Patents on the soles of your shoes...: design patent

Showing posts with label design patent. Show all posts

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Oh, patents! HOKA (4) - Midsole design.

Like the brand name HOKA, the 2017 Arahi running shoes also have a Maori name. Arahi in the Maori language of New Zealand means “to lead” or “to guide”, consonant with “pathfinder”. Additionally, the 2017 HOKA One One* Arahi midsole is a patented design.

The US design patent USD790174, titled Footwear midsole was awarded on June 27, 2017, to Kyle Pulli (US), and assigned to Deckers Outdoor Corporation in California. As a reminder, a US design patent covers the ornamental properties of an invention, or what the object looks like. In contrast, a US utility patent covers the functional properties of the design, or how an invention works and/or is manufactured (USPTO – MPEP).

The below patent Figure 1 depicts a front perspective view of the patented design, together with an image of a marketed 2017 HOKA One One Arahi women’s running shoe. The broken lines on the drawing indicate those parts of the design that are excluded from patent protection.

_____

*Note - Originally, the brand name HOKA, meaning "to fly" in Maori, was called HOKA One One - "to fly over the earth", pronounced "Oh-nay, Oh-nay", a term which means "earth" in Maori. Thus, some of the early models are prefixed with the original brand name HOKA One One.

References

Deckers (website)

https://www.deckers.com/

HOKA (website)

https://www.hoka.com/en/us/

USPTO MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent.

https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html

Friday, June 26, 2026

Oh, patents! HOKA (3) - Midsole design.

The HOKA Speedgoat 6 trail-running shoe also features a patented midsole. The US design patent, USD992249, titled Footwear midsole, was awarded on July 18, 2023, to three inventors: Matthew James Head (US), Tom Matic (GB) and Tom Weightman(GB). The patent is assigned to Deckers Outdoor Corporation, in California.

Below the patent Figure 3 depicts a side elevation view of the patented design. Broken lines at the junction of the midsole and upper indicate the portions of the design that are unclaimed in the patent. As a reminder, a US design patent covers the ornamental properties of an invention, or what the object looks like. In contrast, a US utility patent covers the functional aspects of an invention, or how an invention works and/or is manufactured (USPTO – MPEP).

The image of a HOKA Speedgoat 6 GTX sports shoe is also included below, showing a marketed embodiment of the patented midsole design.

*****

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fastest goat?

Reference
HOKA (website)
https://www.hoka.com/en/us/

USPTO MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent.

https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Oh, patents! HOKA (2) - Midsole design.

Midsoles are at the heart of HOKA footwear innovation. Embedded with varying support structures, HOKA midsoles provide foam cushioning and variable curves, carefully calculated to harness more or less propulsion, depending on the user’s purposes (e.g., running, jogging or walking).

The US design patent, USD790175S, titled Footwear midsole, was awarded on June 27th, 2017, to Kyle Pulli, and assigned to Deckers Outdoor Corporation, the company that acquired HOKA in 2013. As a reminder, a US design patent covers the ornamental properties of an invention, or what the invention looks like. In contrast, a US utility patent covers the functional properties of an invention, or how an invention works and/or is manufactured (USPTO – MPEP).

The patent Figure 1 below depicts a front perspective view of the midsole design. The broken lines on the drawing indicate those parts of the design that are excluded from patent protection. The image of a 2017 HOKA One One* Gaviota women’s shoe, depicting a marketed embodiment of the patented midsole design, is also included below.

-----

References

Deckers (website)

https://deckers.com/

HOKA (website)
https://www.hoka.com/en/us/
USPTO MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent.
https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Oh, patents! Blu Dot furniture (4)

The Blue Dot Rule Console, with two softclose doors and two softclose drawers, is part of a 5-piece Blu Dot Rule Collection, comprising nightstand, large dresser, chiffonier and 1-door 2 drawers console. The pieces are all about geometry, each resting on a powder-coated steel base.

The Rule Console design was granted the US design patent USD870492S, titled Console. The patent was awarded to Warren Young, an in-house designer at Blu Dot, on December 24, 2019.

The patent Figure 1 together with an image of a marketed Rule Console in solid oak veneer, are enclosed below.

