Beginning at NYU in Jan 2013 within the context of a Patents Translation course delivered online, this blog seeks to uncover the patents that rock our daily lives....
The theme for the 2022 celebration of International Translation Day (ITD) is: A world without barriers,Un monde sans barrières, Un mundo sin barreras. A theme expressed for the first time in the three official languages of the International Federation of Translators. Three official langauges, considering that Spanish was just recently voted by the XXII Statutory Congress, meeting in Varadero, Cuba,on May 31- June 6,2022, as the third official language of the Federation, together with the original French and English.
International Translation Day is celebrated on September 30th, since 1953, when the Federation selected the Day of the Feast of Saint Jerome, from the Catholic Liturgic Calendar of Saints.Saint Jerome was a multilingual scholar, in the third century AD, who was later canonized for having first translated the Bible from the original Hebrew and the Greek (Septuagint) versions, into a unified Latin version, known as the Vulgate.
More recently, on May 24, 2017, during the 71st Session of the Unites Nations General Assembly, September 30th was voted International Translation Day. This unanimous decision was set forth in UN Resolution A/RES/71/288, recognizing:
"The role of translation in connecting nations, and fostering peace, understanding and development." [UN A/RES/71/288]
This year’s theme celebrates the role of language professionals in building understanding across cultures and lasting peace. The poster, included below, was created by Jose Luis Palido, winner of the International Federation of Translators ITD poster competition.
References
International Federation of Translators (IFT) - Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT) - Federación Internacional de Traductores (FIT)
The US design patents covering the ornamental aspects of the TIEKS™ ballerina flats do not explain why TIEKS™ ballerina flats are so comfortable, practical, and stylish. Such aspects of the TIEKS™ re-invented ballerina flats are the purview the United Nations, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) utility patent WO2013022466A1, titled Split sole footwear.
The WIPO patent recites how TIEKS™ ballerina shoes were invented to reconcile modern women’s shoe dilemmas, such as the tradeoff between comfort and style, or between lightweight portability and support or durability. In other words, the inventors found a need for much improvement in the design of existing foldable-portable ballerina-type shoes. Improvements in terms of being able to use these types of shoes on hard or rugged surfaces, without wearing out the soles, thereby extending their durability and also enhancing both comfort and style. For example, TIEKS™ foldable ballerinas have a greater overall spring constant, preferably comprised between 0.55 kilogram-force/inch and 0.65 kilogram-force/inch, designed to provide more support and comfort for prolonged periods of wear. Using augmented manufacturing processes, such improvements thus informed the re-invention of the TIEKS™ split sole ballerina flats. A ballerina flat where the toe cavity tucks into the heel cavity, when the shoe is folded on an axis running between the two parts of the split sole.
For improved comfort, durability and style, specifically designed to resolve the abovementioned dilemmas, TIEKS™ ballerina flats comprise three soles: the signature, Robin’s egg-blue split sole, comprising a forefoot outsole patch and a heel outsole patch; a midsole stitched to the upper, and a separately inserted insole, with foam inlay, tapered cushioning and arch support, enabling the possibility of further bypassing the elasticized upper rim, around the heel portion, in view of enhancing comfort.
The above patent Figure 6, shows a cross-sectional view of the invention ballerina flat, in an extended state. Figure 6 further depicts a toe portion 70 and a heel portion 68, with a section 32 between the two, enabling the ballerina flat to fold on an axis within the space 32. Below the Figure 6, two additional cross-sectional views, each respectively detailing the sole regions 6A-6A in the toe section 70, and 6B-6B of the heel section 68, indexed in Figure 6.
Specifically, from top to bottom, the Figures 6A and 6B show the insole 30, with an added foam inlay 44, running the full length of the ballerina flat (shown in Figure 6), the midsole 8, and between the midsole 8 and foam inlay 44, on the heel portion 68 of the ballerina flat, a tapered cushion insert 46, designed to further absorb impact when walking on hard surfaces. The cushion insert 46, wedged between the midsole 8 and foam inlay 44, has a maximum thickness of 8 mm, at the one end 78 (indexed in Figure 6), of the heel portion 68, of the ballerina flat. The tapered engineering of the cushion insert 46 provides added lift and comfort, whereas the rigidity of the cushion insert 46 provides added durability. The cushion insert has a Shore A hardness, preferably comprised between 60 and 70, and a density, preferably comprised between 0.50 g/cm3 and 0.70 g/cm3. Finally, the two Figures 6A and 6B, depict the two separate outsole patches 26 and 24 of the split sole, directly interfacing the ground. For added durability, the outsole patches 26 and 24 are designed with grooves (non- depicted), within which to accommodate the seam stitching, and thereby protect the stitching from wear.
