Oh, patents! Bugaboo® modularity (1)

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

If you are looking for a buggy for your baby with the excellence of patented engineering, the Bugaboo® is for you! Variously equipped with such features as single-hand operation, advanced suspension and brake systems, and/or swivel wheels for unrivaled maneuverability, Bugaboo® strollers boast hundreds of patents, both design and utility. In other words, utility patents were granted for specific stroller functionalities, as well as design patents for particular ornamental aspects of the strollers. Bugaboo®, a Dutch company, has been pioneering advanced parenting products since 1990.

Consider, for example, the US utility patent application, US2022/0194457A1, titled Foldable stroller, foldable bassinet, foldable seat, stroller, and stroller and luggage system. The application was filed on December 17th, 2021. The inventors on record are Marco Willem Hendricus Nieuwenhuizen, Mattijs Hogeland, and Daan Jans Vos.

The patent recites some of the prized mechanical modularity of the Bugaboo® strollers. For example, infant bassinet (i.e., pram) and toddler seat configurations are interchangeable on a single stroller frame. Different configurations that were designed to accommodate a growing child. Strollers are foldable with the seat or bassinet attached for easy storage and travel. And, the possibility of placing a child alternatively facing a parent or caretaker, or forward-facing, with their back to the parent or caretaker.

The three patent figure drawings below, Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C, respectively depict the three configurations a given Bugaboo® stroller model: toddler seat facing-forward, toddler seat facing-parent or caretaker, and infant bassinet.   

The three patent drawings, Figures 18H, 17J, and 3E, respectively correspond to the folded forms of the toddler and infant stroller configurations shown in Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C.

The Youtube video below demonstrates some of the valued Bugaboo® modularity, particularly switching from folded to unfolded bassinet pram, and from folded to unfolded toddler stroller.

Reference
Bugaboo® (website)
www.bugaboo.com

Oh, patents! More Impossible Foods Inc., patents

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

The following is a hyperlinked sample list of additional Impossible Foods Inc., patents and patent applications, reciting various Impossible Foods Inc.; food technology inventions. A YouTube video interview is also included, of Dr. Patrick Brown, the Founder and CEO of Impossible Foods Inc., at Hub Culture 2018, in Davos. 

Some of the patents listed are part of large patent families. For example, the US patent application US2017290363A1, titled Methods and compositions for affecting the flavor and aroma profile of consumables, reciting the engineered cooking aroma invention of Impossible Food Inc.; faux meat, belongs to a 96-member patent family. Thus, the below list is far from exhaustive.

• AU2018200707A1 - Non-dairy cheese replica comprising a coacervate
• AU2016231499B2 - Methods and compositions for consumables
• AU2012281064A1 - Methods and compositions for consumables
• AU2014205122B2- Non-dairy cheese replica comprising a coacervate
• CA2897600A1 -  Methods and compositions for affecting the flavor and aroma profile of consumables
• CA2897602A1 - Methods and compositions for consumables 
• CA2897606A1 - Non-dairy cheese replica comprising a coacervate
• EP2943072B1 - Methods and compositions for affecting the flavor and aroma profile of consumables
• US9700067B2- Methods and compositions for affecting the flavor and aroma profile of consumables
• US9808029B2 - Methods and compositions for affecting the flavor and aroma profile of consumables
• US9833768B2 - Affinity reagents for protein purification
• US9938327B2 - Expression constructs and methods of genetically engineering methylotrophic yeast
• US10039306B2 - Methods and compositions for consumables
• US10087434B2 - Methods for extracting and purifying non-denatured proteins
• US10172380B2 - Ground meat replicas
• US10273492B2 - Expression constructs and methods of genetically engineering methylotrophic yeast
• US20150305361A1 - Methods and compositions for consumables
• US20160222054A - Ph switchable reagents and methods for their use
• US20160340411A1 - Secretion of heme-containing polypeptides
• US20170342132A1- Secretion of heme-containing polypeptides
• US2017290363A1 - Methods and compositions for affecting the flavor and aroma profile of consumables 
• US2019008192A1 - Methods and compositions for consumables
• TR201802708T4 - Tüketim ürünlerinin tat ve aroma profiline etki edilmesine yönelik yöntemler ve bileşimler [English title:Supplies methods and compositions for influencing the flavor and aroma profiles.]
• WO2013138793A2 - Affinity reagants for protein purification
• WO2013010042A1 - Methods and compositions for consumables
• WO2015042405A1 - PH switchable reagents and methods for their use  
• WO2015127388A1 - Soy-based cheese
• WO2015038796A2 - Secretion of heme-containing polypeptides
• WO2016183163A1 - Expression constructs and methods of genetically engineering methylotrophic yeast  