Reference

Blu Dot furniture

https://www.bludot.com/

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Oh, patents! Blu Dot furniture (3)

The Blu Dot Host Chair is a bucket dining chair made of engineered wood and molded foam for generous padding and comfort. The Blu Dot Host chair was granted the US design patent USD890541S, titled Chair. The patent was awarded on July 21, 2020 to B. Bradshaw Bray, former Senior designer at Blu Dot. The patent is assigned to Blu Dot Design & Manufacturing in Minneapolis, MN.

The patent Figure 1, together with an image of a marketed embodiment of the Host Chair, is included below. The two broken lines running down the middle of the chair indicate that all portions of the design are covered, since nothing appears between the broken lines, which conventionally mark boundaries between what is claimed and unclaimed in a patent.

Reference
Blue Dot
https://www.bludot.com/

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Oh, patents! Blu Dot furniture (2)

The Blu Dot Neat Chair, shown below in charcoal wool-blend felt, is completely covered from top to bottom in felt. Under the felt, the Neat Chair has a wood frame, injected foam, and metal legs. The “footie pajama” design is built to offer soft, comfortable seating.

The Blu Dot Neat Chair is also a patented design. The US design patent, USD845021S, titled Dining Chair, was awarded to B. Bradshaw Bray, former Senior Designer at Blu Dot, on April 9th, 2019. The patent was assigned to Blu Dot Design & Manufacturing, Inc., Minneapolis, MN.

The patent Figure 1, depicting a front-right perspective view of the chair, is also included below. The dotted lines at the bottom of the four chair legs indicate that the small chair feet form no part of the claimed design.

Reference

Blu Dot

https://www.bludot.com/

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Oh, patents! Blu Dot furniture (1)

Founded in Minneapolis, in 1997, by college friends, architects and sculptor, John Christakos, Maurice Blanks, and Charlie Lazo, Blu Dot seeks to make good design accessible to as many people as possible. Everything that is sold at Blu Dot stores is designed in-house.

In 2018, the company was awarded the prestigious Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Museum, National Design Award, in the category of Product Design. The company was also granted several US design patents.

For example, the US Design patent, USD905978S, titled Seating unit, was awarded on Dec. 29th, 2020, to Blu Dot Designer, Scott Smrstick. The patent was then assigned to Blu Dot Design & Manufacturing, Inc., in Minneapolis, MN.

The patent Figure 1, showing a front upper perspective view of the design, is included below. The two symbolic broken lines, running the length of the design, indicate that all portions of the design are covered, since nothing appears between the broken lines, which conventionally mark boundaries between what is claimed and unclaimed in a patent.

An image of a marketed embodiment of the design, in velvet, is also included below, facing the patent Figure 1. The invented design is designated the Bloke Lounge Chair in stores.

References
Blu Dot
https://www.bludot.com/
2018 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award Winners
https://www.cooperhewitt.org/national-design-awards/2018-national-design-awards-winners/

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Oh, patents! Voltpost EV charger design patent (2)

The Voltpost wraparound EV charger solution was also awarded the US design patent, USD1089074S1, titled Electric vehicle charging station. The patent covers the ornamental features of the EV charging station invention. This design patent was awarded to Joern Vicari, Jeffrey Borges Jones, Yang Cheng, Yerin Cho, Chiraag M Hebbar and Alejandro Enrique Vallejo, on August 19, 2025. The patent was then assigned to Voltpost Inc., in New York, NY.

Below, the extracted patent Figure 3 drawing shows a perspective view of the EV charging station, with the charging cable handle disconnected from the charging station. The broken lines marking the disconnected charging cable indicate that the charging cable is unprotected. An image of the marketed Voltpost EV charging station, located on Howard Street, in San Francisco, appears next the patent Figure 3. The neon yellow charging cable is depicted plugged into an electric vehicle.

Reference
Voltpost

https://www.voltpost.com/

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Oh, patents! Voltpost EV charger design patent (1)

The Voltpost wraparound EV charger solution was also awarded US design patents, covering the ornamental features of the invention. For example, the US design patent, USD1055844S1, titled Charging station was awarded to Joern Vicari Joel Rapaport and Jeffrey B. Jones, on December 31, 2024, for the design of the Generation 1 Voltpost EV charger that wraps around the base of a lampost. The patent was then assigned to Voltpost, Inc., in New York, NY.