The patent also discloses the black drawstring pouch designed for stowing the folded ballerina flats. The signature blue tote for carrying an extra pair of shoes is also recited in this patent.
Below, a YouTube video highlighting a few testimonials in regard to the TIEKS™ re-invented ballerina flats.
Below, the abstract of the TIEKS split sole footwear invention.
A shoe comprising an upper forming an interior portion for a foot, the interior portion including toe and heel cavities, is provided. The shoe further comprises a midsole having toe and heel ends and inner and outer sides. The midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion. Heel and toe outsole patches are respectively stitched onto the midsole. An insole is affixed to the bottom of the interior portion. A spacing between the heel and toe outsole patches extends from the inner to the outer side and occupies a position intermediate the toe and heel ends thereby permitting the shoe to fold about an axis running through the spacing. The shoe folds between an extended state, in which the shoe is worn, and a folded state in which a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity. [AbstractWO2013022466A1]
Twenty-two-year old Mahsa Amini, a young Generation Z Kurdish Iranian woman, died on Friday, September 16, 2022 in Iran, at the hands of the Morality Police, after having been allegedly beaten, in the patrol van, after her arrest, on Sept 13, 2022. She was arrested in her brother’s car, because she was improperly wearing her “hijab” (i.e.; her scarf was not fully covering her hair). She was on her way to visit family members. The police claim she died of a heart attack. United Nations (UN) Human Rights experts state:
“She is another victim of Iran’s sustained repression and systematic discrimination against women and the imposition of discriminatory dress codes that deprive women of bodily autonomy and the freedoms of opinion, expression and belief”. [Staff, UN Human Rights]
Her death has enflamed Iran, where women are cutting their hair and burning hijabs in protest, in at least 40 cities. Indeed, her death has sparked outrage worldwide (Engelbrecht & Fassihi, 2021, NYTimes). Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iranian women have been subjected to strict dress codes, including mandatory use of the hijab (head scarf). Since the election, in June 2021, of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, an Islamist hardline jurist, the Morality Police has been given free rein to enforce all the provisions of Islamic law. (Mackintosh, E. , 2022, CNN).
UN Human Rights experts have called for an independent investigation into the circumstances of Mahsa’s death, who has become a symbol of the current regime’s brutality towards women. UN Human Rights experts further state:
“We strongly condemn the use of physical violence against women and the denial of fundamental human dignity when enforcing compulsory hijab policies ordained by State authorities.” [Staff, UN Human Rights]
Below, the photo of Mahsa Amini released by her family, upheld by women brandishing their scarves in defiance of Islamic Law in Iran, at the peril of their own lives. [For more images see Staff, Le Monde.]
Staff (September 2022). UN human rights experts strongly condemn the death of Mahsa Amini, ‘victim of Iran’s sustained repression’. UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/09/1127471
TIEKS™ are marketed in a TIEKS™ signature-blue gift box, wrapped in an elastic ribbon, with a TIEKS™ crystal-centered flower, in varying colors. Each fabulous little gift box contains a pair of folded ballerina flats with the TIEKS™ blue split soles, the pouch to stow them in your purse, the tote to carry an extra pair of shoes, a thank-you note, and a care card. A gift patented many times over, since the designs of the ballerina flats, the signature-blue split soles, the pouch, the tote, and the gift box, are all parented.
Indeed, the design of the signature-blue TIEKS™ gift box was awarded the US design patent, USD680007, titled Box with ribbon. The patent was awarded on April 16, 2013, to Kfir Gavrielli and Dikla Gavireli, both founders of TiEKS by Gavrieli.
Below, the Figure 1, extracted from the patent, together with an image of a marketed TIEKS™ signature-blue gift box. The patent Figure 1 depicts a front perspective of the invention gift box with a ribbon. Notice that the patent figure flower is drawn using broken lines. The broken lines indicate the flower is not covered by the gift box design patent. The image of the marketed TIEKS™ signature-blue gift box shows a sapphire blue elastic ribbon with a sapphire blue-crystal-studded holiday flower.
