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

Oh, patents! Valentino Rockstud™ flat slingback pump

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The Valentino Rockstud™ slingback flat is a patented design. The US design patent, USD835895S, titled Shoe, was awarded, on Dec. 18th, 2018, to Stefano Sassi, former Chief Executive of the Valentino Fashion Group. The patent was then assigned to Valentino S.p.A., in Milan, Italy. 

According to fashion observers, the iconic Rockstud™—I mean, it’s Rockstud™—that decorates all things Valentino, lends an aristo-punk look to the luxury brand (Gilchrist, 2023). Introduced in 2010, to instantly revitalize the brand, then re-introduced anew in 2016, the Valentino Rockstud™ is now an inseparable Valentino symbol, at the intersection of rebellion and high fashion. 

The patent Figure 1, included below, depicts a perspective view of the flat Valentino Rockstud™ slingback pump. The image of a marketed two-tone (black and Valentino poudre) Rockstud™ slingback flat, is also included. 

References
Valentino Garavani online boutique 
https://www.valentino.com/en-us
Gilchrist, A. (Fall 2023).  “I Mean, It’s Rockstud”: Maison Valentino has given us a definitive excuse to indulge In Its most revered icon. Grazia Magazine.
https://graziamagazine.com/articles/valentino-i-mean-its-rockstud/

Oh, patents! Valentino Rockstud™ mule

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Famous for his elegant dresses in an eponymous shade of red* and the Rockstud™** trademark motif, the luxury Italian fashion designer, Valentino Garavani, also has several hundred patented designs. For example, the Rockstud™ mule, shown below, is a patented design.

The US design patent, USD980590, titled Shoe, was awarded on March 14th, 2023, to Pierpaolo Piccioli, Creative Director of the House of Valentino from 2008 to 2024. The patent was assigned to Valentino S.p.A. in Milan, Italy.

The patent Figure 1, showing a perspective view of the inventive design, is included below. Images of the marketed product in black and bubble gum-colored leather appear beneath the patent figure.

Notes

* Valentino red

** 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.

Reference

Valentino Garavani online boutique

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

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

Interlude - Ruth Asawa [1926-2013]

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Following a stretch at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), the Ruth Asawa Retrospective exhibit moves on to the New York City Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) from October 19, 2025 – Feb. 7, 2026. However, two of her best known public works, The Ghirardelli Square Fountain and the Grand Hyatt Hotel Fountain, remain in San Francisco,  California. The city* where she lived and worked all her life as an artist and community activist, raising six children with her husband, Albert Lanier, an architect.  

Best known for her suspended, knotted-wire sculptures that transparently defy gravity, and whose shadows are as interesting as the interconnected geometry of the pieces, Asawa’s commissioned San Francisco work was initially quite controversial. Indeed, the Ghirardelli Square Fountain depicts  two mermaids, one of which is breast-feeding her infant mermaid. The sculpture is named Andrea's Fountain, after one of Asawa's friends who was nursing at the time, and whose body she cast in plaster, to then better sculpt in wax, before casting in bronze. The fountain includes whimsical frogs that Asawa's own children also sculpted. The fountain was installed during the night to bypass conflict with the landscape architect who designed the square, and who wanted a more 'abstract' fountain design.  

Criticized as alternatively too decorative or too domestic, Asawa was also targeted for being Japanese-American, female, and from San Francisco, far from the East coast establishment. Nonetheless, Asawa was an enormously productive artist, and a beloved community activist in San Francisco. She found her voice, and her art work endured, celebrated both during her life time, and now posthumously. 

Below, an image of the landmark San Francisco Ghirardelli Square Andrea's Fountain, commissioned in 1968.  

Note

*Asawa and her husband chose to live in San Francisco, a city that would generously welcome her Japanese ancestry and bi-racial marriage. This choice came after forced internment in a barn at the Santa Anita Racetrack, at age 16 during world war II, together with thousands of other undesired people of Japanese descent, living in the United States. Despite the hardship, Asawa is said to have made the most of her internment, choosing to study painting for more than six hours a day under the supervision of Japanese Disney animators, who were also interned. In particular, she studied with Tom Okamoto, a landscape artist. Studying art contrasted with the farm work she had always performed with her family, and it confirmed her artistic talent. In Asawa's own words, regarding her internment: 

"I hold no hostilities for what happened; I blame no one. Sometimes good comes through adversity. I would not be who I am today had it not been for the Internment, and I like who I am."

References

Ruth Asawa

https://ruthasawa.com

https://ruthasawa.com/life/ (time line)

SFMOMA

https://www.sfmoma.org/visit/

NYC MOMA

https://www.moma.org

Oh, patents! Noguchi playground module

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Among fountains, gardens, courtyards and civic spaces, Isamu Noguchi also designed public playgrounds, sometimes called playscapes. He also designed playground modules to include in public spaces. For example, Noguchi designed playground modules, using tetrahedrons. Pyramid shapes, which he hollowed out, and truncated at the four apexes, so that the modules could be stacked and combined to form play structures that he called labyrinths.

Noguchi’s tetrahedron playground module is a patented invention. The US utility patent, US3666266, titled Playground Module, was awarded on May 30th, 1972, to Isamu Noguchi. 