Reference

Hub culture

https://hubculture.com/

Impossible Foods Inc.

https://impossiblefoods.com/

Oh, patents! Coravin™

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

How about drinking wine from a bottle without uncorking it? Coravin™ makes it possible for you to have both your uncorked bottle of wine and a drink!

Coravin™ is a wine extractor device designed to insert a hollow needle through the cork, and through which the wine can be poured. Little or no air, which could react with the wine, is introduced during or after the extraction of the wine from its container. Instead, a small amount of pressurized argon gas is released into the bottle to force the wine out, without altering the quality of the beverage. When the needle is removed from the bottle, the cork's expansive properties fill-in, and reseal, the wine bottle, until the next glass, or next time you drink the wine.    

The many parts of the various embodiments of the Coravin™ wine extractor are patented. Whether it is the needle system and its actuation, the internal valve system controlling the flow of the wine from the container, the gas cylinder and dispenser, the pressure regulator for the delivery of gas to the container, or the casing guiding the movement of the needle, these are all different inventions associated with the Coravin™ wine extractor and its various embodiments. The following is a hyperlinked list of some of the many design and utility patents reciting these inventions, associated with the Coravin™ device, and numerous component parts.  

• US2017361999 (A1) ― 2017-12-21 - Beverage container cap for use with beverage extractor
• USD801129 (S) ― 2017-10-31 - Beverage extractor 
• ES2633844 (T3) ― 2017-09-25 - Method and apparatus for beverage extraction with a multi-function valve
• US2017144877 (A1) ― 2017-05-25 - Beverage extractor with controller 
• US2017137275 (A1) ― 2017-05-18 - Beverage extractor for sparkling beverage
• US2017001850 (A1) ― 2017-01-05 - Method for extracting beverage from a bottle 
• US2017002980 (A1) ― 2017-01-05 - Engagement of gas cylinder with gas dispenser
• WO2014058841 (A1) ― 2014-04-17 - Method and apparatus for beverage extraction needle guiding 
• WO2014058839 (A3) ― 2014-06-05 - Method and apparatus for gas cylinder sealing
• WO2014025630 (A1) ― 2014-02-13 - Method and apparatus for gas cylinder sealing
• WO2013166258 (A1) ― 2013-11-07 - Device for extracting a beverage from within a container
• USD755554 (S) ― 2016-05-10 - Beverage extractor
• US2015069085 (A1) ― 2015-03-12 - Wine extraction and preservation device and method 
• CA2872115 ― 2013-11-07 - Device for extracting a beverage from within a container
• CA2887453 ― 2013-10-08 - Method and apparatus for beverage extraction needle guiding
• USD709163 (S) ― 2014-07-15 - Gas cylinder cap
• US2014124530 (A1) ― 2014-05-08 - Method and apparatus for beverage extraction needle force indication 
• US2014103065 (A1) ― 2014-04-17 - Non-coring reduced shearing needle
• USD689353 (S) ― 2013-09-10 - Wine extraction and preservation device

A drawing of the beverage extractor, imported from the latest US design patent USD 801129S, is included below, together with an image of the marketed Coravin™ product. 

       

The abstract for the latest Coravin™ utility patent application US2017361999, titled Beverage container cap for use with beverage extractor, is also included below:

A cap for engagement with a beverage container allows an extractor needle or other conduit to pass through a portion of the cap such that beverage can be removed from the container without removing the cap. The cap may include a septum that is radially and/or axially compressed and a barrier layer arranged to engage with the container to form a seal.

