Professor Demchick's Blackboard
Dr. Demchick has been a college and university faculty member for many years. On these Blackboard Pages he does a little teaching. These pages are intended as general, introductory information. Compromises were made between including details in these pages and keeping the pages readable for a general audience. These pages are not intended as legal or other professional advice.
DESIGN PATENTSDesign patents can be very useful if used appropriately. Occasionally, I recommend that someone consider applying for a design patent. They are usually far less expensive to obtain than a utility patent. However, it is important to realize what is and what is not covered by a design patent. Design patents can protect the inventor of new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture. An example is a headboard for a bed that has a special look. The design need not do anything new other than look special. Design patents are not issued on "pure artwork" (i.e., it must be made part of something which is itself functional). An inventor with a gadget that works an important new way would probably not be well served by merely protecting the appearance of the gadget. The inventor would likely want to be able to forbid others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling items that function the same way. Design patents expire 14 years after they are issued.
WARNING: There are many unscrupulous invention promotion companies. One of their tricks is to "help" someone with an invention that should be protected by a utility patent get a design patent without explaining the difference. The victim is happy at first. The company did help get a patent that covered the "design." It is later that the victim realizes that "design," as used in the patent world, is not the type of protection needed. That patent is nearly worthless because of what is not protected.
Design patents are designated by numbers that start with "D."
Here are examples of U.S. Design Patents. Please remember these design patents protect the distinctive appearance, not the function, of the inventions.
Load distributing support base (United States Patent D508,300)
Pet grooming tool (United States Patent D508,299)
Helmet face guard (United States Patent D508,298)
Cosmetic applicator (United States Patent D508,297)
Device having a non-shaving head (United States Patent D508,296)
Cigar and lighter holder (United States Patent D508,295)
Lighting fixture (United States Patent D508,294)
Flashlight (United States Patent D508,293)
Trailer tail light housing (United States Patent D508,292)
Solid state lighting module (United States Patent D508,291)
Therapeutic hand (United States Patent D508,290)
Ceiling fan housing (United States Patent D508,288)
Ceiling fan blade iron (United States Patent D508,287)
Vented eave closure (United States Patent D508,286)
Ornamental vaporizer (United States Patent D508,285)
Air freshener device (United States Patent D508,284)
Covering for a water closet (United States Patent D508,283)
Decorative bowl (United States Patent D508,282)
Water purifying installation (United States Patent D508,281)
Fishing line handling tool (United States Patent D508,280)
Fishing jig (United States Patent D508,279)
Knife (United States Patent D508,278)
Gun (United States Patent D508,277)
Portion of a golf club head for a putter (United States Patent D508,276)
Wood type head for a golf club (United States Patent D508,275)
Wood type head for a golf club (United States Patent D508,274)
Golf putter club head (United States Patent D508,273)
Golf club head (United States Patent D508,272)
Surface configuration of a vehicle, toy, and/or other replicas (United States Patent D508,271)
Symbol display for a gaming device (United States Patent D508,270)
Gaming machine cabinet (United States Patent D508,269)
Gaming machine (United States Patent D508,268)
Housing for dispensing magazines (United States Patent D508,267)
Electric punch (United States Patent D508,266)
Modern digital laboratory (United States Patent D508,265)
Ball point pen (United States Patent D508,264)
Tubular device with carabiner thereon (United States Patent D508,263)
Stackable marker (United States Patent D508,262)
Transparent card with an antenna and a rectangle (United States Patent D508,261)
Greeting card in a transparent box (United States Patent D508,260)
Image producing machine (United States Patent D508,259)
Type font (United States Patent D508,258)
Stamp (United States Patent D508,257)
Electronic keyboard musical instrument (United States Patent D508,256)
Eyeglass frame (United States Patent D508,255)
Digital camera (United States Patent D508,254)
Binoculars (United States Patent D508,253)
Spotting scope (United States Patent D508,252)
Mounted camera bracket (United States Patent D508,251)
Tile cutter (United States Patent D508,250)
Refrigerator (United States Patent D508,249)
User interface for computer display (United States Patent D508,248)
Mouse receiver with integrated fingerprint scanning device (United States Patent D508,247)
Keyboard (United States Patent D508,246)
Portable access device (United States Patent D508,245)
Electronic writer (United States Patent D508,244)
Electronic shopper (United States Patent D508,243)
Queuing/mixing headset (United States Patent D508,242)
Combined radio and CD player (United States Patent D508,241)
Portable telephone (United States Patent D508,240)
Cellular phone (United States Patent D508,239)
Cellular phone (United States Patent D508,238)
Distribution housing (United States Patent D508,237)
Protective casing for electrical or electronic apparatus (United States Patent D508,236)
Light emitting diode (United States Patent D508,235)
LED holder (United States Patent D508,234)
Light emitting diode (United States Patent D508,233)
Cable connector (United States Patent D508,232)
Multiple outlet power strip (United States Patent D508,231)
Power strip housing (United States Patent D508,230)
Automotive pillar with a storage compartment for a vacuum device (United States Patent D508,229)
Utility tray for all terrain vehicles (United States Patent D508,228)
Hand lever (United States Patent D508,227)
Windshield wiper (United States Patent D508,226)
Surface configuration of tank cover (United States Patent D508,225)
Vehicle quarter panel (United States Patent D508,224)
Fender (United States Patent D508,223)
