We're thankful for these inventions that help us make the Thansgiving feast and all the festivties more enjoyable and fun!
 

Automatic mashed potato system (2007) U.S. Patent No. 7172335
Mashed potatoes are a favorite Thanksgiving dish, but can be time-intensive to prepare. The cook has to peel the potatoes, boil & check for doneness, drain when cooked, add seasonings, mash, and then worry about keeping them warm until mealtime. (No one wants cold, congealed potatoes. Yuck!) This handy-dandy device takes all the hassle away. Simply place cold water and potatoes in the hopper. The machine then cooks the potatoes to perfection, drains them, squirts some seasonings in, mashes them, and then keeps the finished mashed potatoes warm in the tray until dinner time!  Easy-peasy!

Turkey baster (1998) U.S. Patent No. D390070
This design patent lets you baste your Thanksgiving turkey with a real "turkey" turkey baster. The delightful three-dimensional turkey at the top is the bulb you squeeze to catch and release the basting juices. Impress your guests with your great Thanksgiving panache as you bathe your bird in delicious liquids. No dry turkey at your house!
 

Football helmet-shaped crematory urn (1999) U.S. Patent No. 5896632
Whether it’s a professional game, or a local "Turkey Bowl" between neighborhood rivals, Thanksgiving and football are perfect together—like mashed potatoes and gravy on Turkey Day. In the future, your favorite football fan might appreciate your thoughtfulness in providing a way to "identify their cremated remains as those of a football fan for eternity." This invention will permit [your loved one] "to support a chosen sport and sport's franchise even after death" on Thanksgivings to come.

Pants including selectively located stretch panels (2017) U.S. Patent No. 9668525
These pants have stretch panels built in at the waist, inseam, outer leg, and knee! They will likely allow maximum enjoyment of all the Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing/dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, potato salad, cranberry sauce, ham, corn, green bean casserole, broccoli & rice casserole, candied yams, buffalo chicken dip, sweet potato casserole, macaroni & cheese, cornbread, rolls, and every kind of PIE!

You can learn more about patents and trademarks, as well as intellectual property (IP) in general, by visiting the Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) in the BRIC, at Parkway Central Library, on the 2nd floor.

Happy Thanksgiving!