Expert: Nyall Engfield - 11/17/2009

Question
Hi

Model airplanes are build sometimes as two halves, left and right joined together. An example is a model airplane built out of foam
or cardboard.

Can a patent be granted for the method of building a foam or cardboard model plane by creating the top half and bottom half of a model airplane on top of a profile template and joining the top and bottom halves together for greater strenght?
Is this development too obvious?

Answer
Whether or not the invention is obvious would depend on the viewpoint of someone skilled in the art of manufacturing model kits. If there is an unexpected benefit in manufacturing or assembling the models in a different way (perhaps the finished model is more durable), and it has not been done before (or previously disclosed) then perhaps it would be patentable. However, if there are no unexpected benefits, and it is merely slicing the model through a different plane, then perhaps you would have difficulty justifying your invention as unobvious enough to patent.