Before he began his patent career, Don Harrington had substantial engineering experience. As a young U.S. Naval officer, he was assigned by the U.S. Navy as the engineering officer representing the Bureau of Aeronautics of the U.S. Navy in the development of the first carrier-based jet fighter plane (Phantom I) at McDonnell Aircraft Company. He later worked for three years as a research engineer at Ford Motor Company in developing the first three-element hydrokinetic torque converter for the first automatic transmission manufactured by Ford beginning in the 1951 model year. This included creating a prototype design and manufacturing method including a mathematical model of the torque converter design and the geometry and dimensions required to match the torque converter characteristics to engines of various sizes.

Don began his patent career by working as a patent examiner in the power transmission art at the United States Patent & Trademark Office. After leaving Washington, D.C. he worked as in-house patent counsel at Chrysler Corporation for three years. He then worked as in-house patent counsel at Ford Motor Company for 34 years, primarily in art areas that included automotive powertrain systems, electronic and hydraulic transmission controls, engine controls, steering controls and automotive climate controls.

Since 1990, after retiring from Ford, Don has been working at Brooks & Kushman, primarily in patent application preparation and prosecution before the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the same art areas with which he was involved at Ford. He applies his insider’s perspective to his work and to his relationships with corporate clients having in-house patent counsel. He understands and appreciates work-flow processes that in-house patent counsel may have in place for prosecution of patent applications. He is comfortable working within those established parameters.

As outside patent counsel, Don sees value in having an understanding of a client’s business before undertaking a task for the client. He also understands that each client’s needs and expectations are unique to that client, and that they depend in part upon whether the client has the benefit of in-house patent counsel. He tailors his approach to fit each client’s individual needs and expectations.