Recent Patents Relating to the Holidays

The top five newly issued holiday patents you have to know about this season:
1. US Patent No. 7,625,095: Multi Purpose Holiday Display Light Box
The 095 Patent, issued just in time for the holidays this December 1st, is directed to a holiday display light box that is equipped with an interchangeable holiday indicia for use as a lawn ornament or decoration. Clark W. Grizwald eat your heart out !
2. US Patent No. 7.614,204: Gift wrapping package and method of use
The 204 patent, issued on November 10th, is directed to a gift wrapping package system which provides enhanced ornamentation and ease of wrapping of gifts for special events. The gift wrapping package includes a flat base and a dome-like cover which forms a central cavity. The dome-like cover is retractable and expandable. In a retracted condition, gifts can be placed within the central cavity. Thereafter, the cover can be closed by expanding and rotating the cover until the dome-like structure is formed. In a preferred embodiment, the gift wrapping package includes a hook or handle for enabling a person to carry a wrapped gift or to hang the gift wrapped package upon objects such as a Christmas tree.
3. US Patent No. 7,601,407: Inflatable Tree Apparatus
Going out each and every year with the family to pick that special Christmas tree is a burden. Plus, it gets sap all over your car. Here is an invention just in time for the holidays the inflatable Christmas Tree. According to the Abstract of the 407 patent, the invention is directed to an inflatable Christmas tree that comprises an inflatable bladder having a substantially conical or cylindrical prism shape, wherein the axial direction of the bladder is oriented along a vertical axis, and a plurality of conical skirts attached to the bladder, wherein the plurality of conical skirts are attached at different points along the vertical axis.
4. US Patent No. 7,547,110: Christmas light display apparatus
In this invention, the apparatus helps facilitate efficient arrangement of a Christmas light display and its efficient removal. According to the Abstract of the 110 Patent, the invention accomplishes this through the use of a sliding rod and a multitude of alternating hanger members. The rod and hangers are slidingly attached to each other allowing the positioning of light strands around a columnar article in a knitting arrangement. Accordingly, when removal of the display is desired, an end restraint is removed and the rod is pulled out of the display by sliding through the hangers. The result, therefore, is that the hangers and their attached light strands fall freely from the columnar article.
5. US Patent No. 7,597,304: Christmas tree stand
I know you thought Velcro was just that cool stuff that you used to fasten your shoes when you were in grade school. Not so fast my friends. According to the 304 Patent just issued in October 2009, you can now use hook and loop fasteners to help place and clamp your newly purchased Christmas tree to the tree stand.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Robert H. Thornburg
Robert H. Thornburg is a Miami Patent Attorney who assists technology start-ups, inventors, entrepreneurs and small to mid-sized companies realize the value of their ideas. Robert received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering, cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame, his J.D., with honors, from the University of Florida, and his L.L.M. in Intellectual Property Law, with honors, from The John Mashall Law School. While at Florida Law, Robert served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Technology Law & Policy, Vice Chair of the Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board, and President of the Florida Intellectual Property Law Association. Robert is the vice chair of the intellectual property committee of the Florida Bar Business Law Section. He is the past chair of the section's computer law committee. He was recently elected as Secretary of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Florida. Recently, he was selected as one of the "40 under 40 Outstanding Lawyers of Miami-Dade"