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Family Handyman

Weed eater, Weedwacker, Weed Wacker

The generic term we use, and several others, is string trimmer. Doesn’t exactly fit the bill. Who needs to trim string around the house? But the generic term for the device better known as a Weedwacker, Weed Eater or Weed Wacker seems the best we can do since so many related names are trademarked. Husqvarna holds the Weed Eater trademark. Stanley Black & Decker holds the Weedwacker trademark, which might seem like an asset for the company right now. Weed Wacker, note the space, is owned by Environmental Essentials, LLC. The trademark details on Justia.com says Weed Wacker is to be used for odor neutralizing purposes on various surfaces. Kind of muddies the waters a little more.

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band-aid-1

Band-Aid

Johnson & Johnson owns the trademark to the name kids have cried out for since it was created in 1920. Johnson & Johnson continues to fight that the term hasn’t become generic because once it does, the company will no longer control the trademark for the adhesive bandage. Just never flush one down the toilet.

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Family Handyman

X-Acto

The X-Acto knife is better known as a utility knife around here, though people continue to use X-Acto knife as a generic term. It, however, is a trademark term that is owned by Elmer’s Products, Inc. Yes, the glue people own the X-Acto trademark, which is often used to undo the work of glue. Kind of a symbiotic relationship in a way. What’s more interesting about the X-Acto knife is that it was intended to be used as a scalpel but it couldn’t be cleaned, thus it became a hobby kit tool.

See other things around the house get repurposed in creative ways, like a trash can turning into an amplifier.