2625 Patents Related to Apartments

I was bored and wanted to see how many patents have been issued related to Apartments. There are 2625 patents that have “apartment” within their patent text. Some of my favorites:

Method for Preparing Leasing Arrangements:

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for presenting leasing arrangements for a plurality of rental spaces. The method includes the steps of providing a graphical user interface that depicts the plurality of rental spaces within a two-dimensional layout on a display of the graphical user interface, where a relative size and relative location of each rental space on the display is proportional to a relative physical size and relative location of the actual rental spaces and associating a menu with at least some of the rental spaces on the display where the menu provides additional information regarding the rental space, building, rental space user prospects and associated documents.

Um….. I have no idea what this means. Is this a kiosk?

Pet Activated Signal Processing

Abstract

A pet-activated signaling device to allow a pet to signal a human includes a base, and a cover, associated with the base. A biasing element is operatively coupled between the base and the cover and is configured to provide a positive biasing force there between. At least one audio signaling system is associated with the base and the cover and is activatable in response to relative movement of the cover with respect to the base. At least one visual signaling system is associated with the base and the cover and is activatable in response to relative movement of the cover with respect to the base.

Who writes these things?