Oh, patents! Ruth Asawa Lanier (USD185504)

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Some patented designs never make it to mass production (Hindle, 2005). This was the case for the following design patent, USD185504, titled Panel for walls, ceilings, screens and the like, granted on June 16, 1959, to Ruth Asawa Lanier. A patent that covered origami-type paper-folding to create cladding for various vertical surfaces. 

The patent Figures 1-5 are included below. The Figures 1-5 respectively depict: a front elevational view of the panel (Fig. 1); a sectional view through line 2-2 on Figure 1 (Fig. 2); a sectional view through line 3-3 on Figure 1 (Fig. 3); a sectional view through line 4-4 on Figure 1 (Fig. 4), and a sectional view through line 5-5 on Figure 1 (Fig. 5).

Below the patent Figures 1-5, a photograph, showing Albert Lanier, Ruth Asawa’s husband, in front of a panel, cladding a wall with the patented design.

References
Ruth Asawa
https://ruthasawa.com
Hindle, N. (Aug, 8, 2025). The patent that went nowhere. The Artian.
https://theartian.com/ruth-asawa-patent-collaboration/
Steinberg, S. (Dec.-Jan 2008) . Obituary: Albert Lanier, neighborhood architect dies at 81. Noe Valley Voice. 
https://www.noevalleyvoice.com/2008/December-January/Lan.html