Beginning at NYU in Jan 2013 within the context of a Patents Translation course delivered online, this blog seeks to uncover the patents that rock our daily lives....
On the occasion of WIPO International IP Day 2018, honoring women inventors, the European Patent Office put together a Youtube playlist and poster of Women selected as finalists and winners for the EPO Award since 2000. Below, the link and the poster. of this unprecedented aggregation.
For many different reasons, women are significantly under-represented in IP even though they bring game-changing and life-enhancing solutions to all domains of science, technology, business, education, and the arts.
This year, in an effort to recognize women's unique contribution to the world of innovation, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), under the auspices of the United Nations, is celebrating World Intellectual Property Day, with the theme: Powering change: Women in innovation and creativity,
World IP Day is celebrated, since 2000, on April 26, commemorating the day that the WIPO Convention became effective, in 1970. As a reminder, WIPO is a self-funded United Nations agency, bringing together 191 member states, committed to the development of an IP system that benefits everyone.
Each year, since 2006, the EPO (European Patent Office), selects 15 finalists in the 5 categories of Research, Industry, Small & Medium Enterprise, Non-member of the EPO and Lifetime Achievement.
A sixth popular award also exists where everyone, you and I included, might vote to select a winner among the 15 finalists. The rules are such that the popular voters may cast one vote each day, up to June 3, 2018 (this year).
All the winners, recipients of the awards in each of the six categories, are announced during the EPO Awards ceremony, which will take place on June 7th, 2018, this year in Saint-Germain–en-Laye, in France. The winners will receive a trophy, traditionally locally crafted, and much publicity for their inventions.
The recently announced 2018 finalists introduced in the above video, and their groundbreaking patented inventions, in each of the five categories, are the following:
Industry
Erik Loopstra (Netherlands) and Vadim Banine (Netherlands/Russia): EUV lithography for smaller, more powerful microchips
EP2465012 (A1) ― 2012-06-20 - Lithographic apparatus and method
The original Hans Beck Klicky invention is recited, in English, in the British patent GB1385653 (A), titled Toy or model figure. This patent is one of a family of 4 patents that includes the original German patent, and the French and Italien versions (listed below):
The invention anatomy of the Hans Beck toy or model figure comprises, for example:
Klicky’s flat head (26) with a latching ridge (29) at the hairline for a wig, a hat or other headgear, equipped with latch-able means
Klicky’s head (26) and neck (27), preferably produced as a single piece
Klicky’s semi-circular, U-shaped hands with one bent shorter thumb side (22), and one bent longer finger side (23), which enable Klicky to hold portable objects, and to grip various surfaces that are easily clicked in and out of the hollow U-space (21)
Klicky’s two legs (39 & 40) forming a single unit that is inserted into the body opening, and mounted on two tabs (7 & 8), extending downwards from a plate (2) within the torso (31)
Klicky’s torso (31) with openings for the head (26), the arms (10 & 11) and lower limbs (39 & 40), and a rear portion (35) extending lower than the front portion (36) to enable Klicky to sit
The click-in locking means for connecting the head (26), and the upper (10 & 11) and lower (39 & 40) limbs, to thetorso (31),so that the various parts cannot be easily pulled apart, while still enabling them to rotate
The pivots (15 & 16) attached to the arms (10 &11), enabling them to click into prongs (13 & 14) and rotate, within the torso (31)
The rounded portions (43 & 44) of the legs, cooperating with tabs (7 & 8) to connect the legs to the torso, while enabling Klicky to stand and to sit, with legs swung to a 90-degree position, relative to the torso.(31).
Below, the anatomical figure drawing extracted from the patent, together with an image a fragmented Klicky, showing the toy’s anatomical parts.
References
PlayModb – The unofficial database for Playmobil® toys
USD753240, titled Toy figure (adult male with tie and smooth hair)
Included below, two ice hockey patent figure drawings, extracted respectively from USD771757 and USD769380 on the above list, together with one marketed ice hockey playing Klicky , and the NHL® Dallas Stars™ goalie Klicky, each corresponding to the patented designs.
