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Apple Patents: The 9 Coolest Product Concepts (PICTURES)

The Huffington Post   Cooper Smith   First Posted: 08/18/11 03:07 PM ET   Updated: 10/18/11 06:12 AM ET

Apple is a design-centric tech company, which means Steve Jobs and his staff like to think outside the box. In doing such, the company's inventors sometimes come up with radical new product ideas that push the envelope of consumer electronics.

"We're constantly focusing on innovating," Apple COO Tim Cook said in a 2009 earnings call. "We believe in the simple, not the complex. We believe that we need to own and control the primary technologies behind the products we make, and participate only in markets where we can make a significant contribution."

Apple has registered thousands of patents in its history. According to Apple Insider, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the company 563 patents in 2010 alone. While many of these filings are meant to protect existing technologies, others hint at secret innovations to come.

We've selected the 9 coolest Apple patents ever filed. While there's no guarantee that any of these concepts will ever see the light of day, we like to see how far outside the lines Apple's coloring. Take a look at these ambitious designs and vote for the most amazing. Which would you most like to see in an Apple store? Let us know in the comments. Then, check out 27 stunning (unofficial) Apple concepts, designed by Apple enthusiasts.

'Pouring' File Transfer
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The HP TouchPad's "touch to share" feature has nothing on this futuristic Apple patent, which illustrates Apple devices emmulating natural, real-world gestures. In the illustrated example above, an iPhone is tilted over an iPad in order to share files, the way you would do if you were "pouring" the data from one device into the other.

Filed: 2010
Source: Patently Apple
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Apple is a design-centric tech company, which means Steve Jobs and his staff like to think outside the box. In doing such, the company's inventors sometimes come up with radical new product ideas that...
Apple is a design-centric tech company, which means Steve Jobs and his staff like to think outside the box. In doing such, the company's inventors sometimes come up with radical new product ideas that...
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Christopher Bullivant
27 Fans
01:59 AM on 08/19/2011
So they patented ideas, so that when someone else does them better, then can sue them? Damn, the patent system is broken as hell.
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JosephTX
21 Fans
01:43 AM on 08/19/2011
I recognize the liquidmetal patent listed. Apple just bought that off some small business. The visor display, 3D hologram projector, and solar-powered laptops have already been made, but then again it wouldn't be the first time Apple's tried to go and patent something someone else spent all their time researching and making. Admittedly the "pouring" share feature is pretty cool, but still just a gimmick that yet again steals from other companies.

Yeah I get that pretty much EVERY big business in the world is guilty of these tricks, but why does the media insist on glorifying Apple for it?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Isenki
Public campaign funding
92 Fans
08:33 PM on 08/18/2011
Apple has a few cool patents, and thousands of patents that they've bought up solely for the purpose of suing other people with in the event that they themselves are sued. At any rate, these are pretty "duh" ideas, i.e. nothing that no one's ever thought of.
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HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
SoCalNick
Former 99er, Business Owner, Proud Veteran 101st
2028 Fans
06:04 PM on 08/18/2011
It is embarrassing Adrianna....

How can we NOT think you have been bought by Apple when we see at LEAST 2 commercials a day disguised as " Articles"?

A less intelligent or sophisticated audience would think there were no electronics in the entire world except apple.

That is all
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Wybartel
0 Fans
03:55 PM on 08/18/2011
What is the point of this article? A filler piece that's been done 8000 times? Huffpost Tech get your asses in gear. Tech new has become a fast paced world with editorials and dissections of the major moves of the day, not looking to see where Apple is "coloring outside the lines"
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