This BLR post will help with timing anyway, then I'm sure plankton will dig it up.
Fred just responded to my email
Last week I asked him if he could tell me when the original Nunchi patents were filed.
His response: between 9-28-2010 and 3-14-2011. This Wednesday will be 18 months from the filing date for the first filing and 9-14-2012 will be 18 months from the filing of the last application filed. Judging from this, it would be possible to hear SOMETHING regarding Nunchi after this Wed. 3-28-12. I'm ready for some good news!