Which Treasures Can Wear “Patent Armor”? Uncovering the Innovation Codes Hidden in Life

在超市貨架前，你是否好奇過為什么某款薯片的包裝能瞬間開封？在雨天撐傘時(shí)，有沒有琢磨過折疊傘的骨架為何如此巧妙？這些讓生活更便捷的小設(shè)計(jì)，背后可能都藏著一個(gè)關(guān)鍵詞 —— 專利。就像給創(chuàng)新成果穿上一件法律鎧甲，專利能保護(hù)創(chuàng)造者的智慧結(jié)晶不被輕易復(fù)制。那么，究竟哪些 “寶貝” 有資格穿上這件鎧甲呢？

Have you ever wondered why a certain brand of potato chip packaging can be opened in an instant while standing in front of a supermarket shelf? Or pondered over the cleverness of the folding umbrella’s frame on a rainy day? These convenient little designs may all hide a key word behind them — patent. Just like putting a legal armor on innovative achievements, patents can protect creators’ intellectual fruits from being easily copied. So, which “treasures” are eligible to wear this armor?

一、全新技術(shù)方案：能申請(qǐng)專利的發(fā)明創(chuàng)新

這里所說的發(fā)明，指的是對(duì)產(chǎn)品、方法或者其改進(jìn)提出的全新技術(shù)方案。比如一款能自動(dòng)識(shí)別食材并調(diào)節(jié)火候的智能炒鍋，其內(nèi)部嵌入的溫度傳感器和食材識(shí)別芯片構(gòu)成了全新的產(chǎn)品技術(shù)，這樣的產(chǎn)品發(fā)明可以申請(qǐng)專利；快遞行業(yè)中，通過優(yōu)化掃碼路徑和機(jī)械臂協(xié)作邏輯來提升效率的無人分揀技術(shù)，屬于方法發(fā)明，也能申請(qǐng)專利；甚至像原本用于紡織業(yè)的抗菌劑，被發(fā)現(xiàn)能抑制植物真菌病害這種跨界的用途創(chuàng)新，同樣符合發(fā)明的申請(qǐng)條件。

Inventions are the most groundbreaking members of the patent family. Any unprecedented technical solution can potentially be within its scope. For example, an intelligent wok that can automatically identify ingredients and adjust heat, with its internal temperature sensors and ingredient recognition chips forming a brand-new product technology, can apply for a product invention patent. The unmanned sorting technology in the express delivery industry, which improves efficiency by optimizing scanning paths and robotic arm collaboration logic, belongs to a method invention. Even cross-border application innovations, such as the discovery that an antibacterial agent used in the textile industry can inhibit plant fungal diseases, can also be classified as inventions.

二、產(chǎn)品新構(gòu)造：實(shí)用型創(chuàng)新的專利資格

實(shí)用新型針對(duì)的是產(chǎn)品的形狀、構(gòu)造或者兩者結(jié)合所提出的適于實(shí)用的新的技術(shù)方案。帶 USB 接口的插線板，通過改變內(nèi)部線路布局解決了充電時(shí)接口沖突的問題，這種新構(gòu)造具有實(shí)用性，符合實(shí)用新型專利的申請(qǐng)要求；可折疊晾衣架利用鉸鏈結(jié)構(gòu)實(shí)現(xiàn)了收納自由，這樣的結(jié)構(gòu)創(chuàng)新也在保護(hù)范圍內(nèi)。不過需要注意的是，實(shí)用新型只保護(hù)有形的產(chǎn)品結(jié)構(gòu)，像軟件算法這類無形的技術(shù)是不在其保護(hù)范疇內(nèi)的。

If a product has a new practical design in terms of its shape, structure, or a combination of both, it meets the application conditions for a utility model patent. A power strip with a USB interface, which solves charging conflicts by changing the internal circuit layout, has a new structure with practicality. A foldable clothes hanger that achieves storage freedom using a hinge structure, this kind of structural innovation is also within the protection scope. However, it should be noted that utility models only target tangible product structures; intangible technologies such as software algorithms are not included.

三、獨(dú)特外觀設(shè)計(jì)：產(chǎn)品顏值的專利認(rèn)證

外觀設(shè)計(jì)關(guān)注的是產(chǎn)品整體或局部的形狀、圖案，以及形狀與圖案的結(jié)合，還有色彩與形狀、圖案的結(jié)合所作出的富有美感且適于工業(yè)應(yīng)用的新設(shè)計(jì)。手機(jī)的漸變后蓋、運(yùn)動(dòng)鞋的流線型鞋身、礦泉水瓶的獨(dú)特握感、月餅盒上的浮雕花紋，這些能讓產(chǎn)品在同類中脫穎而出的外觀創(chuàng)新，只要能夠批量生產(chǎn)，就有資格申請(qǐng)外觀設(shè)計(jì)專利。但要注意，單純的色彩或者抽象的圖案是不行的，必須和具體的產(chǎn)品結(jié)合在一起才行。

When a product has a new design in terms of its overall or partial shape, pattern, color, or their combinations, which is aesthetically pleasing and suitable for industrial application, it is eligible to apply for an industrial design patent. The gradient back cover of a mobile phone, the streamlined body of sports shoes, the unique grip of a mineral water bottle, and the embossed patterns on a mooncake box — these appearance innovations that make products stand out among their peers can potentially obtain patent protection as long as they can be mass-produced. But pure colors or abstract patterns are not acceptable; they must be combined with specific products.

這些 “創(chuàng)意” 可穿不上專利鎧甲

并非所有的新想法都能獲得專利保護(hù)。比如發(fā)現(xiàn)新的行星（屬于科學(xué)發(fā)現(xiàn)）、制定游戲規(guī)則（屬于智力活動(dòng)的方法）、研發(fā)治療癌癥的手術(shù)方案（屬于疾病的診斷和治療方法），這些都不在專利的授予范圍內(nèi)。畢竟，專利保護(hù)的是具有實(shí)際應(yīng)用價(jià)值的技術(shù)，而不是抽象的發(fā)現(xiàn)或思維成果。

Not all new ideas can obtain patent protection. For example, discovering a new planet (scientific discovery), formulating game rules (methods of intellectual activities), and developing surgical plans for treating cancer (methods of diagnosing and treating diseases) are all excluded from patents. After all, patents protect practically applicable technologies, not abstract discoveries or intellectual achievements.

下次當(dāng)你拆開快遞盒贊嘆 “這個(gè)設(shè)計(jì)太妙了” 時(shí)，不妨想想：這會(huì)不會(huì)是一件穿著專利鎧甲的創(chuàng)新成果呢？生活中的每一個(gè)小改進(jìn)，都可能藏著申請(qǐng)專利的潛力，等待被發(fā)現(xiàn)和保護(hù)。

Next time you open a delivery box and exclaim, “This design is brilliant,” you might as well think: Could this be an innovative achievement wearing a patent armor? Every small improvement in life may hide the potential to apply for a patent, waiting to be discovered and protected.