Question from Shelly M.:
I was out to dinner this weekend and my friend had a Sam Adam’s Oktoberfest with her dinner. I noticed it came in a pretty neat glass, and on the back was stamped a patent number. It was “D” and then some numbers. Did Sam Adams really patent a beer glass? And why does it have a ‘D’ at the front?
Yes, the Boston Beer Co the maker of Sam Adams did extensive research to design the perfect beer glass. They have received design patent D569489 for this glass. The D in front of the patent number signifies that the patent is not a utility patent as most patents are but a design patent. A design patent is a patent granted on the ornamental design of a functional item. A design patent does not apply to the workings of a product but only to its look and exterior. The term of the design patent is presently 14 years and they have no maintenance fees.
View the Beer Glass patent at the USPTO.
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