BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The United States Patent Office must have forgotten to padlock all the windows or pat down its agents at quitting time because on Saturday afternoon, something from its files had escaped and was parked on Broad Street.
Er, excuse me? No, a Scootus.
That’s right, a Scootus — a first-ever, vehicular rearrangement, which its inventor describes as a big kick scooter.
The inventor and patent holder of the Scootus is Robert Bonanno, a Newark resident who works as a carpenter for an interior remodeling business in the North Center. The purpose of his invention, he said, is to advertise businesses by using the unique sight of the machine. On Saturday, a placard advertising where he worked was displayed on his beauty.
Bonanno, 57, said it took him four years to build the Scootus, a trademarked name, and another four years to obtain a patent.
“Maybe 25 bikes are here,” he said of his construction. “All found parts.”
He said a motor could be installed, but for now, the Scootus will have to work under its own power as an attention grabber.
Bonnano said he had attended Bloomfield Tech at night for three years.
“I learned enough to build this, piece by piece, at school and at home,” he said.
Top speed?
“Whatever happens,” he said, recklessly.
He has gone 26 miles per hour.
A short swing hangs from the center of Scootus to permit Bonnano to lie down. And besides gravity, Bonnano said rollerblading friends could power the Scootus.