An automated and Bluetooth™-connected version of the Coravin™ called Model Eleven, was unveiled at CES 2018 with rave reviews. The Coravin™ connected app monitors argon gas consumption and also pairs your wine with your mood...! According to CNet, Model Eleven will be released in September 2018. 

References
Coravin, Inc.
https://www.coravin.com

Oh, patents! Perugia's sandals

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Perugia filed many design patents for sandals (e.g.; USD91728, USD92201, USD92020, USD95776, USD 103594) and mules (e.g.; USD92204, USD 96127, USD 96128).  Perugia also filed utility patents for sandals, improvements to sandals and sandal strap inventions.  

In FR1169315, for example, titled Perfectionnements apportées aux chaussures feminines dites nus-pieds, Perugia’s improvement invention for sandals consisted in a small bumper, placed at the tip of the shoe, to prevent the foot from slipping past the end of the sole, while avoiding to cover the foot with much more shoe material. 

The included patent Figure, extracted from FR1169315,  shows the small bumper positioned at the tip of the sandal, against which the big toe is resting. This sandal improvement utility patent was awarded on September 8, 1958.  

Oh, patents! Perugia AT, CA, CH, DE utility patents

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

André Perugia

For the sake of completeness, and before examining in more detail Perugia's inventions, you will find below a short hyperlinked list of Perugia’s patents filed in Switzerland (CH), Germany (DE), Canada (CA) and Austria (AT).

This list of patents is hyperlinked to the EPO Espacenet database, containing 90 million documents worldwide, from 1836 to date. 

Here too, please just click on the patent number for the original document.

Germany utility patent

DE6911426 – Non-gaping shoe upper – Sept. 29 1969 – Perugia

Switzerland utility patents

CH141857 – Procédé de fabrication de parois au moyen de lanières de cuir – Aug. 31, 1930 – Perugia.

CH124341 – Talon de chaussures –– Jan. 16, 1928 - Perugia.

CH118696  - Talon pour chausssures – Feb. 1, 1927 – Perugia.

Canada utility patents

CA510314 – Initially divided insoles – Feb. 22, 1955 – Perugia.

CA274538 – Shoe Heel – Oct. 11, 1927 – Perugia.

CA264938 – Heel – Oct 1, 1926 – Perugia.

Austria utility patents

AT121644 (B) – Verfahren zur Herstellung von Schuwerk – March 10, 1931

AT118348 (B) - Verfahren zur Herstellung con Flächengebilden iter Benützung con Lederriemen – July 10, 1930 – Perugia.

AT108548 (B) – Schuhabsatz – Jan 10, 1928 – Perugia.

AT106112 (B) – Schuhabsatz – April 11, 1927 – Perugia. 

Oh, patents! Perugia superstar, FR utility patents

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Below, you will find a hyperlinked list of the patents that Perugia filed with patenting authorities at the French Ministries of Commerce and Industry, or Commerce and Energy, depending on the Administration in place, and now all stored at the INPI – Institut de la Propriété Industrielle in France -- just in case you had doubts about this shoe genius and how prolific an inventor in the domain of shoewear and shoe manufacture!

Just as a reminder, each of these 50 French inventions was filed and examined, and then judged patentable according to the three criteria of patentability: novelty, inventive step (no pun here) and usefulness (meaning with industrial application in Europe). Thus, each invention was not only a new improvement, product or process, it was also one that was non-obvious to those skilled in the art. Indeed, what is perhaps most extraordinary is that all of these previously non-obvious inventions were designed and commissioned for the comfort, beauty and glamour of women's feet, exclusively!

Perugia's Fish Shoe
in honor of Georges Bracques
 exhibited in NYC in 1955

For a single individual, it is otherwise really quite uncommon to have invented so many new shoe manufacturing processes, materials and designs, in such a relatively short period of time, with a horrific interruption during World War II, which engulfed most of Europe from 1944 to 1948. 

