D375,915 - issued in 1996 for a design for a "lump of coal Christmas stocking." #DesignPatents

Elf on a Shelf, but with shoes. US Patent 11986748

Use Christmas tree ornaments as targets for an electronic shooting game. US Patent 11918133

The outtakes from Emmet Otter go hard

#OnThisDay in 1871, Samuel L. Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, received U.S. #Patent No. 121,992 for an “Improvement in adjustable and detachable straps for Garments”. Even literary legends file patent applications. #OTD #PatentHistory #USPTO

"Reusable toilet paper system" US Patent 12274399

Turn old artificial Christmas trees into underwater reefs. US Patent 12495775, issued today

1/4 #OnThisDay in 1836, the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C., burned in what became known as the Great Patent Fire. The blaze destroyed all 9,957 patent records and roughly 7,000 patent models, wiping out much of the early U.S. patent archive. #OTD #PatentHistory #Patents #USPTO

1/4 #OnThisDay in 1948, U.S. #Patent No. 2,455,992 was granted to Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann for the “Cathode-ray tube amusement device”, often considered the first video game. #OTD #PatentHistory #VideoGameHistory #GamingHistory

"Pillow Assembly," patented this week. US 12490848

A system for suspending your laptop overhead. Patented yesterday. US 12490828

I really want to do a post on how men with less legal experience explain things to me, but I had a client that did this and then her mansplainer stalked her and called in a threats to her place of business. So the internet is super fun.

A virtual reality system that simulates vaping at sea. US Patent 11284646

Hoodie with integrated popcorn bucket, patented this week. US 12484689

An interactive facemask that changes from a smile to a frown when people get too close. US Patent 12484643

A mirror to detect whether you have an asymmetrical face that demonstrates "criminal tendencies." US Patent 1779655

Chicago billboard (2022)

Happy Thanksgiving to all the patent folks on Bluesky (and also you turkey burlesque show fans).

"Bird Stand" US Patent 12245583

* Before patenting the now-iconic bear-shaped honey container, the inventor also patented other honey bottle designs. We could've had penguins or creepy clowns instead!

A head support for surgeons. US Patent 12440303

Chicago sunset tonight

Garment top with permanently attached suspenders, patented this week. US 12471653

1/2 #OnThisDay in 1923, U.S. #Patent No. 1,475,024 was granted to Garrett Morgan for his ingenious traffic signal. #OTD #PatentHistory #BlackInventors #BlackHistory

Dekalog: One (Krzysztof Kieślowski, 1988)

When you're a teenager you have a surprisingly good sense of what's ok and what's not but you're still looking to adults to say "hey that's wrong" or "trust your discomfort." Because there's plenty of unacceptable things that seem like people are ok with it and you think "hmm well that's something?"

It will surprise no one that 35yo James Watson met his wife while she was a 19 year old undergrad working as an assistant to his secretary.

In the words of Borges, the idiosyncratic bestiary in this patent application "exerts chaos" (US20210137137)

I think a lot about when the Supreme Court stepped in to protect us from the unchecked executive powers of ... "administrative patent judges."

A blanket that converts into a cape. US Patent 9155341 (issued to "Super Blanky LLC")

This will kill kids.

Coarse and strong and cunning

Neurologist: Name animals with four legs. Trademark Lawyer: Vonk, billyhoo, bofti, nooberdoober... Neurologist: (waves in orderlies) Trademark Lawyer: fanciful is best! Get these restraints off me!

Neurologist: Name animals with four legs. Patent Lawyer: Spider, ladybug, centipede, butterfly ...

Riverbottom Nightmare Band at the Hideout, December 2013

This is the shit that happened two blocks from my house this morning and 15 minutes before kids were set to parade through the neighborhood in their halloween costumes.

A baseball cap with a magnetic logo so you can quickly swap out your allegiance. US Patent 12262771

To this day (literally, see image) people are still trying to perfect the non-pneumatic tire, and they have filed around 8000 patent applications. The fact that we mostly still use regular air-filled tires shows what a great invention they are.

Design patent on the likeness of a living individual🤔 (Young Liu of Foxconn)

A punching bag that's also a mirror. US Patent 12440743

My latest for @blockclubchi.bsky.social Chicago Cyclists Are Buying Out Tamale Carts To Keep Vendors Home And Safe From ICE blockclubchicago.org/2025/10/17/c...

Today’s “tricky Thursday” NYT crossword felt particularly timely and sneakily subversive. I LOL’d when I realized what the theme was.

Patented today: a sofa that works as an emergency floatation device. US 12440033

This chyron in any other age would have the general populace screaming.

It's Tuesday and while the government may be shut down, the Patent Office is still open and churning out a new 1,381 design patents for our enjoyment and critique, including D1096067 issued for a pocket tie. The disclaimed fireworks are a nice touch. #DesignPatents

IP litigator, Patent Prosecutor, Trademark Attorney

for the first time ever wishing our current electeds would ask themselves: what would an angry Daley do

What Chicago looks like where there are no feds. Thousands of people having fun buying beer, cider, and donuts at the Apple Festival.

@govpritzker.illinois.gov 37 and Kedzie, East Garfield, Illinois. This is assault.