Below, the extracted patent Figure 1 drawing shows a perspective view of the Voltpost EV charger. The broken lines marking the charging cable, connected to the wraparound EV charger, indicate that this part of the design is unprotected. An image of the marketed Voltpost charger, Generation 1, appears next to the patent figure drawing. The charging cable on the image appears in neon yellow.

Reference
Voltpost
https://www.voltpost.com/

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Oh, patents! The Coca-Cola bottle (3)

A third Coca-Cola bottle design patent, USD105529, titled Design for a bottle, was issued on August 3, 1937, to Eugene Kelly, a citizen of the United States, residing in Toronto, Canada, who then assigned the patent to The Coca-Cola Company, in Wilmington, Delaware. This was the last design patent filed for Coca-Cola glass bottles, before the bottle was trademarked, in 1960, and therefore protected from use by others for as long as the trademark was renewed and fees paid.

The 1937 Coca-Cola bottle design patent was issued upon expiration of the 1923 Christmas Day patent, in other words, exactly 14 years later. Experts have noted that the patent drawing for the 1937 bottle appears exaggerated, almost caricatured, presumably so that the design could appear different enough to be patentable (Lockhart & Porter, 2010). Thus, the 1937 design patent depicted the distinctive bottle contours as almost elliptical, to clearly differentiate the Coca-Cola bottle from any other bottle on the market. The patent design also depicted a space of interrupted contours, around the bottle, reserved for the Coca-Cola embossed logo, which is not shown, again to protect the secrecy of the design.

Below, the extracted 1937 Coca-Cola bottle design patent, Figure 1, depicting a side view of the Coca-Cola bottle design. The patent drawing appears next to a Georgia Green marketed embodiment of the design, showing the embossed CocaCola logo and patent number D105529 in the reserved space. The location where the bottle was produced is embossed on the bottom. As also shown below in this case, the bottle was produced in Roanoke, Va.

References

The Coca-Cola Company: The History of the Coca-Cola Contour Bottle. The Coca-Cola Company website.

https://www.coca-colacompany.com/about-us/history/the-history-of-the-coca-cola-contour-bottle

Lockhart, B. and B. Porter (Sept- Oct., 2010). The dating game: Tracking the Hobble-Skirt Coca-Cola Bottle. Society for Historical Archeology.

https://secure-sha.org/bottle/pdffiles/coca-cola.pdf

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Oh, patents! The Coca-Cola bottle (2)

A second Coca-Cola bottle design patent, USD63657, titled Design for a bottle, was awarded to Chapman J. Root, CEO of the Root Glass Company, on December 25, 1923. Because the patent was granted on Christmas Day, this slightly thinner Coca-Cola bottle design became known for a while as the “Christmas bottle”.

As for the first Coca-Cola bottle design patent, depiction of the embossed Coca-Cola logo was omitted to protect the secrecy of the design. In the second patent, however, the space for embossing cuts the emblematic contouring. The bottle contours that could be “felt”, and that served to distinguish Coco-Cola bottles from all others.

Below, the extracted patent Figure 1 showing a perspective view of the thinner Coca-Cola bottle design. The patent figure appears next to an image of a Georgia Green marketed embodiment of the design, showing the embossed logo and the patent date. This Christmas bottle was produced in Jackson, OH, per the embossed information, on the bottom of the bottle, also appearing below.

Reference
The Coca-Cola Company: The History of the Coca-Cola Contour Bottle. The Coca-Cola Company website.
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/about-us/history/the-history-of-the-coca-cola-contour-bottle

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Oh, patents! The Coca-Cola bottle (1)

Established in 1886, in Atlanta, Georgia, The Coca-Cola Company is 140 years old. Although the Coca-Cola beverage formula was never patented, to prevent imitation once patent protection had lapsed, the company holds hundreds of patents. No less important than formula were the Coca-Cola bottles. Particularly when the sale of Coca-Cola soda from soda fountains also became franchised to bottling operations across the United States, as early as 1900.

Clearly, Coca-Cola bottles had to be produced, which could be differentiated from all the competing soda bottles on the market. Especially when labels would just peel off if the bottles were sold out of large barrels of ice water. Or when competitors used similar soda names, such as Toka-Cola or Koka-Nola, which could be confused with the Coca-Cola logo embossed on plain glass bottles.

