recyclin apple computer monitors boulder

Trek was issued three utility and two design patents in 2021 - one for the front triangle of a full-suspension e-bike frame, another for a cube-shaped light. This included five different patents claiming the look of different frames. In 2021, the company was issued 6 design patents and 17 utility patents. After a decade of litigation, in 2018 Apple won over $500 million for Samsung's infringement of three design patents, but only $5 million for infringement of three utility patents.Ĭonsider Specialized, a bicycle company that's been showing strong interest in design patents. A catalyst for this interest has likely been a long-running lawsuit between Apple and Samsung over smartphone technology. Between 20, design patents rose from 5.5% of total U.S. It is in recent years that bicycle companies, as in many other industries, have been seeing increased value in protecting their inventions with design patents. The shape and look of a crankset, a bike computer, or even a frame (if distinctive enough) could be covered by a design patent. and how they work together, could be the subject of a utility patent. This doesn't mean paint schemes or graphics, but the shape and form of something.įor example: the internal components of a shift lever, shock, headset, etc. Meanwhile a design patent protects the ornamental appearance of something - that is, the way it looks, not the way it functions. This includes machines, compositions of matter, articles of manufacture, and processes (including methods). They in general terms protect how an invention works or is used. In the U.S., patents come in two flavors: utility patents, and design patents - with the latter gaining popularity as a form of intellectual property in many industries, including our pedal-based one (there is a third type of patent specifically for plants).Ī utility patent is what most people think of when patents are discussed. patent system to protect the appearance of their new products. Leading bike and accessory companies are increasingly using the U.S.

Recyclin apple computer monitors boulder