A design patent is a type of patent that protects the ornamental features or appearance of an article of manufacture. Examples include designs of jewelry, furniture, beverage containers and computer icons. In order to be granted, a design patent application must include drawings that meet specific disclosure requirements.

If you’re an inventor or have a unique product, you may want to consider filing a design patent. These patents give owners the right to exclude others from making a similar product and can help you build a safety net against copycat products entering the market.