In 1984 climber / inventor Paul Petzl came up with a headlamp with no on/off switch. To turn the light on or off, the housing around the lens of the lamp was rotated. Rotating this housing also served to focus the beam of light. This style of controlling lights is still seen in headlamps and [...]
Outdoor Gear, Patents, and Outdoor Trips by Bob Shaver, Patent Attorney
Category Archives: Gear
P-38 Can Opener
In the early days of WWII, the Army designed C rations. What they needed to go along with the canned food of C rations was a very small disposable can-opener. Designed in 30 days by the Subsistence Research Laboratory of Chicago, the tiny folding can opener was perfect. As the troops used it in field [...]
The Press Bot Coffee Maker
The best designs are the ones that make you say “I wish I’d thought of that!” They are also usually dead simple, and probably quite a bit more subtle than they appear. The Press-Bot coffee maker is all that, and it makes good coffee too. Camp coffee is always great, but coffee made from grounds [...]
The TrailDesigns Caldera Cone Stove Systems
I have had the opportunity to test the TrailDesigns Caldera Cone Stove System, and it has turned an alcohol stove skeptic into a believer. I have often wondered if the weight advantage of alcohol stoves was worth it, when a Snow Peak or MSR Pocket Rocket with a fuel canister is so light, and very [...]
Eddie Bauer Down Coat
One evening in 1935 outdoorsman Eddie Bauer almost froze to death in his soaking wet wool coat. Inspired by that incident, he designed a garment like a down sleeping bag, except that you wore it. Eddie Bauer’s coat of 1940 was the first down garment to be manufactured, and Bauer got a design patent on [...]
Ice Axe, 1930
Here is a nifty ice axe of 1930. The shaft comes apart to reveal a big knife.
Ski Pole Flask
Here is a handy flask for small quantities of refreshments, such as liquor: a ski pole flask. After skiing for a while, you pop the top off a ski pole and have some warming rum, Gran Marnier, Schnaps, etc. It would have to be alcohol based, because anything water based would freeze.
Free Standing Dome Tent, 1948
This may be the mother of all free standing dome tents. It is a free standing tent, which uses arched poles attached to the floor of the tent, with the tent body attached to the poles along the length of the poles. At the top a line attaches the tip of the tent to the [...]
Tent and a View
Here is an interesting tent from 1891. In fair weather the side can be opened up, and when it is raining the side rolls down for full protection. This idea is pretty similar to some modern ultralight tents, like the Tarptent tent shown below which has a side that opens, or that can be closed [...]
Tarp Tent Ultralight Tent
Here is a look at two contrasting tent styles. The 1891 camping tent uses one central pole, four corner stakes, and two guy lines. It has lots of headroom, and would be a comfortable tent, probably for horse packing or car camping. The lower figure shows that this tent is a veritable hotel room, and [...]