As a reminder: “a utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a “design patent” protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171) [MPEP Chapt. 1502.01; [R-07.2015]].
References
MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent
Klicky is 3 inches tall, has a big smile and no nose! Klicky bends and has hands that are designed to grip with wrists that rotate Klicky was created by Hans Beck, a German cabinetmaker-turned-toy-designer, for what became the Playmobil® sets in the early 1970s.
Since the original Klicky, hundreds of different Klikies have been designed and produced: medieval knights, gods, Vikings, witches, goblins, Pharoes, fairies, pirates, construction workers, doctors, nurses, Santa Claus, explorers, teachers, pilots, policemen and policewomen, pop stars, zookeepers, circus acrobats and lion tamers -- in hundreds of Playmobil®sets.
Klicky is patented. One of the orginal and expired 1970s Klicky patents, CA40866Stitled Toy human figure, is a Canadian Design patent. The three patent figure drawings are included below, together with the image of vintage 1970s Klicky cowboys.
If you have a kid brother or sister, a niece or nephew, kids or grandkids of your own, and would like to explore the world of Klickies and Playmobil® sets, visit Playmodb – The Unofficial Database for Playmobil® toys, or KilickyPedia: The Definitive Playmobil® Pedia. KlickyPedia is a multilingual site, in Spanish, French, German and English.
The latest, Urban Guerrilla, Graffiti Love, Balenciaga Tote is patented. The US design patent USD801682, titled Handbag was awarded to Isabelle Guichot, former Balenciaga CEO, on November 7, 2017.
As a reminder, the difference between a US design patent and a US utility patent is the following:
“a “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a "design patent" protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171)” (USPTO)
Patent Figure drawings 2 and 6 are included below, respectively showing a front and top view of the handbag, together with an image of the marketed tote.
Note: Just FYI, Balenciaga is a luxury Spanish basque fashion design house, founded in Spain; in 1919, by Cristóbal Balenciaga.
The Vera Wang Love Collection includes a pair of patented flower earrings. The US design patent USD537751S1 titled Flower earing set was awarded for this piece.
As a reminder a US design patent is different from a US utility patent, in that:
“a “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a "design patent" protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171)” (USPTO)
The patent figure drawing, together with a picture of the marketed pieceare included below.
The square perfume bottle for the Carolina Herrera Men's 212 perfume line is also patented. The Carolina Herrera Men's 212 perfume line bottle was awarded US design patent USD644108S1, titled Perfume bottle.
As a reminder a US design patent is different from a US utility patent, in that:
“a “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a "design patent" protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171)” (USPTO)
The patent drawings (figures 1 & 5) of the square Carolina Herrera men's perfume bottle are included below, together with marketed embodiments of the Men's 212 Carolina Herrera line of perfume. In particular, the silver, gold, black and glass embodiments of the Carolina Herrera Men's 212 VIP perfume bottles are included.
The stunning capsule-shaped 212 Carolina Herrera perfume line is conditioned in a patented perfume bottle. The 212 Carolina Herrera perfume bottle, for women, was awarded the US design patent USD721283 (S) titled Perfume bottle.
As a reminder a US design patent is different from a US utility patent, in that:
“a “utility patent” protects the way an article is used and works (35 U.S.C. 101), while a "design patent" protects the way an article looks (35 U.S.C. 171)” (USPTO)
The patent drawings Fig. 1 & 2 of the perfume bottle are included below, together with marketed embodiments of the bottle in the 212 Carolina Herrera line of perfume. In particular, the following 212 Carolina Herrera lines are included: 212 NYC, 212 VIP in silver and gold, 212 VIP Rosé, 212 Sexy, 201 POP, 212 Surf and 212 Glam.
