Mercedes-Benz Premieres VIP Aircraft and New Yacht

At the Monaco Yacht Show Mercedes-Benz has premiered two luxurious vehicle, both of which were are not meant to travel on land. For air travel, they have unveiled the final interior for their upcoming VIP aircraft, which is being created with Lufthansa Technik. For the water, there is the ARROW460 – Granturismo, which made its maiden voyage back in April 2016.

The Mercedes-Benz VIP Aircraft Interior

The cabin of this luxurious aircraft will surprise most, due to its futuristic and smooth design. Looking through the images of its cabin found below, you’ll see that Mercedes has created a cabin that is unlike any in the skies today. Smooth transitions connect the floor to the wall, and the wall to the floor, with the only visual separation being between the difference in materials.

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Area in the aircraft include a galley, kitchen, private room, bathroom, lounge, dining area and a bedroom. In the bedroom and bathroom there is an open-plan design that features a free-standing shower, complete with transparent walls. As for the furniture in each room, expect the finest of materials and the utmost comfort, as you’d expect from Mercedes-Benz. And, like the S-Class, this aircraft includes the Magic Sky tech in the panels, giving the passengers the ability to dim the windows from black to transparent.

“Together with Mercedes-Benz Style we plan to target this innovative concept at a private global clientele with a strong affinity for unique design. It is precisely customers from the VIP and VVIP sector who today want innovative and extraordinary design solutions for their aeroplanes. With our modular concept we offer the ideal solution for the most discerning demands, whether that be for private or business use,” said Wieland Timm, Vice President Sales VIP & Special Mission Aircraft at Lufthansa Technik AG, in a press release from Mercedes-Benz.

ARROW460 – Granturismo Yacht

Thanks to a joint project between Mercedes-Benz and Silver Arrows Marine, the ARROW460 – Granturismo was created. This luxury and sporty boat acts like the AMG of the seas, combining power with luxury. The ten passengers that are able to fit in this boat’s cabin will be able to enjoy the view of the see with or without the wind in their hair. This is made possible through the side windows and windscreen that can be retracted.

Inside the cabin, passengers can enjoy Mercedes-Benz-level luxuries in the spacious interior. Due to its design, this boat is perfect for day cruises and even multi-day cruises– yes, a bathroom is included.

“By blending the maritime and automotive world with their respective design idioms, technologies and ideas we have created a new standard for motor yachts. The ‘ARROW460 – Granturismo’ blends maritime engineering artistry with charismatic design and perfect elegance, familiar from the world of Mercedes-Benz,” said Ron Gibbs, Chairman of Silver Arrows Marine, in the press release.

How much does it cost to get a patent in India?

Understanding the cost structure corresponding to applying for a patent can help in making some important decisions. Hence, instead of having a generic idea about the overall cost, it helps if you are aware of the breakdown of the cost structure and the time of incurring such expenses.

The overall cost of obtaining a patent includes the fee that has to be paid to the patent office (statutory fee) and the fee paid to the patent service provider (professional fee). The professional fee varies based on the service provider you may select. Hence, in this article I will deal only with the statutory fee.
Please note that, the most important factor in filing a patent application is preparing a patent specification. Drafting a patent specification is a highly skilled job, which can be only performed by persons who have both technical as well as patent law expertise. If a person or company is serious about protecting their intellectual property, it is highly recommeded to use the services of professional patent practitioners. To know more about this, you can read our articles on this.

• Should an inventor take professional help to draft and file patent applications?     

• Why should patent specifications be drafted by patent professionals?    

The statutory fee depends on who the applicant of the patent is. The Indian Patent Office (IPO) has categorized the applicants into 4 categories:

1. Natural person

1. Startup(s)

1. Other than natural person – Small Entity

1. Other than natural person – Others except small Entity

1. Other than natural person – Startup

1. Other than natural person – Small Entity

1. Other than natural person – Others except small Entity

For example, legal entities, such as, companies would fall under these categories. It shall be noted that, a patent application can have more than one applicant, and even if one of the applicants do not fall under the first category, then the patent application is considered to be filed by applicants of the remaining two categories.
Applicants who are other than natural person are categorized into the below three categories.

