USPTO

If you are one of the millions of Americans with dentophobia (fear of the dentist) ... maybe this will help? 😬 In 1859, inventor Nahum Washburn patented a dental instrument designed to reduce pain during a tooth extraction. Washburn used electrical currents passing through the instrument to numb the tooth and gum, “preventing or alleviating pain” and allowing for extraction with “little or no suffering.” This invention came at a time when dentistry was emerging as a profession, with the network of dental schools expanding and more care given to oral health. And although Washburn’s device may look “creepy” to us today, it was intended to help patients feel more comfortable receiving treatment. #CreepyIP #Patents

The USPTO is seeking a Congressional Affairs professional to support educational outreach, coordinate engagement with congressional offices, and help communicate agency operations, priorities, and intellectual property matters to key stakeholders. In this role, you may help develop legislative and policy proposals, monitor legislation that could affect the agency, and support briefings for Congress, the Department of Commerce, the Congressional Research Service, and the Congressional Budget Office. If you are a strong communicator with an interest in public policy, legislative affairs, and intellectual property, apply by October 27: https://bit.ly/4ySqAj0

Make my burger -- animal style, please. "IN-N-OUT" is a registered trademark of IN-N-OUT BURGERS, covering food, beverages, and restaurant services. In N Out Burger is a family owned fast food chain founded on October 22, 1948, in Baldwin Park, California. It is known for its fresh (never frozen) burgers and simple menu. In-N-Out is also famous for its not-so-secret menu. You have to ask for it in code, but walk up to the counter and any cashier will know how to ring up and place an order for favorites from the secret menu like Animal Style burger (mustard-grilled patty with extra spread, pickles, and grilled onions), Protein Style burger (lettuce instead of a bun), and the 4x4 (four patties, four slices of cheese). Whatever your favorite style, trademarks help consumers identify the source of goods and services—and recognize the brand behind the burger. 🍔

The fifth state admitted to the Union, Connecticut’s nickname of “the Constitution State” goes back even further. The Fundamental Orders, a 1639 document adopted by the colony, is considered one of the first written constitutions in America. Small but mighty, Connecticut is also home to some fantastic inventors and brands: 📸 A pioneer in color photography, Frederick Eugene Ives was born in Litchfield. 📖 Author Mark Twain received three patents, including one for a self-pasting scrapbook, while living in Hartford. 🍬 Pez candies are produced at a factory in Orange, and the town is also home to a 4,000 square foot Pez Visitor Center. 🏀 Known for their dominance in basketball, the University of Connecticut’s husky mascot dates back to 1934. A real-life doggie counterpart named Jonathan first took the court soon after. What patent or trademark do you think is a feather in Connecticut’s cap?

It’s National Pizza Month! Get out the dough, sauce, cheese, mushrooms, onions, peppers, pepperoni, and maybe even . . . pineapple. 🍍 Whatever way you slice it, pizza has a long culinary history with intellectual property making several appearances over the years. In 1967, Charles Pizzo (yes, you read that right, Pizzo) was granted U.S. Patent No. 3,347,181 for a method for making pizza pies. Almost 40 years later in 2005, John Correll was issued U.S. Patent No. 6,922,976 for a method of packaging and transporting pizza for improved efficiency and crush resistance. Congress officially designed October as National Pizza Month in 1987, baking its place as a nationally recognized food holiday. In pizza we crust. 🍕 #NationalPizzaMonth #Patents

Did you know? Thousands of Trademark Center customers are using our mark description generator? Since its debut in April, more than 25,000 have used super intelligence-generated mark descriptions and color claims for their design marks. This represents 42% of design mark applications in a six-month period. 🎨 Why it matters: Having accurate mark descriptions in the right format helps reduce office actions, saving time for both customers and trademark examining attorneys. ⏱️ At America’s Branding Agency, we’re always looking for ways to improve the trademark registration process and make our systems easier, more efficient, and more responsive to your needs. #AmericasBrandingAgency #Trademarks #BrandProtection

The wait is over... basketball is back! 🏀 As the NBA season tips off, intellectual property is a big part of how fans connect with their favorite teams. As distinctive marks like names, logos, and championship symbols take center court, they create memorable experiences far beyond the final buzzer. No matter who you’re rooting for (or how well they do), the USPTO is here to protect the IP of the brands you love that shape culture, commerce, and competition. Ready to bring your skills to our team that supports America’s innovators? Apply now to join the USPTO: https://bit.ly/3aT9c3e

🌉 The Golden Gate Bridge is an engineering marvel. 🌉 One of the most photographed structures in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge soars for 1.7 miles above the 400-foot-deep Golden Gate Strait, for which it is named, connecting San Franciso Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It weighs 887,000 tons—more than the Empire States Building— and it can sway up to 27 feet at mid-span to withstand strong winds. Standing about 68 stories tall, this suspension bridge is painted international orange for maximum visibility through the fog that often envelopes the bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge was constructed of two main cables hung from two towers and made from enough steel cable wire bundled together to circle the globe at the equator three times. Because the cables were so heavy, they couldn’t be transported to the bridge. Instead, thanks to U.S. Patent No. 1,899,998 for a method and apparatus for spinning bridge cables issued in 1933 and assigned to Roebling’s Sons Company, who constructed the Brooklyn Bridge 52 years earlier, the cables were spun onsite. Each cable wire is as thick as a pencil, and the patented spinner looped them back and forth, spinning 27,572 wires into each main cable for a diameter of 3 feet. The Golden Gate Bridge boasts of the largest cables ever spun, and the patent system made it possible. If you have an invention to patent, visit America’s Innovation Agency for free resource and help: https://bit.ly/3xpuoei #AmericasInnovationAgency #Patents #GoldenGateBridge

A very important medical breakthrough happened on October 19, 1943. 83 years ago, a research team at Rutgers University led by microbiologist Selman Waksman successfully isolated streptomycin—the first antibiotic proven effective against tuberculosis (TB), one of history’s deadliest diseases. The discovery transformed modern medicine, helping turn TB from an almost always fatal disease into a treatable infection and ushering in a new era of antimicrobial therapy. Waksman thought that certain soil-dwelling microbes produced natural substances capable of stopping the growth of harmful bacteria, laying the groundwork for the field of antibiotics. He was granted U.S. Patent No. 2,443,485 for the antibacterial substance and method of producing it. World-changing inventions can come from locations around the country. Want to learn more about resources to help you protect your invention? Visit our USPTO locations: https://bit.ly/4iaxby8 #Patents #Inventions

Perspiration, indeed! From the phonograph to the lightbulb, world-changing inventions were the culmination of tireless work by Thomas Edison and his staff at Menlo Park. When his innovation laboratory first opened in 1876, Edison promised a minor invention every 10 days and a “big thing” every six months. He delivered in October 1879 when he tested his “electric lamp” for the first time. #Inventions