Patents on the soles of your shoes...

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Oh, patents! Étoile Satchel Bag

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/

Friday, April 6, 2018

Oh, patents! UGG® boot wrap

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

Thursday, April 5, 2018

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/

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Oh, Google Doodle! Maya Angelou

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

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Oh, April Fool! T-Mobile's Sidekicks

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!

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

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

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Oh, patents! 3Doodler® pen

Here is one fun and mighty pen!

3Doodler® pens enable you to draw in 3D. The 3Doodler® pens extrude plastic filaments which harden fast enough for users to draw in 3D. The original 3Doodler® Create pens (see the first video) were designed for adult hobbyists, artists, and designers, whereas the 3Doodler® Start pens, equipped with special eco-friendly plastic that does not need too much heat to extrude, were designed for kids (8 years or older), and for use in educational settings for the development of spatial skills. However, the latest 3Doodler® Pro pens enable users to doodle with different materials such as wood composite, copper, bronze and polycarbonates. Thus, the latest series of 3Doodler® Pro pens actually target architects and professional designers, who also love to doodle, and who might be interested in doodling in mid-air. For example, see David Blau, filmmaker and animator, in the second video.

The 3Doodle® pen invention is recited as a device in the domain of 3D printing, in the US patent application US20180009161A1, titled Hand-held three-dimensional drawing device. In contrast to 3D printers which require the use of a computer both to design the object that will be printed, and to control the extrusion of materials, 3D pens extrude materials for making a 3D object that is drawn by hand. The invention explicitly aims to support imagination and the exploration of 3D space, without technical engineering, design background, or training in the use of advanced software.

The 3Doodler® pen also plugs into a socket for immediate use and offers tracing templates for various shapes to be used for building bigger objects. The 3Doodler® invention, in particular, provides users with control for adjusting the rate of extrusion, the heat of the extrusion, the direction of the filament extrusion and for starting and stopping the extrusion, all of which happens in a small enough space for the pen to be comfortably handheld.

The Abstract for the 3Doodler® pen invention is included below, together with a patent drawing combining Figures 4 and 5, respectively showing a cross-sectional view of the 3Doodler® pen (Fig. 4), and a highlighted detail of the extrusion space, at the extruding tip of the pen (Fig. 5).

A hand-held three-dimensional drawing device can include an anti-rotation mechanism that can restrict rotation of a filament moving through the device. The anti-rotation mechanism can have a filament-engaging component in a passage of the anti-rotation mechanism and positioned to engage and restrict rotation a filament extending through the passage. The drawing device can also include a moveable member to control an operation of the drawing device. The moveable member can include a rotatable control mechanism including a portion of an outer profile of a housing of the device. Finally, the drawing device can also include a cover member comprising a portion of an outer profile of housing of the device and positioned adjacent to an actuator to control an operation of the device. [Abstract US2018000916]