Who owns the TIROS name?

[Ocelot]

Hi All,

From past postings, it appears that Inova seems to "own" the TIROS trademark. Yet, I've seen other manufacturers use it (such as Nite Hawk).

Anyone know if Nite Hawk is just using Inova's lenses, or are they licensing the technology, or is TIROS not trademarked?

Just wondering...

Scott

 

[Leeoniya]

well, "total internal reflection" is a well known concept in optics and there are many devices based on the principal. Whether or not the abbreviation is trademarked, i don't know. but as far as "total internal reflection optical system" goes, i dont think it would be possible to trademark that. i'm pretty sure other dealers use it just as a convenience cause they're lazy, or as marketing hype cause they dont know what it stands for /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif. correct me if i'm wrong, but i think i've seen Surefire use that in the specs for the latest gen heads.

 

[The_LED_Museum]

SureFire uses the abbreviation TIRO (total internal reflection optic), so if TIROS were copyrighted, they aren't in any kind of violation.

 

[Cornkid]

The new kl1 head, which I hope will come back to me soon, has the TIROS optics in it. It gives it that squared look and some pretty respectable throw!

-tom

 

[Size15's]

That is not correct, if Inova are using the term "TIROS" and SureFire are using the term "TIR optic" then the KL1 has a TIR optic in it.
Inova's TIROS is much larger compared to the TIR optics that SureFire have created.

There are currently two main types of SureFire TIR optic - the "X200A" - very intense beam, and the "KL1" which has a wider beam.

Al

 

[NewBie]

TIR Systems takes great advantage of TIR properties:
http://www.tirsys.com/

 

[elgarak]

I search the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and "TIROS" (tm) is indeed a trademark of Emissive Energy (=Inova).

BTW, Nite Hawk does not use (on their current webpage) "TIROS", but "Total Internal Reflection (T.I.R.) Optical Lens".

 

[NewBie]

TIROS is also used by NASA and NOAA for their weather sattelites, the improved version was first launched in 1970.

The original TIROS was launched in April, 1960:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/dsh/artifacts/CS-tiros.htm

http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/dsh/artifacts/CS-ITOS1.htm