Oh, patents! Carolina Herrera (1) Perfume bottle for women

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The stunning capsule-shaped 212 Carolina Herrera perfume line is conditioned in a patented perfume bottle. The 212 Carolina Herrera perfume bottle, for women, was awarded the US design patent USD721283 (S) titled Perfume bottle.

As a reminder a US design patent is different from a US utility patent, in that:

 “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)” (USPTO)

The patent drawings Fig. 1 & 2 of the perfume bottle are included below, together with marketed embodiments of the bottle in the 212 Carolina Herrera line of perfume. In particular, the following 212 Carolina Herrera lines are included: 212 NYC, 212 VIP in silver and gold, 212 VIP Rosé, 212 Sexy, 201 POP, 212 Surf and 212 Glam.

References
Carolina Herrera
https://www.carolinaherrera.com/

MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent

https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html

Oh, patents! Étoile Satchel Bag

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Designed by the famous French fashion designer, Isabel Marant, the Étoile Satchel bag is also patented.

The Étoile Satchel bag was awarded the US design patent USD630434 (S) titled Handbag. 

As a reminder a US design patent is different from a US utility patent, in that: 

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)” (USPTO)

Below, the front and back drawings extracted from the design patent, together with front and back images of the manufactured Étoile Satchel bag. 

Reference

MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent

https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.htm l
Isabel Marant

https://www.isabelmarant.com/us/

Oh, patents! UGG® boot wrap

Copyright © Françoie Herrmann

If you would like to give your UGG® boots a new look, more slip resistance, or even just a bit more height, then you might splurge on some boot wraps, also called boot sole covers. These spare soles slip onto the outsoles of your boots, just like a cell phone cover, giving them a more personalized appearance and style. A 21^stcentury take on galoshes, UGG®  boot wraps come in a palette of neon colors, camo, leopard or zebra stripe prints!

The 21^st century UGG® boot galosh is also an invention, recited in US patent application US2016/0088897A1  titled - Sole shoe wearable over boot. The abstract of this invention is included below, together with a patent drawing showing an explanation view of how the slip-on sole is worn over a boot. An image of UGG® boots all dressed up with the manufactured spare sole product is included above. 

A sole shoe wearable over a boot includes: a sole having a top surface, a bottom surface and a sole edge line forming a first loop; a flange extending upwardly from and along the sole edge line to fonn a second loop above the first loop. where a groove is formed in an outer surface of the flange and along the sole edge line; and a grid structure fanned in cross of side to side horizontal plates and front to rear vertical plates, on a rear part of the sole top surface, where a cross support is formed on and around each cross of the horizontal and vertical plates, where the horizontal and vertical plates are substantially incremental in height from around a center of the sole top surface toward the rear part of the sole top surface. [Abstract US 2016/0088897 A1]

Reference
UGG® (website)
www.ugg.com 

Oh, patents! UGG® boot pocket

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Your favorite pair of UGG® winter boots might be your favorite pair of Spring boots this year.  Brrrr! In 2018, it is still snowing in Washington DC, in April…!

Since 1978, soft sheepskin UGG® boots have rolled out in many different styles, in every color of the rainbow, pastels included, with bows, buckles, buttons and Velcro® fasteners, in collaboration with famous designers such as Jimmy Choo, or famous athletes such the American football quarterback Tom Brady. From Southern California to Soho in NYC, Paris, London, Venice (Italy), Japan and 50 stores in China, UGG® boots, and more UGG®-wear, have conquered the world!

However, only the Big Kid UGG® Houndstooth boot is equipped with a secret patented pocket, just inside the leg lining of the right boot. 

The UGG® Houndstooth boot stow pocket, designed to keep portable devices safe, is recited in the US patent application US20110225849A1, titled Pocket System. 

The abstract of the patent application is included below, together with one of the patent drawings, showing a top plan view of the pocket inside the lining of the right boot, and a top plan view a marketed UGG® Houndstooth boot, also showing the hidden pocket

A pocket system including a pocket inside the leg portion of a boot, wherein the leg portion provides an interior space between the leg portion of the boot and a leg of a wearer of the boot suitable for tucking-in a leg of a trouser, and the pocket is so constructed and arranged to receive insertion and removal of a PDA, and to surround the same for safekeeping. An embodiment of the pocket system comprises a removable lining serving as a purse or wallet [Abstract US20110225849A1]

Reference
UGG® website
https://www.ugg.com/

Oh, Google Doodle! Maya Angelou

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Today, Google Doodle celebrates Maya Angelou's 90th birthday, with one of her most famous poems "Still I rise"  The poem is read Round Robin by Maya Angelou, Alicia Keys, America Ferrara, Martina McBride, Guy Johnson, Laverne Cox and Oprah Winfrey. It is also fabulously animated and illustrated by Google Doodle.

Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was an American Civil Rights Activist, author and poet. I know why The Caged Bird Sings (1969). is her most famous book. 

Google Doodle - April 4, 2018 (Click here)

Maya Angelou: Selected bibliography

Autobiography, fiction and essays

• Angelou, M. (1969) I know why the cage bird sings
• Angelou, M. (1976) Singing and swingin', and gettin' merry like Christmas
• Angelou, M. (1981) The heart of a woman
• Angelou, M. (1991) All God's children need traveling shoes
• Angelou, M. (1994) Wouldn't take nothing for my journey now
• Angelou, M. (2002) A song flung up to heaven
• Angelou, M. (2013) Mom and me and mom
• Angelou, M. (2009) Letters to my daughter
• Angelou, M. (1998) Even the stars look lonesome
• Angelou, M. (2009) Gather together in my name

Poetry

• Angelou, M. (1971) Just give me a cool drink of water 'fore I diiie
• Angelou, M. (1975) Oh pray my wings are gonna to fit me well
• Angelou, M. (1978) And Still I rise
• Angelou, M. (1983) Shaker, why don't you sing
• Angelou, M. (1990) I shall not be moved
• Angelou, M. (1993) On the pulse of morning
• Angelou, M. (1995) Phenomenal Woman: Four poems celebrating women
• Angelou, M, (1997) Poems 
• Angelou, M. (2006) Celebrations: Rituals of peace and payer
• Angelou, M. (2010) Amazing Peace: A celebration
• Angelou, M. (2014) His day is done: A Nelson Mandela Tribute

Cooking

• Angelou, M. (2004) Hallelujah! The welcome table
• Angelou, M. (2010) Great food, all day long

Children's books

• Angelou, M., Basquiat, J.M. & S.J. Boyer  (1993) Life does not frighten me
• Angelou, M. (1994) My painted house, my friendly chicken and me
• Angelou, M. (2004) Maya's world: Angelina of Italy
• Angelou, M. (2004) Maya's world: Izak of Lapland
• Angelou, M. (2004) Maya's world: Mikale of Hawaii
• Angelou, M. (2004) Maya's world: Renee Marie of France

References

Maya Angelou (Website)

https://www.mayaangelou.com/

Google Doodle - Maya Angelou

https://www.google.com/doodles/dr-maya-angelous-90th-birthday 

Oh, April Fool! T-Mobile's Sidekicks

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

On the biggest prank day of the year., introducing the world first Shoe Phone!

The T-Mobile's SmartShoePhone™ includes a toe camera, retractable lacebuds, the NO BS® personal assistant, TOE TAP contact share, Sole Speaker sync and Hazard Avoidance sensors. Just Sidekick it!

Oh, patents! Tattoos

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Got a tattoo?  Tattooing is a very ancient and multicultural practice. 

In an interesting and recently published article, in France's daily Le Monde, on the occasion of the Paris World Tattoo Convention, held on March 9-11, 2018, the long and global history of tattoos is spotlighted (Geoffroy, 2018).

Tattooing dates back thousands of years. The oldest known Iceman, nicknamed “Otzi” because he was found at the frontier of the Austrian and Italian border in the Otzal Alps, has tattoos on his chins. Otzi dates back to 3300 BC. His tattoos were made by rubbing charcoal on incisions in his skin.

The origin of the word “tattoo” is believed Polynesian. “Tatau” in Polynesian was a marker of social class, performed at various junctures of life, as far back as 1300 BC.

In Japan, during the Edo Period (1603 – 1868), criminals and prisoners were branded with tattoos on their forehead or forearms. Despite the negative connotations, people got body tattoos, called irezumi, until tattoos were outlawed in Japan, between 1872 and 1948.

In Europe, tattoos, considered pagan rituals, were outlawed by the Church in 728, citing the Old Testament Book of Leviticus 19:28 which forbids incisions to the skin, and images of God.  Tattoos then re-surfaced during the 18^th century, with sailors returning tattoed from Polynesia. 

In the Soviet Union, tattoos were also connected to the prison world. Prison tattoos tell stories, and code the criminal’s path.

In the US, the first patented tattooing machine dates back to 1891. The US patent US464801, titled Tattooing Machne, was awarded to Samuel F. Reilly, a citizen of New York State. The patent recites an improvement to tattooing machines, complete with an electromotor mounted on a combination tubular handle and ink reservoir, a guide to execute the designs, and a gage to regulate the depth at which the needle perforates the skin.  

Whether underground or highly fashionable, tattoos in the US have been here for a few centuries, and nothing indicates they will disappear anytime soon.  

Reference

Mondial du Tatouage (March 9-111, 2018)
http://www.mondialdutatouage.com/2018/

Geoffory, R. (2018 - March 10) Le tatouage un art primitif devenu populaire.

http://abonnes.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2018/03/10/le-tatouage-un-art-primitif-devenu-populaire_5268864_3246.html