Do people patent things assembled from existing gear?

[breathmint]

My brother seems to think you can get a "new use" patent on any novel configuration of hardware and stuff which was manufactured by someone else.

I'm skeptical, does that actually happen (or do people have to manufacture all of the stuff which comprises their nifty use of it)?

 

[Michael Wechsler]

People can get utility patents for a variety of things you wouldn't believe. Are you trying to ask whether he could use a machine for a different than intended use and get a patent, e.g. use a wine making machine along with a few other processes to cleanse blood? If there is a "method" that is being done I'm guessing there may be a possibility as there are patents issued for things such as "business methods" and the like which combines a series of processes. I am unaware of any "new use" patent where you merely take someone else's invention and use it for to accomplish something, without adding much, which isn't the generally marketed use.

 

[breathmint]

Thanks for responding.

Say for example that you assembled a rig from various items at a hardware store, such as a utility belt, shackles, swivels, straps, rope, etc., and put all of that together for use in a sport like water skiing or sailing. Would your rig be patentable as a unit, or would you have to personally manufacture each item that made up the rig?