Patent Attorney and Founder
Did you know you could patent something like this: a ring, jewelry, necklaces, bracelets, and even your watch? Yeah, it can be patented with a design patent. I’m J.D. Houvener, founder, and owner here at Bold Patents Law Firm, and I’m going to share with you three cool examples of rings that have been patented through the design patent system of USPTO.
First up, I want to talk about what a design patent even is and what the difference between that and a Utility Patent is. Really briefly, a design patent governs the way that something looks. It is the first of its kind in that specific category and must be novel and non-obvious above previous designs that have come before. So, it’s got to be first of its kind, but it doesn’t protect what it does; it just protects the way it looks. What you’ll own is a set of drawings.
Now, on the Utility Patent side, which is where probably 80 percent of all patents that are issued today govern functionality – what something does – that requires a whole long specification, written description, and a lot of legalese, honestly, with the written claims that are at the very end of the patent. Design patents are a lot more straightforward and sometimes can provide that additional benefit on the enforcement side.
Alright, so let’s take a look at some three cool examples. The first one looks like a ring pop if you’ve ever had it. I mean, they’re awesome, but this one, although it’s made by the same manufacturer, opens up. It’s the design for a case – a fun toy that looks like a lollipop but is actually a toy. They did some interesting and smart choices here, using dash lines on the hinge and the little toy to leave it open for interpretation, perhaps a spring or a mechanical hinge.
Number two is a classic ring design, like a wedding ring, with mounts for diamonds or jewelry. The drawing is sufficient, and this design patent was granted to De Beers, a famous jewelry designer, giving exclusive rights for 15 years.
Number three is interesting. It looks functional, but they only own the design. It’s a smartphone ring issued in 2018. The ring can attach magnetically to the back of the phone. While it has inherent functionality, they claim only what’s in solid lines – the design.
I wanted to show these ring designs to get you excited. Maybe you have your own jewelry design, whether it’s a bracelet or a necklace, and you’re interested in moving forward. If you are, click the link in the description below, schedule a free call with us today. And if you’re new to our channel, subscribe. I’m J.D. Houvener, owner, founder here at Bold Patents Law Firm. Take care, everybody. Go big, go bold.