As for Patents on the soles of your shoes… What a catch!

[Please, click on the patent number for access to original French patent document at the INPI, then be patient for the document to load.]

France Utility patents

FR1169315 -  Perfectionnements apportés aux chaussures féminines dites pieds nus - Dec. 12, 1958 – Perugia.

FR1163665 – Nouvelle matière première notamment pour la confection de bouts durs, contreforts et renforts de chaussures – Sept. 30, 1958 – Perugia.

FR1142810 – Perfectionnement apporté aux chaussures, notamment celles comportant un quartier court ou un quartier ouvert – Sept. 23, 1957 – Perugia.

FR1142809 – Chaussure à talon interchangeable - Sept. 23, 1957 – Perugia.

FR1118264 – Perfectionnement apporté aux chaussures, notamment aux chaussures sans quartier – June 4, 1956 – Perugia.

FR1112645 - Procédé de montage de chaussures, et chaussures obtenues par ce procédé – March 16, 1956 - Perugia.

FR1064458 – Chaussure de dame à quartier amovible – May 13, 1954 – Perugia.

FR1036098 – Nouveau procédé de montage de la tige dans les chaussures comportant une « première »   de montage – Sept 3, 1953 – Perugia.

FR1030496 – Talon  « habillé »  et procédé de fabrication de son habillage – June 15, 1953 – Perugia.

FR1024750 – Nouveau mode de montage de chaussures – April 7, 1953 – Perugia.

FR981071 – Nouvelle chaussure feminine découverte – May 22, 1951 – Perugia.

FR974391 - Chaussure à quartier fermé – Feb. 21, 1951 – Perugia.

FR892618 – Montage de chaussure à semelle de bois avec première en matière rigide ou semi rigide perfectionnée – May 15 1944 – Perugia.

FR892437 – Procédé d’armage des semelles bois, liège et analogues – April 6 1944 – Perugia.

FR884864 – Perfectionnement apporté aux chaussures à semelles de bois articulées – Aug. 30, 1943 – Perugia.

FR882037 – Chaussure à semelle en matière rigide perfectionnée – May 14, 1943 – Perugia.

FR882036 – Nouveau quartier pour chaussures – May 14, 1943 – Pergugia.

FR873454 – Semelle de chaussure en fibres végétales – July 9, 1942 – Perugia.

FR872823 – Nouveau montage de chaussures – June 19, 1942 – Perugia.

FR871763 – Procédé de fabrication de chaussures à semelle de bois et produit industriel en résultant – May 9, 1942 – Perugia.

FR857534 – Procédé de farication de chaussures et produits en résutlant – Sept. 17, 1940 – Perugia.

FR832534 – Peausserie composée, extensible élastiquement suivant une seule direction et applicable à la fabrication de chaussures – Sept, 28, 1938 – Perugia.

FR813134 – Montage de chaussure et produit industriel en résultant – May 26, 1937 – Perugia

FR769952 -  Procédé de fabrication de chaussure – Sept. 5, 1934 – Perugia.

FR769914 – Gaine formant quartier d’empeigne et enveloppe de talon pour chaussure – Sept 4, 1934 – Perugia.

FR739916 – Dispositif de serrage pour souliers – Jan 19, 1933 – Perugia.

FR719851 – Procédé de protection temporaire des peaux, cuirs, étoffes, etc.. pendant la confection d’articles fabriqués avec ces matières - Feb. 12, 1932 – Perugia.

FR719850 – Perfectionnements aux sabots à semelle rigide articulée – Feb. 10, 1932 – Perugia.

FR703295 – Procédé de fabracation de parois imitant un tressé de plusieurs lanières – April 28, 1931 – Perugia.

FR695509 – Perfectionnements aux sandales à semelles rigides – Dec. 17, 1930 – Perugia.

FR680710 – Perfectionnements à la fabrication des chaussures – May 5, 1930 – Perugia.

FR653470 – Perfectionnement apporté dans l’établissement de semelles de socques ou autres – March 21, 1929 – Perugia.