Shana tova - שנה טובה
Reference TIEKS™ by Gavrieli (website) www.tieks.com
The TIEKS™ blue tote, included in the sale of a pair of TIEKS™ ballerina flats, is also patented. This is the tote intended to carry the extra pair of shoes you are wearing, before you slip into a pair of TIEKS™. For example, the pair of high-heel pumps that you might bring to wear at work, after you slip out of your TIEKS™ ballerina flats, used to navigate urban pavements.
The US design patent, USD672550, titled Tote bag, covers the ornamental properties of the TIEKS™ blue tote. The patent was awarded on Dec. 18, 2022, to Kfir Gavrielli and Dikla Gavirelli, the inventors, and co-founders of TIEKS™ by Gavrieli.
Below, the patent Figure 1 depicts a front perspective view of the TIEKS™ tote bag. The broken lines, outlining the shoes shown inside the tote, together with the stitching, and inside pocket, indicate ornamental aspects of the invention design that are unprotected. An image of the marketed blue TIEKS™ tote is also included.
The TIEKS™ pouch, marketed with the TIEKS™ ballerina flats, and intended to carry a pair of folded TIEKS™ in a purse, is a patented design. The US design patent, USD672552, titled Pouch, covers the ornamental aspects of this invention. The patent was awarded on Dec. 18, 2012 to Kfir Gavrieli and Dilka Gavrieli, co-founders of TIEKS™ by Gavrieli.
The patent Figure 6 is included below, depicting a top view of the pouch design. The broken lines that show the stitching, parts of the pouch, and the ends of the drawstring are excluded from coverage of the design. An image of a folded pair of snake print TIEKS™ ballerina flats, with trademark blue soles, shown inside a TIEKS™ pouch, is also included.
TIEKS'™ signature blue outsole toe patches are patented. The US design patent, USD664755S, titled Toe outsole patches was awarded, on August 7, 2012, to Kfir and Dikla Gavrieli, the inventors and sibling co-founders of TIEKS by Gavrieli. The Robin’s egg blue toe patch is part of the split-sole of the re-invented ballet flats, that fold into a small pouch, while providing the perfect combination of flexibility and cushioning.
The patent coversheet drawing is included below, together with a bottom view image of a TIEKS™ ballerina flat. The selected drawing depicts a bottom view of the toe patch, together with one of the side views. The patent further specifies that the stippling, shown at the tip and upper right corner of the toe patch, depicts surface treatment, occurring on the whole surface of the outsole patch.
A US design patent only covers the ornamental aspects of an invention, or how the invention looks. Thus, the TIEKS™ toe outsole US design patent does not cover any of the comfort or resiliency properties of the invention patches, which are covered in utility patents, together with manufacturing processes.
The TIEKS™ Youtube video shows TIEKS'™ Big comfort, Big performance.
Wear’m, fold’m, and stow’m in your purse, TIEKS™ ballerina flats are not only versatile little shoes, they are engineered for comfort. In fact, they are the shoes that Oprah would wear, if she walked to work (Desmarais, 2022). With a patented split sole, the color of Robin’s egg blue, reminiscent of Tiffany’s trademark blue, these ballet flats are indeed jewels on your feet, on more counts than one.
The split sole enables each ballet flat to fold (see image below), so that a pair might fit into a small pouch, easily stowed in a purse. As a result, each pair of TIEKS™ comes with a small pouch, and a larger tote designed to accommodate (and carry) the other pair of shoes you use, after or before you switch, to or from your TIEKS™. In other words, no more switching to bulky sports shoes to hit the asphalt after work, 9 to 5 in the financial district. TIEKS™ could even fit in your pocket, for every time you needed to switch, and bounce into the comfort of these little ballet flats.
TIEKS™ are quite extensively patented shoes. The following US design patents cover just the ornamental aspects of the split sole ballet shoe, comprising two blue outsole patches, on every pair of some 60 different models.
As a reminder, a US design patent covers the way an invention looks, in contrast to the ways an invention works, or is manufactured. The way an invention works, or is manufactured, is covered in US utility patents. For TIEKS™, this would be the way the invention is engineered for comfort, in contrast to the design patents listed above, that cover just their design, or the way they look.
Below, the cover sheet drawing extracted from the US design patent USD668847S depicts top and bottom views of the patented ornamental design of the TIEKS™ split sole shoe.
The short TIEKS™ Youtube video below depicts TIEKS™ styles, in some of the 60 different color-material combinations available.
