Françoise © Herrmann
Starbucks® chewing gum tins were awarded the
design patent USD471804, titled Chewing
gum tin, on March 18, 2003. No longer
marketed, no wonder the small (1¼" x ¾" x 3⅛"), vintage, after coffee chewing gum tins have become a collector’s item on eBay,
retailing for 50$ a piece, or more.
As a reminder a design patent covers the
ornamental aspects of an invention, or how the invention looks. In contrast, a
utility patent covers the functional and manufacturing aspects of an invention,
or how the invention works (MPEP
Chapt. 1502.01).
Below, three of the patent drawings, depicting a front perspective view of the chewing gum tin design (Fig. 1), a back perspective view (Fig.2), and a front perspective view with the lid open (Fig. 3). Below the patent figure drawings of the Starbucks® chewing gum tin, an image of two, vintage, Starbucks® after coffee, chewing gum tins, respectively peppermint and cinnamon.
References
Starbucks® Coffee Company https://www.starbucks.com/
USPTO MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent.
https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html
