Aussie invention site to help innovative designers

The work of Australian designers of pioneering new devices, such as Caroma for its Dual Flush System, have been made easily available to marvel over via a new website.

The work of numerous Aussie inventors can now be accessed on the latest addition to AusPat, a database of patent records dating back to that first patent issued under Commonwealth legislation.

Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the new information would help modern day innovators by making it easier to find patented inventions, and provide a pool of priceless information for everyone interested in our nation’s history.

Below, the The DuoSet Dual Flush System by Caroma

“Australia has a rich history of innovation and this excellent tool delivers better access to this important information,” Senator Carr said.“Records for iconic Australian inventions, such as David Unaipon’s 1909 patent for the shearing handpiece featured on the Australian $50 note can now be located with the easy to use search tool deemed one of the best in the world.

Carr adds: “AusPat offers a significant improvement on the old process which had people searching through a myriad of paper, microfiche and electronic systems.

“The tool will save modern Australian inventors time and effort as they can easily search the inventions that have come before them.

“The development of AusPat further demonstrates the Government’s commitment to providing the right tools to ensure the patent system protects the ideas of the future.

“Resource booms will come and go but long-term sustainability must be based on building new industries around smart ideas and innovation,” Senator Carr said.

AusPat has data from over 7,300 books, 620,000 microfiche films and more than 37 million documents.

To access the AusPat search system visit www.ipaustralia.gov.au

Case study: The DuoSet Dual Flush System

The DuoSet dual flush cistern with side-by-side buttons offered users the choice of a full flush using around nine litres of water or a more environmentally friendly flush option that used half the water.

Australia is a country that experiences drought and dry conditions. Water is a precious resource that must be used wisely. It’s little wonder that we’ve always been finding ways to save water. In the 1970s studies began looking at ways we could reduce water wastage in our sewerage systems.

Researchers found that Australian toilets already used much less water than the very wasteful systems still favoured in North America, where a flush could be around 30 litres. However, with better design there was scope to reduce Australian flushing volumes further.

Legislation now requires any new toilet installations be dual flush. The invention has proven popular overseas with Caroma exporting their dual flush systems to more than 30 countries.

The inventor

Bruce Thompson of Caroma in Adelaide developed the dual flush system as part of the company’s commitment to offer water-saving systems.

The intellectual property

Caroma Industries have been active in protecting their invention with a range of patents that list Bruce Thompson as the inventor.

Did you know?

Design refinements of the technology have reduced half flush volumes as low as three and half litres.