Oh, patents! Oh, LifeSavers®!

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

LifeSavers®’ lore is sweet. According to Bellis (2025), the hard candy LifeSavers® were invented in 1912 as a heat-resistant, summer candy, an alternative to chocolate prone to melting. The first flavor was mint (Pep-O-mint). By 1919, six flavors were marketed (Wint-O-Green, Cl-O-ve, Lic-O-Rice, Cinn-O-Mon, Vi-O-Let, and Choc-O-Late). The five-fruit flavor packs (pineapple, lime, orange, cherry, and lemon) came in 1935 with flavor and formula variations to date. Most significantly, because the candies looked like little life preservers, they were called LifeSavers®.

LifeSavers® were initially packaged by hand in cardboard tubes. Tinfoil ply was introduced later to keep the candies fresher.  Machinery to package the candies was developed in the 1930s. In 2004, Wrigley acquired the company, introducing a new flavor (Hot Cin-O-Mon) and reintroducing an old mint flavor (Wint-O-Green), among other innovations. 

LifeSavers®’ two-ply, foil + wax, laminated packaging is a patented invention. The US utility patent US2926833, titled Life saver package, was awarded on March 1st, 1960, to Harry E. Engleson and Elmer D. Sramek. Specifically, the patent discloses both how the candies are wrapped and an improved way of opening the packages.  An improvement for accessing the candies, comprising a strand or thread that is secured inside the wrapper, with a protruding end that the user can pull to tear off the end of the wrapper, thereby enabling access to the candies.  

Below, the patent Figures 1 and 4, respectively depict perspective views of the stack of candies in position relative to the wrapper, and the opened package, using the opening strand. An image of an opened LifeSavers® five-flavor pack, currently marketed, is also included beneath the patent Figures 1 and 4.

Specifically, the patent Figure 1 shows a stack 11 of cylindrical candies 10, termed articles in the patent. The bottom of the stack 11 sits below the dotted fold line 22, and the top of the stack is just under the flexible opening strand or filament 19. The opening strand or filament 19, with its protruding end 20, is heat-sealed to the wrapping paper 12. The wrapping paper 12, is made of Rayseal, comprising an inner wax paper wall 18, and an outer aluminum paper wall 17. The flexible wrapping paper 12  has two parallel sides, 14 and 13, and two parallel top and bottom edges, 15 and 16. The top edge 15 will be folded and heat-sealed after the stack is tightly wrapped. 

The patent Figure 4 shows the wrapped stack 11, with an outer band of paper 30, used for labeling the product. The top 25 of the wrapped stack 11, is folded, heat-sealed, and torn off, using the protruding end 20 of the opening strand or filament 19.

References 

Bellis, M. (May 13. 2025). The History of LifeSavers® Candies. 

https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-life-savers-candy-4076664 

LifeSavors® (official website)

https://www.life-savers.com/

International Translation Day 2025

 Copyright ® Françoise Herrmann

Today is International Translation Day. A day designed to celebrate the role of translation in “connecting nations and fostering peace, understanding and development,” per the United Nations Resolution 71/288, proclaiming September 30th, International Translation Day, on May 24th, 2017.

Historically, International Translation Day dates back to 1953, when the International Federation of Translators selected September 30th, corresponding to the celebration of the Feast of Saint Jerome, a day in the Catholic liturgical calendar of Saints. This date was selected because Saint Jerome was a multilingual scholar of the 4th century, who was canonized for having first translated the Bible, from the original Hebrew and the Greek (Septuagint) versions, into a unified Latin version. Saint Jerome's more widely accessible Latin version of the Bible is called the Vulgate. During the 16th century, the Council of Trent subsequently proclaimed Saint Jerome's Vulgate the official version of the Bible for the Catholic Church.

The theme that the International Federation of Translators has selected for the year 2025 is Translation, shaping a world you can trust. A theme that relates to the AI shift in the world, and to the role that translators can play to oversee the trustworthy use of new translation technologies.

Cheers then to all translators, interpreters and terminologists! Happy International Translators Day!

References
FIT– Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs – International Federation of Translators.
https://en.fit-ift.org/
UN International Translators Day, Sept 30^th 2025.
https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-translation-day 
UN Resolution 71/288 – May 24^th 2017.
https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/71/288

Oh, patents! Valentino combat boots

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Valentino women's combat boots,  sporting a Valentino 'Vlogo' buckle, are patented. The US design patent, USD900438, titled Shoe, was awarded on November 3rd, 2020, to Stefano Sassi, former Chief Executive of the Valentino Fashion Group. The patent was then assigned to Valentino S.p.A, in Milan, Italy.