Thus, according to The Coca-Cola Company’s lore, the company launched a contest, challenging several of the Coca-Cola bottling operations in the United States to come up with packaging “so distinctive that you would recognize it by feel in the dark or lying broken on the ground.” (The Coca-Cola Company)

The winner of the contest was a bottling operation in the Midwest, in Terre Haute, Indiana, called the Root Glass Company. Thus, the first Coca-Cola bottle design patent, USD48160, titled Design for a bottle or similar article, was awarded in 1915 to Alexander Samuelson, who worked at the Root Glass Company. Inspired by cacao pods (unrelated to "coca" leaves) , Samuelson gave ribbing to the bottle, and a shape similar to cacao pods. In turn, the contoured shape of the bottle gave it a unique feel.

The bottle was produced with green glass, which became known as Georgia Green. The bottles were then produced at six different bottling operations in the US, with the city of the bottling operation embossed at the base of the bottle.

Below, the extracted patent Figure 1, showing a perspective view of the contoured bottle design. The image of a historic 1915, Georgia Green, prototype Coca-Cola bottle also appears below. The bottle is embossed with the Coca-Cola logo, and Atlanta, GA on the bottom, indicating it was produced there.

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Oh, patents! Maria Grazia Chiuri Dior Book Tote

Inspired by a 1967 Marc Bohan* drawing found in the Dior archives, Maria Grazia Chiuri,** designed the Dior Book Tote. The Dior Book Tote was launched in 2018.

The US design patent USD1028499S1, titled Handbag, was awarded on May 28, 2024, to Maria Grazia Chiuri for the Dior Book Tote Paris Map design in tapestry. The Applicant was Christian Dior Couture, in Paris, France.

Since the Dior Book Tote first appeared on the runway, the handbag has been re-invented many times, in ornate tapestries that require about 40 hours and 1500 stitches to produce. Below, the extracted patent Figure 1.1, showing the Paris Map design in tapestry, together with a series of marketed embodiments of the Dior Book Totes. The series illustrates the variety of Dior Book totes produced with different tapestry designs.

Figure 1.1. USD1028499S1

Dior Book Tote - Hibiscus

Dior Book Tote - Mille Fleurs
(Dior Cruise 2021)

Dior Book Tote - Phoenix

Dior Book Tote - Black Leopard
Mitzah Bricard-inspired (Fall 2021)

Dior Book Tote - Toile de Jouy Tropicalia

Dior Book Tote - Butterflies

Dior Book tote - Butterflies
(Fall/Winter 2018)

Dior Book Tote - Zodiac

Dior Book Tote - Dior Oblique in burgundy

Note

*Marc Bohan (1926-2023), Creative Director at the House of Dior from 1960 to 1989.
**Maria Grazia Chiuri, first woman Creative Director at the House of Dior from 1997 to 2025.

References

Dior Tote Bags

https://www.dior.com/en_us/fashion/womens-fashion/bags/totes-bags
Pender, W. (Aug. 11, 2025). Why the Dior Book Tote Remains One of Fashion’s Most Iconic Bags. What goes around comes around - WGACA.
https://tinyurl.com/bdzcykz4
Williams, A. (Sept. 9, 2023). Marc Bohan, Designer Who Oversaw the Dior Look for Decades, Dies at 97. NYTimes.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/09/fashion/marc-bohan-dead.html

Sunday, February 22, 2026

Oh, patents! Maria Grazia Chiuri Dior Saddle Bag

In 2018, Maria Grazia Chiuri* gave the Y2k Galliano Dior Saddle Handbag a second wind. She made the Saddle handbag a bit larger so it would accommodate cell phones, and she provided a crossbody strap. The Chiuri Saddle Bag was also produced with different materials, more colorful and ethnic, fringed and beaded.

The US design patent, USD1068257S1, titled Handbag was awarded to Maria Grazia Chiuri for the Saddle Bag on April 1, 2025. The Applicant was Christian Dior Couture in Paris, France. The patented ornamental design covered the Paris Map print on leather.

Below, the extracted patent Figure 1.1 and a few of the many marketed embodiments of the Chiuri Saddle Bag, in fabric and leather. Each Saddle Bag displays the iconic dangling “D” charm, and CD letter handle rings on each side.

