Week 11: Silly Patents #2 Suitcase for Squishy Fruit

Patent No and Name: US6612440 B1 | Banana Protective Device

Patent: A banana protective device for storing and transporting a banana carefully. The banana protective device includes a container having a first cover member and a second cover member being hingedly attached to the first cover member and being adapted to store a banana therein.

Think about a briefcase, but small and in the shape of 2 bananas places in opposite C's. 

Is it useful? Yes. I, for one, have had bananas squished in my bag. 
Is it novel? The use of a banana guard is known in prior art, but this particular design is novel. 
Is it obvious? It is non-obvious because a skilled person would not have thought of solving the problem of a accidentally squishing a banana by creating a suitcase for it. If they do, then I am sure they won't design it in the shape of a banana- a normal rectangular box would do too. 

So, technically it makes sense for this patent to be issued, but I personally think that this is really stupid. If this were ever to be commercially produced, I wonder if anyone would buy it. 

 My final thoughts: As I mentioned, I have had bananas get squished in my bag before, but I have never really wanted a briefcase for it when that happened. I assume someone felt very strongly about their banana getting ruined or a squished banana ruin something of theirs, but this is a little ridiculous.