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Combining lapsed patents to create a new product, is the new product eligible for a patent?

Hello, any help will be appreciated. Basically I have an idea for a product that does not exist. I searched the uspto and there is not a patent for the product. The product would essentially combine two product that had patents, which have lapsed, to create a new product. Can I file a utility and/or design patent for the new product?

Hypothetical Example: I want to take a screwdriver (which patent has expired) and combine it with a light bulb (which its patent has expired) to create a screwdriver with a lightbulb in it (assuming there is not a patent for a screwdriver with a light in it). Is this possible?

thx

Posted Aug 29, 2016, 10:47 PM UTC

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