Company: Owl Overland Outfitters LLC
Patent Number: 12672711
Patent Name: Uni-directional sliding rotational work surface with indexing pin
Why This Invention is Innovative
The Uni-directional sliding rotational work surface with indexing pin is highly innovative because it eliminates the traditional linear layout limitations of portable vehicle kitchens. By utilizing a secondary slide that extends perpendicularly from a primary slide, it allows users to create a highly functional “”working triangle”” layout, bringing the ergonomics of a home kitchen to the outdoors. Furthermore, the inclusion of a locking indexing pin and a rotation mechanism ensures that the working surface remains stable, customizable, and secure, even when deployed on uneven terrain.
Pennsylvania Patent of the Month for August 2026
This invention won the Pennsylvania State Patent of the Month for August 2026 due to its exceptional contribution to the outdoor recreation industry and its strong local ties. Successfully prosecuted with the assistance of the Penn State Dickinson Law IP Clinic, the patent reflects Pennsylvania’s thriving ecosystem for small business engineering and innovation. The award committee recognized the design for perfectly blending mechanical reliability with consumer comfort, setting a new benchmark for overland and outdoor camping equipment.
Eligibility for R&D Tax Credits in the USA
The practical applications of this patent make the development process highly eligible for the Research and Development (R&D) tax credit in the USA. Creating this specialized kitchen assembly required overcoming specific technical uncertainties, such as ensuring the perpendicular secondary slide could bear the dynamic weight of kitchen appliances without structural failure. The engineering process undoubtedly involved iterative prototyping and testing of the rotation mechanism and locking pin to guarantee stability on unpredictable off-grid terrain. Because these activities rely on the hard sciences and principles of mechanical engineering to develop a new, functionally improved product, the expenses incurred during the design and testing phases qualify as qualified research activities, allowing the business to claim valuable tax incentives.
