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Chinese Crooks Again
Posted: 17 Sep 2017, 14:54
by Yako
Well it seems nothing is safe from Chinese stealing other people's ideas and patents (& that includes our own Flow Hive Bee Hive system)
I'm sure Hobie can't be too happy with this U-Boat:
https://m.alibaba.com/product/606602681 ... ifications
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Posted: 17 Sep 2017, 16:44
by Seasherpa
The mirage drive had been around sine '97/'98 Rich, US patents run for between 14 and 20 years so even if they were concerned about IP over there, the early patents would be running out now.
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Posted: 17 Sep 2017, 17:17
by Fish Grylls
Where can I get my chobie?
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Posted: 17 Sep 2017, 18:43
by mingle
What goes around comes around, I guess. Westerners have 'appropriated' plenty of things from the Chinese over the centuries...
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Posted: 17 Sep 2017, 18:56
by Yako
Seasherpa wrote:The mirage drive had been around sine '97/'98 Rich, US patents run for between 14 and 20 years so even if they were concerned about IP over there, the early patents would be running out now.
I get that but they claim reverse?
Wouldn't Hobie have a patent on that???
I guess if build quality is as good as Hobie, Stealth, Jackson, Viking etc then maybe the competition should be welcomed.
One thing I would gladly support in every way possible is some level rating system of Seaworthiness for all kayaks being sold in Australia. For example where an eBay 2.7 Pool toy can be used etc.
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Posted: 17 Sep 2017, 19:21
by 4liters
'Luxury U-Boat'
clearly not students of history
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Posted: 17 Sep 2017, 20:50
by Yako
4liters wrote:'Luxury U-Boat'
clearly not students of history
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Posted: 18 Sep 2017, 05:59
by bunyip
Maybe you need to double up to fit in one like the early Japanese cars which seemed to be for people 3'9" tall.
A friend of mine is a plastics engineer and he is aware that the Chinese skimp a bit on UV inhibitors so what arrives here does not last as long as it could, that was a generalisation not just watercraft.
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Posted: 18 Sep 2017, 10:17
by shane
By the look of it I'd say they've actually improved on the design of the mirage drive. The use of a direct gear arrangement between the pedals and the cranks eliminates the cables and should make for a much more robust drive. (cables are a major weak point - I broke one yesterday just doing a very mild 'surf' launch). If they sold the drive separately I'd be interested in playing around with a hybrid setup.
Re: Chinese Crooks Again
Posted: 18 Sep 2017, 10:38
by Steve_R