Automobile rear bumper protector (United States Patent D508,222)
Adjustable trailer hitch (United States Patent D508,221)
EZ roll carrier stroller (United States Patent D508,220)
Kick stand plate (United States Patent D508,219)
Buckle (United States Patent D508,218)
Ice cream cone shaped charm (United States Patent D508,217)
Ring (United States Patent D508,216)
Wireless ring out meter (United States Patent D508,215)
Pivotpoint laser level (United States Patent D508,214)
Portable GPS unit (United States Patent D508,213)
Watch chronograph (United States Patent D508,212)
Combined watch and bracelet (United States Patent D508,211)
Watch case (United States Patent D508,210)
Dispenser (United States Patent D508,209)
Container for spraying (United States Patent D508,208)
Bottle portion (United States Patent D508,207)
Container (United States Patent D508,206)
Bottle (United States Patent D508,205)
Tamper-evident band (United States Patent D508,204)
Child-resistant closure (United States Patent D508,203)
Water bottle cap (United States Patent D508,202)
Handle (United States Patent D508,201)
Container clip (United States Patent D508,200)
Grommet (United States Patent D508,199)
Cover plate for electrical devices (United States Patent D508,198)
Appliance pocket handle (United States Patent D508,197)
Handle (United States Patent D508,196)
Latch furniture (United States Patent D508,195)
Knife (United States Patent D508,194)
Curved saw (United States Patent D508,193)
Screwdriver (United States Patent D508,192)
Portable fastening machine (United States Patent D508,191)
Electric drill (United States Patent D508,190)
Abrading machine (United States Patent D508,189)
Short screw-top storage container having a base and a lid (United States Patent D508,188)
Tall threaded storage container (United States Patent D508,187)
Beverage container (United States Patent D508,186)
Water bottle lid (United States Patent D508,185)
Vehicle seat cover (United States Patent D508,184)
Seat cushion (United States Patent D508,183)
Seat cushion (United States Patent D508,182)
Foldable diaper changing article (United States Patent D508,181)
Floor covering (United States Patent D508,180)
Pot rack (United States Patent D508,179)
Bed footboard (United States Patent D508,178)
Bracket foot (United States Patent D508,177)
Furniture construction element (United States Patent D508,176)
Articulating connector (United States Patent D508,175)
Coffee table (United States Patent D508,174)
Corner table for an airplane (United States Patent D508,173)
Audio video shelving unit (United States Patent D508,172)
Entertainment center (United States Patent D508,171)
Desk hutch (United States Patent D508,170)
Display (United States Patent D508,169)
Surface pattern for sheet goods (United States Patent D508,168)
Wire basket (United States Patent D508,167)
Carrying case (United States Patent D508,166)
Scissors case (United States Patent D508,165)
Container for storing pills (United States Patent D508,164)
Guidewire hoop design (United States Patent D508,163)
Portion of a shoe midsole (United States Patent D508,162)
Portion of a shoe outsole (United States Patent D508,161)
Footwear sole (United States Patent D508,160)
Shoes (United States Patent D508,159)
Shoe (United States Patent D508,158)
Swimsuit (United States Patent D508,157)
Sleeve holder (United States Patent D508,156)
Combined container and product applicator for floor cleaning (United States Patent D508,155)
Cleaning tool (United States Patent D508,154)
Suction nozzle hood for a floor care appliance (United States Patent D508,153)
Electric vacuum cleaner body (United States Patent D508,152)
Plunger (United States Patent D508,151)
Bicycle helmet (United States Patent D508,150)
Insulating blanket (United States Patent D508,149)
Dental cleaning tool (United States Patent D508,148)
Foot scrubbing apparatus (United States Patent D508,147)
Curling iron cover (United States Patent D508,146)
Cosmetic block (United States Patent D508,145)
Flip top flame lighter (United States Patent D508,144)
Light fixture (United States Patent D508,143)
Lamp (United States Patent D508,142)
Enclosed ornate frosted drop opal lens trim (United States Patent D508,141)
Light (United States Patent D508,140)
Emergency light set (United States Patent D508,139)
Head light for a motorcycle (United States Patent D508,138)
Front combination lamp for automobile (United States Patent D508,137)
Surface configuration of a headlight for a vehicle (United States Patent D508,136)
Light bulb (United States Patent D508,135)
Door frame element (United States Patent D508,134)
Sectional overhead door (United States Patent D508,133)
Foot massage device (United States Patent D508,132)
Therapeutic device (United States Patent D508,131)
Protector for a radiography sensor pad (United States Patent D508,130)
Plug (United States Patent D508,129)
Urine collection bag (United States Patent D508,128)
Ceiling fan blade iron (United States Patent D508,127)
Ceiling fan housing (United States Patent D508,126)
Ceiling fan blade iron (United States Patent D508,125)
Ceiling fan blade iron (United States Patent D508,124)
Fan blade bracket (United States Patent D508,123)
Air flow directing fixture for heating, air conditioning and ventilation devices (United States Patent D508,122)
Ceiling fan (United States Patent D508,121)
Ceiling fan having four fans (United States Patent D508,120)
Mesh filter with glass insert (United States Patent D508,119)
Outdoor unit of air conditioner (United States Patent D508,118)
Lavatory deck (United States Patent D508,117)
Water closet (United States Patent D508,116)
Sink (United States Patent D508,115)
Lavatory (United States Patent D508,114)
Wash basin with support bracket and towel rail (United States Patent D508,113)
Sink (United States Patent D508,112)
Water spray nozzle component (United States Patent D508,111)
Faucet handle (United States Patent D508,110)
Faucet handle (United States Patent D508,109)
Showerhead (United States Patent D508,108)
Primary fluid distribution plate (United States Patent D508,107)
Lavatory device (United States Patent D508,106)
Towable diving aid (United States Patent D508,105)
Divot repair tool (United States Patent D508,104)
Golf club alignment clip (United States Patent D508,103)
Scoreline pattern for a golf club head (United States Patent D508,102)
Golf putter head cover (United States Patent D508,101)
