Friday, November 8, 2019

Oh, patents! Fendi® (2) Sock-Sneaker

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Also awarded to Maria Silvia Venturini Fendi, on April 9, 2019, the US design patent USD844948, titled Shoe, a shoe marketed as the Sock-Sneaker. The Sock-Sneaker is a slip-on, high-top sneaker with a  knitted upper that hugs the wearer’s foot and ankle.  

The Fendi® Sock-Sneaker upper is knitted in a variety of different patterns. Below, the patent Figure 1, and two different marketed Sock-Sneaker models: one with a striped upper, and the other embellished with pearl beads.




As a reminder:  “a utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a “design patent” protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171) [MPEP Chapt. 1502.01; [R-07.2015]]. 

References
Fendi®
https://www.fendi.com/us/
MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent
https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html