Inventive minds on the NSW North Coast

Phillipa at Our Patch reports that:

Two innovative local companies, Axis Cranks of Lismore and Metal Science Technologies of Alstonville, have each received a $64,000 funding boost to launch their products into the commercial market.The grants have been awarded as part of the Federal Government’s $3.6 million Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) grants, designed for Australian small businesses with great ideas that haven’t yet attracted investors........

The Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, visited South Lismore’s Axis Cranks Factory today to congratulate managing director Mark Fisher (pictured) and his wife on being one of 57 small businesses nationwide to receive the grant.
Five years ago, Mark came up with the idea of developing a technological device for measuring force that can be applied to the pedals of a bicycle, giving riders crucial data to optimise performance and bike set-up. He had his company up and running three years later.........

The second local company to be awarded a COMET grant is Alstonville-based Metal Science Technologies, which has spent three years developing a mobile electropolishing machine for post-weld finishing of stainless steel.The machine recently was featured on ABC TV’s New Inventors program and won its particular episode.

Have you heard the one about....

Have you heard the one about a Clarence Valley retiree (who doesn't appear to know one end of a slide rule from another and is famous for not thinking outside the square) filing a patent application for inventing a method of amplifying energy using centrifugal force, in conjunction with a company which was registered in the same month of the international filing date noted by World Intellectual Property Organisation.
Is this a case of divine inspiration or simply cashing in on patents which ceased due to failure to pay renewal fees?
There have been previous patent applications along the lines of the one above with reported novel engines being numerous and, currently the Orbital Engine Company's technology package includes over 1000 patents or patent applications lodged in more than 20 countries worldwide, covering innovation in all aspects of engine and control system technology.
Clarence Valley locals are betting the retiree's application will fall foul of existing patents.
New energy sources have been noted in an article about amateur inventors, which may indicate where this particular invention is heading.