Design Patents: The Under Utilized and Overlooked Patent
Posted: Tuesday, Dec 20, 2011 @ 8:05 pm | Written by Gene Quinn | 6 commentsPage viewed 1,662 times |
Posted in: Educational Information for Inventors, Gene Quinn, Inventors Information, IP News, IPWatchdog.com Articles, Patent Fools™
DaimlerChrysler's Crossfire, subject of U.S. Design Patent D500,000
A protectable design consists of the visual ornamental characteristics embodied in, or applied to, an article of manufacture. Distinguish if you will a an ordinary steak knife from a butcher’s knife. In any knife there will typically be a handle and cutting blade. A design patent would not protect the mechanical structure, but rather will protect the appearance. In this regard it is possible for many different knives to receive design protection even though the basic handle and blade configuration is well known. The question for patentability is whether the presentation or appearance of the functional item is unique.
Today is the day we celebrate our Independence some 233 years ago. What better time to take a look and see what patents exist with an Independence theme. It would seem that in preparation for the Centennial celebration there were a number of individuals who were quite interested in obtaining design patents. The one below caught my eye in particular, I am not exactly sure why. Perhaps I am being overly sentimental, but as I read this particular patent a certain pride seems to shine through in the words. We can poke fun all we like at the inventions of others, but as an inventor myself I know how much of yourself goes into an invention. It becomes a project like none other, and while any particular idea or invention might seem odd to you, to the inventor it is a piece of themselves. This particular design patent, 
