Legal Definitions - artificial force

In the context of patent law, an artificial force refers to a natural force that has been significantly altered, harnessed, or transformed by human ingenuity. This transformation changes the force's inherent characteristics or its energy state, resulting in a new and distinct application or form that did not exist naturally. It's about taking a natural phenomenon and reshaping it into something novel and useful through human intervention.

• Example 1: Wind Turbine Generating Electricity

  The natural force at play is the kinetic energy of the wind. When a human-designed wind turbine captures this wind, it converts its chaotic, diffuse energy into a controlled, rotational mechanical force that drives a generator. This mechanical force, in turn, produces electricity.

  How it illustrates the term: The *controlled rotational force* within the turbine system, and the subsequent electrical current generated, are artificial forces. The wind itself is natural, but its energy has been specifically channeled and transformed by human engineering into a directed, usable mechanical and electrical output, which is a new application of that natural force.

• Example 2: Internal Combustion Engine in a Car

  The natural forces involved include the chemical energy stored in fuel (like gasoline) and the natural phenomenon of combustion. An internal combustion engine precisely mixes fuel and air, ignites it within a confined space, and contains the resulting rapid expansion of gases. This controlled explosion generates a powerful, reciprocating mechanical force that pushes pistons.

  How it illustrates the term: The *controlled, repetitive mechanical force* exerted on the pistons, derived from the chemical energy of fuel through a human-engineered process, constitutes an artificial force. It's a deliberate transformation of chemical potential into directed kinetic energy for a specific purpose, such as propelling a vehicle.

• Example 3: Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Train Propulsion

  The underlying natural force is magnetism. However, in a Maglev train system, engineers design and arrange powerful electromagnets in both the train and the track. By precisely controlling the electrical currents flowing through these magnets, they create specific magnetic fields that not only repel the train from the track (levitation) but also propel it forward. This goes beyond simple natural magnetic attraction or repulsion.

  How it illustrates the term: The *precisely controlled and dynamically manipulated magnetic forces* that lift and propel the train are artificial forces. While magnetism is a natural phenomenon, its specific application and sophisticated manipulation to achieve levitation and propulsion in a controlled, high-speed transportation system are entirely due to human design and intervention, creating a new form of motive force.