Figure 1.1 USD1068257S1

Dior Saddle Bag - Beaded and fringed.

Note

*Maria Grazia Chiuri, first woman Creative Director at the House of Dior from 2016 to 2025.

References

Dior Handbags

https://tinyurl.com/mryhujb4
De Klerk, A. and N. Hughes (June 22, 2024). The History of the Hero: The Dior Saddle Bag. Harpers Bazaar.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/a42118540/dior-saddle-bag/

Sunday, November 9, 2025

Oh, patents! Manolo Blahnik Borla evening clutch (6)

The Manolo Blahnik Borla evening clutch was also inspired by the Monolo Blahnik Borlak pumps. A bigger and more striking Borlak pump buckle adorns the front of the Blahnik evening clutch.

The Manolo Blahnik Borla evening clutch is a patented design. On March 7th, 2017, the US design patent, USD780443S1, titled Handbag was awarded to Manolo Blahnik.

Below, the patent Figure 1, depicting a front-right perspective view of the Borla evening clutch, together with an image of the marketed product. The Manolo Blahnik Borla clutch shown is satin-clad with a Swarovski crystal ornament fully covering the front of the clutch.

References
Manolo Blahnik (website)
https://www.manoloblahnik.com/us/
Pithers, E. (Aug. 5, 2015). Manolo Blahnik on misanthropy, minaudières and the "divine" Mary Beard. Daily Telegraph.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/manolo-blahnik-launches-new-bag-collection-stays-independent/

Oh, patents - Manolo Blahnik Mina clutch

One more patented Manolo Blahnik evening clutch—the Mina clutch. Un-inspired by previous pump collections, the Mina clutch was designed separately from the six released for the Fall of 2015. The Mina clutch is a silver-toned minaudiere* with large royal blue polka dots, and a magnetic clasp closure.

The Manolo Blahnik Mina clutch is patented. The US design patent USD781052S1, titled Handbag, was awarded to Manolo Blahnik on March 14th, 2017.

Below, the patent Figure 1, depicting a front-right perspective view of the Mina clutch, together with a marketed embodiment of the design.

Note

A minaudière is a small hard-shell evening clutch, made popular by the luxury jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels, in 1934.

Reference

Manolo Blahnik (website)
https://www.manoloblahnik.com/us/

Friday, November 7, 2025

Manolo Blahnik - Manolo Blahnik Lakka evening clutch (5)

The rectangular Manolo Blahnik Lakka evening clutch was inspired by the satin-clad Manolo Blahnik Borlak pumps. Manolo Borlak pumps are embellished with a jeweled buckle. The Manolo Blahnik jeweled Borlak pump buckle adorns the rectangular front of the satin Manolo Blahnik Lakka evening clutch.

The Manolo Blahnik Lakka evening clutch is a patented design. The US design patent, USD780445S1, titled Handbag, was awarded on March 7th, 2017, to Manolo Blahnik.

Below, the patent Figure 1, depicting a front-right perspective view of the invention design, together with two images of the marketed Lakka evening clutch. The two satin-clad, Lakka evening clutches, respectively in black and nude, both have a Swarovski crystal front decoration, inspired by the Borlak Monolo Blahnik pump buckle.

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Oh, patents! Manolo Blahnik Kana evening clutch (4)

The square Manolo Blahnik Kana evening clutch was also inspired by the Manolo Blahnik Okkato pumps. Okkato Manolos are satin pumps with a jeweled buckle. The Okkato buckle ornament is designed on the front of the Kana minaudière*.

The Manolo Blahnik Kana evening clutch was granted the US design patent, USD781053S1, on March 14th, 2017. The patent was awarded to Manolo Blahnik.

Below, the patent Figure 1, depicting a front-right view of the invention design, together with three images of the marketed Manolo Blahnik Kana evening minaudière, satin-clad with Swarovski crystal decoration .

-------

Note

A minaudière is a small hard-shell evening clutch, made popular by the luxury jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels, in 1934.

References
Manolo Blahnik (website)
https://www.manoloblahnik.com/us/

Pithers, E. (Aug. 5, 2015). Manolo Blahnik on misanthropy, minaudières and the "divine" Mary Beard. Daily Telegraph.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/manolo-blahnik-launches-new-bag-collection-stays-independent/