Designing Summer Fun

You know what we don't do a lot of in this blog? Look at design patents. Sure, they've been touched on in one or two previous posts (like Donut Day Innovation) but they've largely been overlooked in favor of plant and utility patents and various marks. In retrospect, no reasons for their exclusion stand out.

How about some summer fun design patents?

The on-site display has featured a water slide (D983,303) and a Birkenstock sandal (D963,303). What else can we find?

There are many design patents for bathing or swimming suits, but only two are featured here. The first, D087,531, was selected because it is among the first design patents that looks modern. The second, D918,531, was chosen because it has interesting innovative drop-down modesty panels, creating a suit and cover-up all-in-one. 

1931 Swimming suit, pat. no. D087,376

Swimsuit and cover-up in one, pat. no. D918,531

Of course, if you're headed to the beach, just a suit isn't enough--you need a beach chair and umbrella. Grab the Combined Portable Beach Chair and Umbrella Therefore, D219,377. It's an excellent product for those who like to eliminate extra burdens and crave visible efficiency. 

D219,377 includes fun nautical decorations on the seat and umbrella storage pocket

Don't care for the beach? Enjoy some swimming pool designs! Quite a few of these exist, going back decades, but one of the better, in this blogger's opinion, is D870,918. After all, it's made from a shipping container and it has a viewing window. 

D870,918: Keep an eye on those swimmers enjoying their upcycled pool!

For either a beach or pool visit, follow Douglas Adams' advice and bring a towel. Even better, get one with pockets. D708,870 can keep belongings tucked away and stored, and is designed to drape over a poolside lounge chair.

D708,870 features a folded edge to fit on a lounge chair

If you dislike the suit of D918,531, you can still skip an extra garment when you bring along D741,575, Cover Up Towel. Wait, that's just a towel with a cinching edge! Did it really deserve its own patent?

D741,575 seems a little obvious

And, last, stay hydrated when frolicking in summertime heat. Always bring water in something stylish like D987,379; Drinkware invented and owned by Houstonians. We truly understand the need for well-designed water bottles right now. 

Invented by Colton Bryan Haas and assigned to Vinglace LLC

Remember your pets and grab Springer Pets' water mug D989,560. (The patent doesn't say it is for pets, but I've assumed it is because the assignee looks like a pet company. Read the whole patent and decide for yourself.)

Water mug body, pat. no. D989,560

Patents that Beat the Heat

It's too hot. Have you noticed? If you're in Houston, like us, you've noticed: it is too hot for this time of year. Sure, Houston summers get into the 100s (Fahrenheit), but usually not till later in July or August! Inland Harris County is presently under a National Weather Service Heat Advisory.  

Let's look at some patented ways to cool off; maybe that will help.

First, one from local inventors, who understand our plight: Dynamically Controlled Cooling Device, US 11,647,523. It includes a GPS-linked fan, and directs a stream of air onto the user. It's the most high-tech fan I've ever seen. Read it in full here. 

Dynamically Controlled Cooling Device: air flow via GPS

Clearly that won't be enough for this weather, we need this Cooling Bedding Product, US 11,641,960, that uses a gel layer and some memory foam to keep you cool and cushioned all night. The actual textile is cooled, and there's complicated shaping and venting to the gel and memory foam layers to better circulate air. Never flop around in bed, feeling like a steamed dish again! Visit this link to see more.

Diagram of the shaping to aid ventilation for US 11,641,960

Sometimes, though, you just need some artificially chilled air. US 11,662,113, Building Cooling Systems with Energy Optimization and Model Predictive Control, can provide that while being ecologically mindful. It will balance between the optimal comfort level and set power consumption term, working with the capacity of cooling devices. Learn more about how that is achieved here. 

This office is kept cool with patented tech

Set on going outdoors? At least consider this Natural Stone Swimming Pool, US 11,634,920. You'll have a better chance of survival if you're dunked in water! Rather than the usual plaster lining, this relies on sealed and joined "monolithic natural stones". Check out how to get your own at this link.

Submerge yourself in the water of a natural stone swimming pool

BONUS: Stay safe in the water with a Personal Flotation Apparatus, US 11,649,022, which is basically a bathing suit covered with flotation material. Guaranteed to look completely unique!

Flotation device in a bathing suit

LGBTQ+ Pride Trademarks

June is Pride Month, so it's a good time to check out what all has been federally registered for Pride. Before starting, I expected to find mostly marks associated with Pride festivals or parades, maybe a few brands' marks geared towards that market.

Using the USPTO's TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System), I searched with a query that would limit results to only live and registered marks.

My expectations were partially correct. There were mostly Pride events and event organizations, but a few surprise registrations for marks in other languages, particularly Spanish. Including "trans*" within the query might have been responsible: many of these marks translate to some kind of pride. 

Both translations of the word pride, unrelated to LGBTQ+ Pride

Removing that term improves results. Now, all of them are related to LGBTQ+ Pride, the month's events, or their organizers/organizations. Even those that don't initially appear relevant are, when read in full. 

GAYWATCH, for Pride partying and event planning

Gay Pride Bow Ties, for showing Pride via neck wear (also owners of very cool trade dress, no. 5592168)

¡PAN DULCE!, which is music and other entertainment for Pride festivals

Houston has several Pride celebration marks belonging to Pride Houston, Inc. (now Pride Houston 365; the current image on their website, with the human figure surrounded by rainbow wings wasn't found among the registered marks).

Houston Pride registered mark no. 3380988

QUEER·ISH, owned by Houston Pride for entertainment or "edutainment"

Houston LGBT Pride Celebrations, for exactly what it says

Many of the registered marks are just word marks, as seen in the above examples. If you would like to view more, just search TESS with: 

pride AND live[LD] AND (gay OR lesbian OR queer) AND `RN > "0" .