It is believed that Apple is interested in electric cars for some time now, so when a patent was granted to Apple Electric Car, Inc., that sparked a hope that the company is spreading into a new and unchartered territory. So, what is all about?
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The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) described that patent by Apple Electric Car, Inc.: "A golf car employs a mounting system to attach a display device to the golf car housing such that the display device is movable so as to facilitate viewing of a display screen of the display device by a user whether the user is located inside or outside the golf car.
"In one embodiment, the mounting system includes a rigid base member, a swivel member and at least one extension member. The swivel member mechanically connects the display device to the rigid base member and facilitates rotation of the display device about a vertical axis in a range of 0 to about 360 degrees relative to an initial position of the display device.
"The extension member is connected to the rigid base member and facilitates upward and downward movement of the display device distally from at least one point of attachment of the mounting system to the golf car housing."
So, we have a display device, an electric car, and the magic word "Apple" - enough to capture the headlines around the world. But don't get too excited, it seems you won't be driving Apple's electric car in a near future.
So, who's behind "Apple electric car?" Anthony P. Bonito of Davie, Fl., and Perry H. Pierce of Fort Collins, Co., are inventors with several patents related to golf, from golf car computers to scoring systems.
Mr. Bonito filled for his first golf car-related patent back in 1990 and after that he had several applications and two granted patents, the last of them this for Apple Electric Car, Inc. It is interesting that there were four applications for a display device attached to a golf car and, obviously, this last one was a success.
Mr. Pierce, one of the inventors for Apple Electric Car, Inc., with BSME, Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, also has several patents on his list, from this "Apple car" to "Integrated circuit assembly cleaning apparatus and method(Link)" to "Method for mounting printed circuit boards." He is an experienced engineer, with experience ranging from Hewlett-Packard/Agilent Technologies to Veeco Instruments to Colorado Microcircuits. So, we are talking here about golf enthusiasts and engineers-innovators, not a secret project by Apple to enter Tesla's market.
And what about Apple Electric Car, Inc.? The company filled Articles of Incorporation on April 30, 2013, and clearly stated its purpose: "Building electric cars". The registered agent is Mr. Bonito.
So, if Mr. Mr. Bonito and Mr. Pierce don't have any secret deal with Tim Cook, there is a small possibility that iPhone manufacturer will offer a golf car under its brand any time soon.
On the other hand, why would Apple bother with a mounting display in a golf car when it can make, or buy, a full-fledged electric passenger car? As the saying goes, "All that glitters is not gold." Or, "All that's 'Apple' is not Apple." ■
The main thing making weather headlines Friday and into the weekend will be the widespread coverage of showers and thunderstorms across much of the central and eastern U.S., with a particular focus across southeast Texas, the Mid-South, and portions of Virginia.