Holiday Patents: Hanukkah, Chanukah Patents

Electric Hanukkah Lamp, Design Patent No. D185199

The holiday season is already upon us, and early this year.  Hanukkah, or Chanukah as it is sometimes spelled, began at sundown on Friday, December 11, 2009 and will run through Saturday, December 19, 2009.  Like I did last year when I wrote Happy Hanukkah, Hanukkah Patents, once again I went searching for some relevant patents for the occasion. It is certainly true that there are not many US patents that refer to Hanukkah, or Chanukah, at least not in the title, but that doesn’t deter me from making an effort.  In years to come it will become more difficult no doubt, forcing me to dig deeper because there are just not that many theme relevant US patents.  The most typical Hanukkah patents are design patents that in some way relate to lights or candles, including the one pictured to the left, relating to an electric Hanukkah lamp, which was filed on August 13, 1958 and issue May 1959.  In fact, all of the patents in this article are design patents, and all of them were issued in the 1950s.  In looking at these design patents it became clear that design patent claims have not changed at all, over the years. Then and now claims covered the “ornamental design for” whatever is shown in the drawings.  Design patents were also quick to issue in the 1950s and they are still today.

Before getting to the patents, allow me to set the stage with a little history.  In 175 BCE, Antiochus IV Epiphanes became the leader of Syria, which governed the Jewish territory of Israel or Judea. Antiochus persecuting the Jews throughout his reign, with an altar to Zeus was built in the Temple in about 167 BCE. A Jewish priest named Mattathias and his five sons led a revolt and successfully rededicated the Temple.  Upon reclaiming the Holy Temple it was discovered that the oil needed to burn the Temple’s menorah was defiled and could not be used.  The remaining usable oil was only enough to burn for one day, but miraculously lasted for eight days and eight nights, burning without interruption.  In celebration of this miracle Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, lasts for eight days and eight nights.

Chanuka table ornament or similar article
Design Patent No. D179258
Filing date: Mar 12, 1956
Issue date: Nov 1956

Chanuka display ornament
Design Patent No. D179211
Filing date: Feb 27, 1956
Issue date: Nov 1956

Hanukkah Menokah
Design Patent No. D166358
Filing date: Jul 28, 1951
Issue date: Apr 1952

Happy Hanukkah!

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One comment so far.

  • [Avatar for The Zohan]
    The Zohan
    December 14, 2009 07:13 pm

    The Zohan have application pending for new and improved “You Don’t Mess with My Menorah” design. Mostly it is meant for keeping Scrappy from messing with my Latkus and Draidel. It shoot Taser wire and darts at Scrappy when detection of the Scrappy is made. The design comprise state of art software and special Scrappy-in-the-room hardware detector. However examiner with other kind of Middle Eastern name reject claim for lack of utility. Says the Latkus don’t taste so good and therefore not useful unless claim amended to include apple sauce. The Zohan think he will appeal the apple rejection. Sometimes Latkus good with Fizzily Bubbly drink alone. What think you?

    Happy Holidays. 🙂