day. They help those who are visually impaired to be more mobile and independent. These dogs are bred, raised, and trained by certified schools to help their humans safely navigate the world around them. With such important tasks, the connection between the human and dog is essential. In the sense of physical connection, we mean the harness. Ruff Wear, Inc. is aware of this importance and, with their expertise in performance dog gear, have designed specialty harnesses for guide dogs.
An essential function of a guide dog harness is to translate the movement and behavior of a guide dog to the user. This translation is the pillar of communication. Ruff Wear’s guide dog harness is focused on improving this communication process. By increasing communication, the handler can feel all subtle nuances of their dog’s movement. The design impacts both the harness and handle to achieve these nuances. Each component has several points of adjustment, allowing the handler to adjust and lock the angular orientation of their handle relative to the dog’s body. The handle is tightly connected to the attachment mechanism, so any turn or movement of the dog is transmitted through the handle, back to the handler.
Ruff Wear partners with accredited Guide Dog schools, ensuring their harnesses support the needs of all trained Guide Dogs. And while their patented communication system is essential, they also ensure the foam-padded harness is comfortable for the dog to wear throughout the day.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
Who We Are:
Swanson Reed is one of the U.S.’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firms. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program, from claim preparation and audit compliance to claim disputes.
Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPAs. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.
