Riding a Patent Idea to Success: How GyroBike Pedaled Their Way to Patent #7,314,225
Riding a Patent Idea to Success:
How GyroBike Pedaled Their Way to Patent #7,314,225
Concord, NH: When four Dartmouth students (now alumni), first conceived the concept of the “GyroBike,” it was simply an Engineering 21 class design project. Just 2 ½ years later, and with a Breakthrough award from Popular Mechanics magazine, it received its first granted patent. With the donated help of patent attorney Bill Loginov D’85, on January 1, 2008 the GyroBike team was awarded U.S. Patent, Number 7,314,225. This patent covers GyroBike’s basic principle of using gyroscopic precession to stabilize the steerable front wheel of a two-wheeled vehicle, such as child’s a bicycle. The GyroBike provides for high stability even at very low speeds making it a great training device for little ones learning how to ride a bicycle, avoiding the usual scraped knees, elbows, and frustrated tears (that’s the kids, not the parents!). The technology may also prove valuable for adult riders who require some extra stability to safely ride their bikes.
The four inventors, Nathan Sigworth D’07, Augusta Niles D’07, TH’08, Deborah Sperling D’06, TH’07, and Hannah Murnen D’06, TH’07, were originally referred to Bill by Gregg Fairbrothers D’76 of the DEN who identified a commercial potential for their innovative concept. They worked closely with Bill to develop their ideas into a patent, and stayed closely involved as the process unfolded before the Patent Office, culminating in the allowed patent. More US and foreign patents are pending on GyroBike and its latest improvements. So the road ahead looks smooth for this well-balanced vehicle.