1. Fan Mask (U.S. Patent No. 730,357)

Starting our list all the way back in 1903, this patent describes two versions of a fan mask, which can be used to partially disguise the user's face. Figure 1 shows a version of the mask where the lower half of the user's face is disguised, while Figure 2 shows a version that disguises a greater portion of the user's face, including the eyes. We love a low-effort Halloween costume!

2. The Halloween Greeting System (US Patent Publication No. 2010/0128588)

Designed for parents, this invention from 2010 includes a small speaker designed to clip onto a child's costume or treat bag and play a pre-recorded message when triggered by a remote control. For example, the child can record the phrases “Trick or treat” and “Thank you!” and the parent can use the remote to prompt the child to say these phrases while trick-or-treating. This may be especially helpful for young children taking part in the tradition for the first time, who may be shy and/or forget what to say.

3. Forming Configurations on Natural Growths (U.S. Patent No. 2,096,507)

This invention helps create some pretty spooky Halloween decorations, as long as you plan ahead. Patented in 1937, this mold can be used to form pumpkins, or other fruits or vegetables, into a desired shape (in this case, a human head) during the growing process. A user simply fastens the mold around a growing pumpkin, as shown in Figure 3, and the pumpkin continues to grow and form in the shape of the mold. Eventually, the mold is removed, and the user is left with a ready-for-Halloween pumpkin – no carving required!

4. Pumpkin Carving Kit (U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0274242)

For those who don't grow their own pumpkins and therefore can't use the invention described above, they can turn to this pumpkin carving kit from 2005. The kit includes “hollow templates defining cutting blades in shapes that are used to form the face of a pumpkin.” The kit also includes a knob designed to interchangeably attach to each of the templates and a mallet used to strike the knob and push the templates into the surface of the pumpkin.

5. Vampire-Shaped Pasta (U.S. Patent No. D321,272)

Candy usually gets all the glory around Halloween, but these inventors dared to expand the Halloween-themed food possibilities into the world of pasta. This design patent, issued in 1991, protects “the ornamental design for a vampire-shaped pasta,” as shown below.