1. Other than natural person – Startup

1. Other than natural person – Small Entity

1. Other than natural person – Others except small Entity

The patent office charges the least fee for applicants who are natural persons and Startups.
The patent office also charges the least fee for entities who are startups. Certain conditions have to be met to qualify as startups. You can read more about this in our article. 
The patent office charges other than natural person applicants who are a small entity, a fee, which is between a natural person/startup and others except small Entity.The patent office charges a maximum fee for other than natural person applicants who are Others except small Entity/startup.The patent office collects 2 times the fee from the applicants who are "Other than natural person – Others except small Entity"  as compared to applicants who are "Other than natural person – Small Entity". Certain conditions have to be met by other than natural person applicants, who wish to claim "Small Entity" status. You can read more about this in our article. 
In this article, we will list down the fee applicable to all the categories of applicants. Please note that, the fee mentioned below is for E-filing of applications only. The patent office charges an additonal fee of 10% of the total fee, if filing is done through hardcopies. If the application is not filed online, and is done through hardcopies, you need to calculate the fee, at additional fee of 10% of the total fee.

No	Description	Patent office Fee (INR) 1$ = ~ 60 INR(E-Filing only)			Comments
		Other than Natural person		Natural Person/Startup
		Small Entity	Other than small entity
1	Application for grant of patent	4000	8000	1600	Mandatory
2	Early publication fee	6250	12500	2500	Optional
3	Request for examination of patent application	10000	20000	4000	Mandatory
4	For every Extra sheet over 30 sheets	400/sheet	800/sheet	160/sheet	Mandatory
5	For every Extra claim over 10 claims	800/claim	1600/claim	320/claim	Mandatory

A fee of INR 1600/4000/8000 has to be paid while submitting the patent application in the IPO, based on the type of applicant.

Sl. No. 2
A fee of INR 2500/6250/12500 has to be paid, based on the type of applicant, if you wish to have your patent application published by the IPO early. If this request is not made, then the IPO publishes your patent application after 18 months from priority date (date on which you first file a patent application for your invention). There are several advantages of having a patent application published early. Some of the advantages are: early publication can help in expediting the patent application examination process and the patent rights start from the date of publication.

Sl. No. 3
A fee of INR 4000/10000/20000 has to be paid, based on the type of applicant, requesting the IPO to examine your patent application. This request for examination can be filed and the fee paid within 48 months from the priority date. However, note that the patent office puts your application in queue for examination only after receiving this fee. Hence, if you want to expedite the patent process, it is advisable to file this request at the earliest. A startup can also request for expedited examination of their patent application. The fee for this is INR 8000. At present, the patent office has limited this request to about 1000 request in a year.

Sl. No. 4
The IPO accepts patent specification, which has up to 30 sheets without charging any extra fee. However, if the specification crosses 30 sheets, then a fee of INR 160/400/800/sheet for each extra sheet has to be paid to the IPO, based on the type of applicant.

Sl. No. 5
Further, the IPO accepts patent specification, which has up to 10 claims (no limitation on independent claims) without charging any extra fee. However, if the specification has more than 10 claims, then a fee of INR 320/800/1600/Claim for each extra claim has to be paid to the IPO, based on the type of applicant.

Thank you.

Here it is: Mercedes-Benz Concept X-Class Truck Revealed

It’s been rumored for a long time, but it’s finally here: the Mercedes-Benz truck. Well, technically it’s called the Mercedes-Benz Concept X-Class. In the revealing press release issued today, Mercedes-Benz showcased the new concept with two examples, the stylish explorer and powerful adventurer.

Daimler is planning on putting the truck under the Mercedes-Benz Vans product range, further expanding their options. What’s more, Daimler is really putting a lot into this pickup truck basket, and by a lot I mean they’re making investments in the high nine figures (euro) towards the new model by the time it’s released.

“We will open up and change the segment of mid-size pickups – with the world’s first true premium pickup for the modern urban lifestyle”, says Volker Mornhinweg, Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans, in today’s press release. “Our future X-Class will be a pickup that knows no compromise. Ladder-type frame, high-torque six-cylinder engine, and permanent all-wheel drive are compulsory for us. As an added value we bring safety, comfort, agility, and expressive design – in other words, everything that distinguishes vehicles bearing the Mercedes star. We will thus appeal to new customers who have not considered owning a pickup before.”

