To date, we've published themed articles about patents specific to Halloween, Winter holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, the 4th of July, and even summertime in general. We're continuing this series with our next holiday - Easter!
| 1. First up, we have a classic – U.S. Patent No. 4,124,135i for the Hinged Plastic Easter Egg. This invention, patented in 1978, introduced a hollow plastic Easter egg composed of two halves connected by a living hinge. The design allows the egg to be opened and closed easily, making it convenient to place treats or toys inside without losing either half. These eggs are also reusable for many years of Easter egg hunts. |
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2. Keeping with the egg theme, next we have U.S. Patent No. 3,848,564ii – a 1974 patent issued for a Rotating Egg Coloring Device. This device holds and rotates an Easter egg, enabling users to apply color uniformly. It also includes an indexing mechanism that allows for the creation of evenly spaced lines and patterns on the egg's surface. |
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3. Yet another egg patent! This design patent, U.S. Patent No. D789,241,iii was issued 2017 for the ornamental design for an Easter egg. The applicant for this patent is Audible Easter Eggs for the Visually Impaired, Inc. Based on the abandoned utility application for the same invention, it appears that the egg includes a braille message and openings to allow sound to emit from within the egg, thereby allowing visually impaired individuals to participate in an Easter egg hunt.
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4. Next, another design patent. U.S. Patent No. D953,036iv was issued in 2022 for the ornamental design of an Easter Bunny Tutu Basket. This adorable basket is sure to delight children as they collect Easter eggs. Bonus fun fact about design patents - dashed (or “broken”) lines are used to disclaim portions of a design. For example, this patent shows the handle in dashed lines, meaning that the Applicant does not intend to claim the handle as part of the design, but chose to include it in the drawings to provide more context for the overall design. |
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5. Finally, we have a patent from 1911 for an Easter Rabbit. U.S. Patent No. 991,804v claims a device in the shape of a rabbit (or, alternatively, a chicken) which, when triggered by a person pressing the tail, deposits “eggs” out of its mouth. The eggs drop into a receptacle that leads back into the device, creating a continuous loop of entertainment for early 20th century children (though I think it's doubtful how entertaining today's kids would find this toy). Also, apologies for the slightly frightening image.
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These patents showcase the ongoing creativity and innovation applied to enhance Easter traditions and celebrations.
The above list was crafted not only to be entertaining, but also to illustrate that all sorts of inventions may be patentable. If you have an idea that you think may be eligible for a patent, trademark, or copyright protection, please fill out this Contact Form or call us at 951-256-9480 to schedule a meeting.
*The information provided in this article is not legal advice and should not be relied on as such. The content of this article is for informational purposes only and is meant as a starting point in your search for answers to your legal questions.
i https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/a5/ca/3d/c390465f219c77/US4124135.pdf
ii https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/0d/fe/ad/ae479a6baf3bea/US3848564.pdf
iii https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/9b/4a/76/811baab486604f/USD789241.pdf
iv https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/6c/04/4a/fd57df4e535d33/USD953036.pdf
v https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/7a/11/9e/4908faccef0edd/US991804.pdf
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