Oh, patents! Kenzo™ Kalifornia bag

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Combining West Coast attitude with Parisian chic, the Kenzo™ Kalifornia bag was awarded the US design patent USD758721, titled Handbag. Below, the patent Figure 1, together with an image of one of the marketed Kenzo™ Kalifornia bag models.

The broken lines of the patent drawing are specified as an "environment that forms no part of the claimed design". As a result, variation might exist, for example, in the design of the strap, which might be made of canvas, leather, or metal chain, and of varying lengths.

As a reminder: “a utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 171), while a “design patent” protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171) [MPEP Chapt. 1502.01; [R-07.2015]].

  

References

KENZO™
www.kenzo.com

USPTO - MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent.
https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html

Oh, Patents - Oofos (2)

 Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The original OOFos® thong sandal was awarded the US design patent USD621594S1, titled Sandal. The cover sheet patent drawing is included below, together with an image of one marketed embodiment of the patented design. As a reminder, a design patent covers only the ornamental aspects of an invention, or the way the invention looks. Design patents contrast with utility patents, which cover how an invention works, is manufactured, or how the invention might be used.

The patent drawing below depicts lower and upper perspectives of the sandal. Per the specification of the design patent USD621594S1: 

"Straps of the sandal are shown in broken line for illustrative purposes only and form no part of the claimed design." 

Such a recitation gives more scope to the patented sandal design, which can have varying uppers. For example, the subsequent Oofos® slide sandal model, included below the patent drawing, falls within the scope of the patented sandal design, because of its footbed, even though the sandal has a slide upper, different from the broken line thong design of the drawing.

Reference

Oofos® (website) https://www.oofos.com/