In comparison to traditional playground structures, modeled on military boot camp equipment, the patent recites an invention striving to offer a playscape. In other words, a playground design that is architecturally interesting, aesthetically pleasing, and multifunctional. Based on the observation that children naturally liked to climb up to widen the horizon of what they can see, and that they also liked to burrow, exploring hidden places and mazes, Noguchi’s playground modules offer structures with circular ports. Ports that may be used both as steps for climbing up from one module to another, and as entrances for crawling in, from one module into another. The selected tetrahedron shape, truncated and hollowed out, then forms an octahedron, with four smaller triangular planes and four hexagonal surfaces, lending themselves perfectly to stacking into tiers, and/or for side by side interconnection to form tunnels.

The patent Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of one playground module, comprising one equilateral truncated tetrahedron. Thus, the four large surfaces 10, 11, 12 and 13 are hexagonal, whereas the four smaller surfaces 14, 15, 16, and 17 (hidden), are triangular. Additionally, the larger surfaces 10, 11, 12 and 13 are each respectively parallel to the smaller surfaces 14, 15, 16 and 17 (hidden). And all the edges of the structure are chamfered to avoid sharp edges. 

A central cavity C is further hollowed out spherically so that the interior surface is completely edge-free. Access to the central spherical cavity C is enabled through a port 10C on the large surface 10. Likewise access to the central spherical cavity C is enabled through the ports 11C, 12C and 13C, respectively on the remaining four large surfaces 11, 12 and 13.

The modules can then be assembled with recessed bolts into various play structures, using two or more modules, as shown below for the red, two-tier play structure.

The abstract of the invention appears below. 

A structural module which lends itself to the construction of playground edifices for climbing and crawling. The module is in the form of a tetrahedron whose four corners are truncated to define four triangular minor faces that are disposed in parallel relation to four major hexagonal faces, the module having a spherical central cavity. The radius of the sphere is greater than the distance between the geometrical center of the module and any major face thereof, circular ports in the major faces of the module being formed by the intersection of the spherical cavity and the major faces. A group of such modules may be interfitted in various ways, side by side as well as one above the other, to create an edifice in which one major face of each module abuts a major face of an adjacent module and in which the ports of the abutting faces are in registration, thereby interconnecting the cavities of the modules to produce a labyrinth. [Abstract US3666266]

References
Isamu Noguchi
www.Noguchi.org 
Noguchi playscapes
https://www.grimshaw.foundation/stories/noguchi-s-playscapes

Oh, patents! Noguchi's Cyclone™ table

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Isamu Noguchi’s Cyclone™ table was directly inspired by his Rocking stool. Designed for Knoll, the table was produced in varying sizes with veneer core plywood and high-pressure laminate top, mounted on a base of steel wires, and set into a cast iron foot.  

The design of the Cyclone™ table was patented. The US design patent, USD182037S, titled Table or the like, was awarded on February 4th, 1958, to Isamu Noguchi. The patent Figure 1, depicting a perspective view of the table, is included below. An image of a marketed embodiment of the Cyclone™ table with a white laminate top, is also shown beneath. 

As a reminder, a US design patent covers the ornamental aspects of an invention, or how the invention looks. In contrast, a US utility patent covers how an invention works, or is produced.

Reference
The Noguchi Museum (The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, in Long Island City, NY.)
www.noguchi.org

Knoll Cyclone™ dining table

https://www.knoll.com/design-plan/product/cyclone-dining-table?section=design

Oh, patents! Noguchi's Rocking stool

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Isamu Noguchi’s Rocking stool, designed for the Swiss furniture company Vitra in the 1950s, was re-issued by the American furniture company Knoll, from 2001 to 2009. The stool was manufactured in two sizes, low and high, made of maple on top and chrome-plated steel rods. The stool rocks gently as the base is cambered. 

The Noguchi Rocking stool design is patented. The US design patent, USD182038, titled Stool, was awarded on February 4,1958, to Isamu Noguchi. As a reminder, a US design patent only covers the ornamental aspects of an invention, or the way the invention looks. In contrast, a US utility patent covers the way an invention works and/or is produced. 

The patent Figure 1 show a perspective view of the inventive design. An early advertisement of the rocking stool is also included.

References
Knoll (company website)
www.knoll.com 
The Noguchi Museum (The Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum in Long Island City, NY.)
https://www.noguchi.org/
Vitra (company website)
www.vitra.com

Oh, Noguchi! Akari sculpture production process

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The YouTube video  below shows the internal wooden frames used to make one version of the many different Akari sculptures. The sculptures were produced at the Ozeki Jishichi Shoten (later Ozeki & Co., Ltd.), founded in 1891. A company that partnered with Isamu Noguchi to manufacture his Akari sculptures. The video also shows the stringing of bamboo ribbing onto the frames, and then the traditional art of hari (attaching paper) onto the ribbing. Both processes shown were invoked in ancient Japanese lantern-making and used for producing Noguchi’s Akari sculptures. The video concludes with images of several different Akari sculptures that Isamu Noguchi designed. 

In showing the Akari sculpture production process, this YouTube video is consonant with Isamu Noguchi words (2021): 

“I like to show the making of a thing. …A thing that continues to be made as a person looks at it.”

(1951) - Production of Akari light sculptures

https://youtu.be/hQ8SbDJ7Cck 

Reference

Noguchi in his own words. (Nov. 22, 2021). YouTube video. [04:26]. Barbican Center, London, UK. 

https://youtu.be/IbcleKnGEMU