Eight Obscure Christmas Patents

I have two confessions.  First, this post has nothing to do with patent litigation in the Northwest.  Second (and I never thought I would say this as an adult), I am finding myself really looking forward to Christmas this year.  My two-year-old son can’t wait to open all of the worthless stuff we bought for him, and I can’t wait to watch.

Although I’m excited, I’m no Clark W. Griswold, and I certainly am not excited enough to start filing Christmas-related patent applications.  But that’s okay.  I searched the USPTO’s database, and I discovered there are plenty of inventors who have advanced the arts and sciences and made the world a better place with patents like “Santa in Bath” and “Santa Foot.”  Here’s a look at those patents and some of my other favorites.  Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

Santa in Bath – D372207

I’m just going to leave this one alone.  Take a look at Figures 2 and 3 of this design patent:

Santa Foot – D457,462

This one is creepy.  Yes, that’s it.  Just a foot.  It’s part leg lamp from “A Christmas Story” and part serial killer.

Santa Claus Detector – U.S. Patent No. 5,523,741

Nothing morbid about this patent.  This one is for the kids, and the abstract pretty much sums it up: “A children’s Christmas stocking device useful for visually signaling the arrival of Santa Claus by illuminating an externally visible light source having a power source located within said device.”

Figure 5 is my favorite. I’m pretty sure it’s a character from “He-Man, Masters of the Universe” dressed as Santa Claus:  Santa Claus Visit Kit – U.S. Patent No. 7,258,592 

Is Santa skipping your house this Christmas?  Consider the patented Santa Claus Visit Kit.  This patent teaches a “kit for creating an illusion that suggests a Santa Claus visit in a premises ….”  The kit is comprehensive.  The preferred embodiment includes a letter professing to be from Santa Claus, a toy key, packaged glitter, a boot print, and a letter from Santa Claus.

Christmas Tree Watering Device – U.S. Patent No. 6,082,043

Are conventional methods of watering your Christmas tree taking their toll?  Look no further than the “Christmas Tree Watering Device”!  This patented watering system includes “an ornament in the shape of a head of creature … hingedly connected to [a] lower liquid receptacle receiving portion.”  But wait, there’s more!  Old systems for watering Christmas Trees were boring.  But this is no ordinary watering device.  An embodiment of this device includes Rudolph’s head, and his nose lights up when the tree needs water!

 Snowman-Shaped Christmas Tree – U.S. Patent D487,878

Although not the Abominable Snowman, this design is an abomination.

Apparatus for Holding and Delivering Tickets – U.S. Patent No. 641,651

Speaking of snowmen, this old patent from 1900 has nothing to do with a snowman or Christmas.  But so what?  The inventor is one W.H. Snowman of Chelsea, Massachusetts, and he belongs in the Christmas patent hall of fame for the name alone.   

Holiday Lights String Storage Device and Method – U.S. Patent No. 7,918,413

This one is actually pretty useful.  It discloses a spool device for winding up and storing Christmas lights so they do not become damaged or tangled.   I could use one of these.  The named inventor is Kirkland, Washington’s Ib R. Odderson.