Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

[Brad M.]

I have a question regarding the accepted distributor cap for 70-72 vs 69.

I am pretty sure that 70-72 JG indicates that the correct cap it the "Pat. Pending R".
However, I recently realized that the 68-69 JG indicates that 69 cars were known to have either the "Pat pending R" cap or the "Patent 2769047" cap.

Let me say that I am not at all familiar with the patent process but it seems to me that the Patent pending R cap would have likely existed before the patent 2769047 cap. (i.e. the patent pending status would chronologically occur before the time the patent number was issued). Accordingly, if the patent number 2769047 was issued by 1969 and reflected on caps installed on 1969 models, why couldn't 1970 through 1972 cars have been equipped with the "patent 2769047" cap?

Maybe my theory on how this process works and which cap existed before the other is not what actually happened.

Is there something that I am missing here? Or is one of these two JG's not entirely accurate regarding the cap usage?

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

Brad:
The first patent was applied for on December 23, 1953. I t was actually for the entire distributer as shown on the original drawings and as described in the abstract. At that time, until the patent was granted, the caps said "Patent Pending". Sometime after the patent was granted on October 30, 1956 the number was embossed on the cap. In the late 60's a change was made incorporating some sort of resistor or radio suppression device into the cap or the distributor as was done on the spark plugs (denoted with an R). Another patent was applied for so the words "Patent Pending R" was embossed. Either the patent was not granted or for some other reason the number was not changed but the part was so the R was just added to the patent number. I don't know if anyone can pinpoint the exact dates when the different caps were put into production. Hope this helps.
Jeff

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

Brad:
The first patent was applied for on December 23, 1953. I t was actually for the entire distributer as shown on the original drawings and as described in the abstract. At that time, until the patent was granted, the caps said "Patent Pending". Sometime after the patent was granted on October 30, 1956 the number was embossed on the cap. In the late 60's a change was made incorporating some sort of resistor or radio suppression device into the cap or the distributor as was done on the spark plugs (denoted with an R). Another patent was applied for so the words "Patent Pending R" was embossed. Either the patent was not granted or for some other reason the number was not changed but the part was so the R was just added to the patent number. I don't know if anyone can pinpoint the exact dates when the different caps were put into production. Hope this helps.
Jeff

[Brad M.]

Re: Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

Thanks, that seems to make sense from a chronological standpoint

1. initial patent pending
2. patent 2769047 issued
3. apply for new patent with radio suppression (so "patent R" was pending)

[Brad M.]

Re: Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

Thanks, that seems to make sense from a chronological standpoint

1. initial patent pending
2. patent 2769047 issued
3. apply for new patent with radio suppression (so "patent R" was pending)

[Dick W.]

Re: Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

The '70-'72 manual is almost new and reflects the lastest knowledge available. The '68-'69 is about 8-10 years old. The next revision (no time soon) will reflect that the "Patent Pending R" is correct

[Dick W.]

Re: Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

The '70-'72 manual is almost new and reflects the lastest knowledge available. The '68-'69 is about 8-10 years old. The next revision (no time soon) will reflect that the "Patent Pending R" is correct

[Brad M.]

Re: Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

Thanks, so current belief is that the 68/69 manual is not correct regarding 2769047 version.

[Brad M.]

Re: Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

Thanks, so current belief is that the 68/69 manual is not correct regarding 2769047 version.

[Jack H.]

Re: Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

If Dick says the next edition of the '68-69 JG will correct a descriptive mistake, I think you can hang your hat on that one! You'll find caps with 'Patent 2769047' ARE called out as being correct for '73-74 cars.

On the 'R'...yes many say that mark indicates 'Resistor', but I personally find this hard to swallow. Why? Well, the ignition system design change was to eliminate the descrete ballast resistor that'd been used through '67 but that did NOT mean the external resistance disappeared!

Essentially, the ignition wiring harness was re-designed to 'embed' the engine's 'run' resistance in the wiring harness itself creating a 'distributed' ballast resistor in place of the discrete component. Further, the resistance measurements I've taken or R vs. non-R distributor caps show NO difference at either the cap's center contact or at the individual plug wire terminals....

Another possible, perhaps plausible, explanation for the 'R' is that it indicates Registered Trademark and deals with the brand name 'Delco Remy' to protect against off-shore 'cloning' of parts. But, to really understand, we'd have to hear from someone at GM familiar with the sequence of events and GM's position on intellectual property protection....

What was said earlier about the patent dating back to 1953 is TRUE. The patent covers several considerations of distributor design/construction (easily removable points, overhead centrifical advance, a windowed distributor cap for dwell adjustment, Etc.). On patent convention, your understanding is essentially correct.

Back then inventors protected their inventions from the time of first public disclosure until grant/denial by the US Patent Office, with a visible warning: "Patent Pending". Then, when patent(s) were granted and the inventor was notified of the grant, the obligation changed to disclosing the protective patent number(s) involved.

What happened here with the distributor cap is rather confusing. The patent number disclosure apparently didn't come along until almost the expiration of the patent which was LONG after the patent's actual grant date. That doesn't make a lot of sense....

Plus, at NCRS we distinguish betweed 'Pat Pending', 'Pat Pending R' and 'Patent 2769047 R'. But, our judging literature doesn't really address the 4th variation: 'Patent 2769047' without an 'R'. I have several of these critters in captivity and where/when they were used appears to be a mystery...

[Jack H.]

Re: Distributor cap 69 -71 Pat Pending R/2769047

If Dick says the next edition of the '68-69 JG will correct a descriptive mistake, I think you can hang your hat on that one! You'll find caps with 'Patent 2769047' ARE called out as being correct for '73-74 cars.

On the 'R'...yes many say that mark indicates 'Resistor', but I personally find this hard to swallow. Why? Well, the ignition system design change was to eliminate the descrete ballast resistor that'd been used through '67 but that did NOT mean the external resistance disappeared!

Essentially, the ignition wiring harness was re-designed to 'embed' the engine's 'run' resistance in the wiring harness itself creating a 'distributed' ballast resistor in place of the discrete component. Further, the resistance measurements I've taken or R vs. non-R distributor caps show NO difference at either the cap's center contact or at the individual plug wire terminals....

Another possible, perhaps plausible, explanation for the 'R' is that it indicates Registered Trademark and deals with the brand name 'Delco Remy' to protect against off-shore 'cloning' of parts. But, to really understand, we'd have to hear from someone at GM familiar with the sequence of events and GM's position on intellectual property protection....

What was said earlier about the patent dating back to 1953 is TRUE. The patent covers several considerations of distributor design/construction (easily removable points, overhead centrifical advance, a windowed distributor cap for dwell adjustment, Etc.). On patent convention, your understanding is essentially correct.

Back then inventors protected their inventions from the time of first public disclosure until grant/denial by the US Patent Office, with a visible warning: "Patent Pending". Then, when patent(s) were granted and the inventor was notified of the grant, the obligation changed to disclosing the protective patent number(s) involved.

What happened here with the distributor cap is rather confusing. The patent number disclosure apparently didn't come along until almost the expiration of the patent which was LONG after the patent's actual grant date. That doesn't make a lot of sense....

Plus, at NCRS we distinguish betweed 'Pat Pending', 'Pat Pending R' and 'Patent 2769047 R'. But, our judging literature doesn't really address the 4th variation: 'Patent 2769047' without an 'R'. I have several of these critters in captivity and where/when they were used appears to be a mystery...