X-Class powerful adventurer

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  Mercedes-Benz Concept X-CLASS powerful adventurer – Exterieur, Lemonaxmetallic ; Mercedes-Benz Concept X-CLASS powerful adventurer – Exterior, Lemonax metallic;

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The powerful adventurer example of the X-Class is Mercedes-Benz’s take on a rugged off-road truck. With a height of 1.9 meters and 35×11.50 inch tires, it has plenty of presence. Adding to the rugged appearance is the electric winch, front and rear underride guards, carbon wheel arches and more.

For a stylish take on the truck, there’s the stylish explorer. This version is much more streamlined and elegant than the off-road-ish truck. On the outside, it seems almost bare when compared to the powerful adventurer, but it makes up for it with sleek edges and a futuristic rear light. Also, instead of the rugged tires and wheels, this version has large wheels with lower-profile tires.

YOU'RE KILLING YOUR IPHONE WITH THESE 7 CHARGING MISTAKES

Much like old humans, old iPhones have a tough time holding their juice -- and part of the reason why is how you charge them. "Charging my phone is a breeze," you say. "What could possibly go wrong?" you say. As it turns out, some of our seemingly harmless habits are doing slow, silent, deadly damage to those precious lithium-ion batteries.

You’re charging to 100%

If your palms start sweating when your battery drops below 90%, you need to chill. Maintaining a full charge is not the most efficient way to keep your phone battery strong. In fact, experts suggest letting your phone coast through the day between 30 and 80 percent full. That's where it's most comfortable, and will run most efficiently. So stop juicing it overnight, and instead go for shorter and more frequent bursts throughout the day. 

You’re letting your phone die

Lithium ion batteries become volatile when they drop down to low power, so you should avoid getting that pesky “low battery” warning too often. Every full discharge wears down your battery ever so slightly. That being said, Apple and other experts suggest you let it fully run out of juice every one to two months to “calibrate” the battery gauge.

SHUTTERSTOCK

You’re overheating your battery

Okay, this isn't specifically a charging issue. But it's still very important. You’ve probably noticed that your phone is annoyingly sluggish after its been sitting out in the sun. That's because iPhone batteries really, really hate extreme temperatures, and have to work extra hard in high heat or cold. According to Apple, the “comfort zone” for iPhones (as well as iPads, iPods, and Apple Watches) is between 32 and 95 degrees. Bottom line: your phone is basically a needy little computer baby that needs to be bundled up and cooled off on the regular.

You’re using your wireless charger too much

Your mophie backup battery case is a godsend when you're out & about and need some extra juice to get home. But both your battery and the case itself emit heat during charging, which can do long term damage your device. To avoid overheating, try a portable power source that doesn’t attach to your phone.

You’re leaving your case on while you charge

While we're on the subject, if your phone feels too hot when it's plugged in, it's possible your fancy schmancy case might be trapping in the heat that's produced while charging. So do your phone a favor and take it off.

DENYS PRYKHODOV / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

You’re storing your backup phone without a charge

If you’re hanging onto your old phone as a backup for when you inevitably drop your new 6S in the toilet, make sure you stash it in a cool place, roughly half-charged. According to Apple, it you leave the battery completely depleted it will fall into what’s known as a “deep discharge state,” which apart from sounding like a nightmarish medical issue, will render it less capable of holding a charge in the future. Conversely, if you store it fully charged for an extended period, it may lose some capacity as well.

You’re using the wrong charger

Your Apple-issued charger is designed to cut power when the battery hits 100%, but those cheapo unauthorized third-party USB cords are not, and may do some damage by excessively juicing the battery. Plus, ya know, they could kill you.

The Bike Lock That Punishes Thieves

Bike thieves are about to face a challenge unlike anything they've ever encountered, thanks to a new bike lock that we cannot believe is real but somehow actually appears to be. 

It’s called the SkunkLock, and it’s a U-shaped lock that’s made of steel and carbon and sprays gas on any horrible human who dare try to steal your shit while you’re sitting in your cubicle or quickly grabbing a six-pack. “It’s pretty much immediately vomit inducing, causes difficulty breathing. A lot of similar symptoms to pepper spray,” SkunkLock co-inventor Daniel Idzkowski told The Guardian. 

Cyclists have tons of options when it comes to reliable, well-built locks to keep their wheels safe. But as far as we know, none of the heavy-duty U locks we've tried, including our own, take it to this level. “It could be the last lock you ever buy,” Idzkowski says in the Indiegogo video. You know, maybe it’s finally time to upgrade our coil lock.

[Available June 2017, from $109; indiegogo.com]