Patent decision

BL number

O/065/21

Concerning rights in

GB1900276.5

Hearing Officer

Mr B Buchanan

Decision date

28 January 2021

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Alexander Scott Ross

Provisions discussed

Sections 1(1)(c), 4(1) and 14(3) of the Patents Act 1977

Keywords

Industrial application, Sufficiency

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The claimed invention relates to a system for propelling a space craft. The invention works by using a non-contacting magnetic coupling between a motor-driven wheel, and the hull of the space craft, to exert a force on the hull of the craft. The motor is fixed to the hull of the space craft so that if the space craft moves, the motor and wheel move with it. The alleged advantage when used in space is that by using magnets, without direct mechanical contact between each wheel and the hull, there is no reaction to the force on the hull applied by the magnetic wheel as it rotates. This then, allegedly, means that the craft experiences no resistance to thrust and continuously accelerates while the force is applied.

The Hearing Officer considered the alleged principle of operation defined by the claims and found it was contrary to well-established physical laws. Consequently, he found that the application failed to meet the requirements for industrial application and sufficiency and refused the application under section 18(3).

Full decisionO/065/21  564Kb