Definition and Examples of Design Patents: Your Visual IP Guide

By Michelle

Understanding Design Patents

Definition and Examples of Design Patents
Definition and Examples of Design Patents

Discover how design patents safeguard unique product designs , learn about their role, costs, and notable examples , and explore how they differ from utility patents .

Drug Patents International International PCT patent application
Drug Patents International International PCT patent application

Patent laws grant design patents to any person who has invented any new and nonobvious ornamental design for an article of manufacture.

Design patent application guide

Patents 101 Office of Technology Management
Patents 101 Office of Technology Management

Design patent application guide Use this in-depth guide to learn the steps and prepare to file a design patent application. On this page: Definition of a design Types of design and modified forms Invention development organization Protecting designs outside the United States Elements of a design patent application Disclosure examples

US design patent D48,160 for the original Coca-Cola bottle In the United States, a design patent is a form of legal protection granted to the ornamental design of an article of manufacture. Design patents are a type of industrial design right. Ornamental designs of jewelry, furniture, beverage containers (Fig. 1) and computer icons are examples of objects that are covered by design patents . A ...

Federal trademark searching Overview
Federal trademark searching Overview

What is a design patent Examples and how it's used

A design patent offers legal protection for the unique visual characteristics of a manufactured item, safeguarding its ornamental design rather than its functionality. This article explores what a design patent is, how it works, the differences between design and utility patents , application costs, and key considerations for inventors.

Design patents can be used to protect a wide variety of products and manufactured articles. We explore here design patent examples .

AI Patent Search Market Size Share and Growth Report 2035
AI Patent Search Market Size Share and Growth Report 2035

Design Patents Full Guide

Elements of a Design Patent Application The most critical element of a design patent application is the drawings, as they define the entire scope of legal protection. Unlike invention patents , where claims and descriptions carry detailed technical weight, a design patent includes only one formal claim, and the visual disclosure does all the work. Because of this, the quality, clarity, and ...

5 Issued Design Patent Examples obtained by Patent Attorney Greg Carson, who completed the writing and filing of each design patent application.

Simple Steps for Conducting a Patent Search
Simple Steps for Conducting a Patent Search

Key Details About Definition And Examples Of Design Patents

Since a design is manifested in appearance, the subject matter of a design patent application may relate to the configuration or shape of an article, to the surface ornamentation applied to an article, or to the combination of configuration and surface ornamentation.

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Trademark Lawyer Trademark Litigation Attorney
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Top 13 AI based Patent Search Databases in 2025 GreyB

A design patent example is a document you can review before filing a design patent application. They rely on words and images to convey how a design for a manufactured item is non-obvious and new.