WRC Testing

[Andre Oliveira]

Mix Ogier / Evans by Zagatoï: https://youtu.be/gPMLhz4bDhM

[dimviii]

Lappi
https://youtu.be/Ufp5SQ3yGM8

[jiipee64]

Latvala today

https://twitter.com/64peejii/status/943502120724193281

and tonight...

https://twitter.com/64peejii/status/943502258775437312

[EstWRC]

Lappi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdXcGVk_b7w

[pantealex]

Lappi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdXcGVk_b7w

No stickers in windshield, and no lights in frontbumber.

[RICARDO75]

one more video with Lappi testing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBEx...em-uploademail

[racerx1979]

First of all normally it takes around two years before patent application is granted and published which is way too long for motorsport. And then from my experience in automotive R&D the large companies don't pay for most of the patents. They use them as a lever on another patent holders so that in the end they trade using patents without actually paying something. The downside of that is that they tend to patent nearly everything with very vague description...

Ironically I'm an patent attorney registered to practice in both AUS and US. A few years ago, yes it would take a year or longer to get a patent filed. It all depends on the entity who is filing the patent. Small entities (solo inventors) do not get any priority. Some of the firms in the US actually are close to the patent examiners in DC so I have seen design patents get filed in less than one year.

The new rules for the USPTO and PCT now have a "first to file application" which basically gives rights to the first person to file their invention. In this case if Toyota were to file a patent on their mirror they would have rights to their design even if it is copied a few months after. It probably is not worth it, but it was such a novel design I can see all the other teams copying their idea. Who knows, you might see this for hyper cars too...

I've actually filed several patents for powersport companies such as Ohlins (motorcross applications) and a few US powersport companies. You would be surprised how tech is copied from motorsport and applied to everyday use. Ohlins and Custom Cages have filed a few utility patents on motorsport applications which were later copied by competitors. They didn't earn millions, but it was a decent amount.

Ford of USA, BMW and VWAG are good examples of companies who file patents galore. You can see some of their crazy filings by doing a search using google patents.

Is it worth it for Toyota... probably not, but it was a cool design for sure. I agree not all motorsport ideas are worth protecting, but the good ones are.

[Mirek]

Actually I am listed as a co-inventor in two recent patent applications in Europe so I will see myself how long will it take. Anyway thanks for the reply.

[Revman]

Latvala: https://youtu.be/gdck2fFLo8w

Is the chirping under braking a pop off valve or part of the braking system?

[NickRally]

racerx1979 out of curiosity, how would you word your patent application on the Toyota mirrors?
I personnaly do not see it novel at all, for example comparing it to the F1 car mirrors, i.e. using the mirror stays for air flow management.