Below, the patent Figure 1, depicting a perspective view of the Valentino combat boot design. An image of the marketed Valentino combat boot is shown beneath, in black leather with Vlogo buckle.

Reference
Valentino Garavani
https://www.valentino.com/en-us/

Oh, patents! Valentino Rockstud™ flat t-strap sandal

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Valentino Rockstud™* flat t-trap sandal is a patented invention. The US design patent, USD911680S, titled Shoe, was awarded to Stefano Sassi, former Chief Executive of the Valentino Fashion Group, on March 2nd, 2021. The patent was then assigned Valentino S.p.A, in Milan Italy.

Below, the patent Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of the flat t-stap sandal.  An image of the marketed flat t-strap Rockstud™ sandal is shown beneath in black patent leather.

                                 

   

Note
* As a reminder, the Valentino Rockstud™ trademark, decorating all things Valentino, was inspired by the cut-diamond-shaped stones, adorning the architecture of old Palazzi in the Italian city of Rome. Introduced in 2010, and re-introduced in 2016, the Valentino Rockstud™ is now an inseparable Valentino symbol, at the intersection of rebellion and high fashion.

Reference

Valentino Garavani

https://www.valentino.com/en-us/

Oh, patents! Valentino Rockstud sandal

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Valentino Rockstud™* city sandal, with a 60 cm (2.5-inch) heel, is a patented invention. The US design patent, USD811703, titled Shoe, was awarded to Stefano Sassi, former Chief Executive of the Valentino Fashion Group, on March 6, 2018. The patent was then assigned to Valentino S.p.A, in Milan Italy.

Below, the patent Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of the city sandal with Rockstud™ straps. An image of the marketed Rockstud™ city sandal is shown beneath in a Valentino poudre shade of leather.

Note
* As a reminder, the Valentino Rockstud™ trademark, decorating all things Valentino, was inspired by the cut-diamond-shaped stones, adorning the architecture of old Palazzi in the Italian city of Rome. Introduced in 2010, and re-introduced in 2016, the Valentino Rockstud™ is now an inseparable Valentino symbol, at the intersection of rebellion and high fashion.

Reference

Valentino Garavani

https://www.valentino.com/en-us/

Oh, patents! Valentino Rockstud™-wrap bootties

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Rockstud™* wraparound strap decorating this Valentino bootie design. The Rockstud™-wrap bootie with a three-inch heel is covered by the US design patent, USD834794S, titled Shoe. The patent was awarded to Stefano Sassi, former Chief Executive of the Valentino Fashion Group, on July 2, 2019. The patent was then assigned to Valentino S.p.A, in Milan Italy.

Below, the patent Figure 1.1 depicts a perspective view of the Valentino Rockstud™-wrap bootie. Two images showing the wraparound strap, on right and left views of the marketed bootie, are also included. The bootie is shown in the classic Valentino poudre shade.

   

Note

* As a reminder, the Valentino Rockstud™ trademark, decorating all things Valentino, was inspired by the cut-diamond-shaped stones, adorning the architecture of old Palazzi in the Italian city of Rome. Introduced  in 2010, and re-introduced  in 2016, the Valentino Rockstud™ is now an inseparable Valentino symbol, at the intersection of rebellion and high fashion.

Reference
Valentino Garavani online boutique 
https://www.valentino.com/en-us

Oh, patents! Valentino Rockstud™ slingback stiletto pump

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Variation on the very popular Rockstud™* ornamental detail. The Valentino Rockstud™ slingback stiletto pump is a patented design. The US design patent, USD852473, titled Shoe, was awarded to Stefano Sassi, former Chief Executive of the Valentino Fashion Group, on July 2nd, 2019. The patent was then assigned to Valentino S.p.A., in Milan, Italy. 

Below, the patent Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of the Valentino  Rockstud™ stiletto slingback pump. An image of a two-tone, Valentino red and poudre, slingback stiletto pump is also included.

Note

* As a reminder, the Valentino Rockstud™ trademark, decorating all things Valentino, was inspired by the cut-diamond-shaped stones, adorning the architecture of old Palazzi in the Italian city of Rome. Introduced  in 2010, and re-introduced  in 2016, the Valentino Rockstud™ is now an inseparable Valentino symbol, at the intersection of rebellion and high fashion.

Reference

Valentino Garavani online boutique 

https://www.valentino.com/en-us