I've pulled out more of the little hair I have left trying to find German papers for a Swiss Nipper marked with a Swiss patent and a German D.R.G.M. 313471 number. I found the Swiss patent, but can't find the German patent doing every cross reference check I can think of. I understand that the DRGM is a registration number and not a patent number. Does anyone know where there is a database for the DRGM numbers ? The number and Swiss patent are from 1907. There is a German patent with this number, but it is not for the Nipper.
Thanks

Hi Stan,

D.R.G.M. stands for Deutsches Reich Gebrauchsmuster (German Reich Registered Design) so it seems to be some kind of trademark. I'm sure the German collectors will know more about the correct patent/trademark difference.

Peter

PS don't pull out too much hear or you might look like me

Hi Peter,

it's a shame, but I know exactly what you wrote - not more.

But I found a Wikipedia entry: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gebrauchsmuster

And for all, who want to read it in funny English: http://de.babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fde.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FGebrauchsmuster&lp=de_en&btnTrUrl=%C3%9Cbersetzen

Best regards,
Guenter

http://www.atame.info/ - http://www.cuffsland.com/

Hi to all,

I thing there is much rummor about these terms. In fact the classification which is valid worldwide uses three terms:

1) Patent = new, unique technical solution, which is of the higher level than usual skills of average constructor.

2) The second step is something in my free translation as "Use pattern", in german language Gebrauchsmuster, in czech "Uzitny vzor". It is a technical solution, but not so strong as patent, it is something that average constructior can design, it is new, but not of worldwide importance. In english it is called as small patent, I couldnīt find any exact term.

3) The third term is "Industrial pattern" - this is a protection of the design of a product. In czech it is called as "Prumyslovy vzor". It isomething different from 1) and 2), this is only a look of the thing.

Patents and use patterns (Gebrauchsmusters) and listed in their databases together. Especiall old patents can be found in one certain country only. I donīt know why, I found patents for old Czechoslovak cuffs in Austrian archives and not in my country. This I donīt understand.

And consider this aspects - many inventors applied for the patents in other countries than they lived - very often France, Swiss and so on... Possibly because of the political situation in the 1930s...

Perhaps this helps. I guess many german cuffs either has never had a petent, although they are stamped with DRGM or these files were damaged during WW II.

Josef from www.pouta.org

Inventors applied for patents in countries other than where they lived or where the restraint was actually invented:

- Cost of registering for the patent and associated legal costs in thier own country vs. others.

- The degree of patent protection a particular country or specific region affords

- Planned area or region of manufacturing and distribution of the finished product.

Cheers, Steve

Not too sure what the Nippers look like but I do have a copy of a German Patent from 1907 which is for an unusual nipper. It was the invention of Ferdinand Hauser in Zurich but was issued in Germany on 25th June 1907, so that may well be what you are looking for.
Its number is 195484
Let me know if you can access this or whether you want me to try and scan my copy.
Good luck,
Chris

Thanks Chris:
I have the Hauser Nipper and it was patented in Switzerland and in germany. Mine has the Swiss Patent Number, and Ron Spitz has one with the German patent number. I will post a picture of the nipper I am researching shortly.
Stan

This is the Swiss Nipper patent no. 39912. I have the Swiss patent of 1907. The Nipper is also marked D.R.G.M. 313471.