FR652607 – Procédé de fabrication de parois au moyen de lanières de cuir et produits industriels en résultant – March 11, 1929 – Perugia.

FR630415 – Monture de sac – Dec. 2, 1929 – Perugia.

FR630414 -  Monture de sac – Dec. 2, 1929 – Perugia.

FR630413 -  Monture de sac – Dec. 2, 1929 – Perugia.

FR625731 – Chaussure à talon ou semelle à musique – Aug. 8, 1927 – Perugia.

FR608988 – Perfectionnements apportés aux talons de chaussures – Aug. 6, 1926 – Perugia.

FR595482 – Talon pour chaussure et son mode de fabrication – Oct. 3, 1925 – Perugia.

FR530356 – Peinture à l’émail sur cuir noir verni pour chaussures – Dec. 21, 1921 - Perugia.

FR1218920 – Perfectionnements apportés aux chaussures – May 13, 1960 – Perugia. 

FR1236520 - Perfectionnements apportés aux chaussures – July 22, 1960 – Perugia.

FR69780 (E) - Perfectionnements apportés aux chaussures, notamment aux chaussures sans quartier – Dec.30, 1958 – Perugia.

FR63894 (E) – Nouveau procédé de montage de la tige, dans les chaussures comportant une « première » de montage – Oct. 13 1955 – Perugia.

FR36507 (E) – Perfectionnement apporté dans l’établissemenet de semelles de socques ou autres – June 28, 1930 – Perugia.

FR35272 (E) -  Procédé de fabrication de parois au moyen de lanières de cuir et produits industriels en résultant – Dec. 31, 1929 – Perugia.

FR1522438 – Perfectionnement aux souliers – April 26, 1968 – Perugia.

FR1522437 – Perfectionnement aux formes de souliers – April 26, 1968 – Perugia.

Oh, patents! Perugia superstar, US utility patents

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Perugia was an extraordinarily prolific inventor!  

Not only did Perugia file design patents for all the new shoe models that he invented, he also filed many more utility patents, in regards shoe manufacture, materials and ergonomy. 

Perugia’s utility patents span a wide range of inventions: 

 - improvements to soles, manufacturing processes, comfort and wear

- new materials for shoe manufacturing including organic fibers, cork and wood

- new manufacturing processes for use of the new materials, for various new parts of a shoe such as strapping, or elastic portions

- new sorts of shoes, sandals, in particular, and

- new sorts of heels, from the whimsical musical heels to removable and changeable heels.

Perugia’s US (only) utility patents are listed below. As you will see, in some cases I. Miller and Sons was the Assignee.  The patents listed are hyperlinked to the keyed figure drawings filed as part of the disclosure of the inventions, at the USPTO.

The patents that Perugia filed in France, Germany, Switzerland Canada and Austria will be listed in subsequent posts, and some of the inventions presented in greater detail.

US Utility Patents

US1609918 – Heel for shoes – Dec. 7, 1926 – André Perugia.

US1642889 – Shoe heel – Sept. 20 1927 – André Perugia.

US1798271 - Shoe closure – March 31, 1931, André Perugia, Assignee I Miller and Sons.

US1814260 – The manufacture of shoe uppers – July 14, 1931 - André Perugia.

US2136084 - Shoe – November 8, 1938 - André Perugia.

US2208104 – Shoe – July 16, 1940 – Andre Perugia, Assignee Saks and Company.

US2199713 - Footwear – May 7, 1941 – André Perugia.

US2465817 - High Heel shoe - March 29, 1949 - André Perugia, Assignee I Miller and Sons.

US2592182 – Shoe with elastic back and added fastening means – April 8 1952 - Perugia.

US2632259 - Improvements to initially divided insoles - March 24, 1953 - Perugia.

US2726462 - Improvements to initially divided insoles – Dec. 13, 1955 – Perugia.

US2730736 - Method of making shoes – Jan 17, 1956 – Perugia.
US2795866 - Ladies shoe – June 18, 1957 - André Perugia, Assignee I. Miller and Sons.