U.S. Patent No. 1,353,709 discloses a token “which may be presented as an expression of friendship or admiration.”

•U.S. Patent No. 2,726,397discloses an apron with interchangeable appliques, explaining “often such persons as housewives and hostesses desire to decorate articles of clothing, curtains, coverings and so forth with figures and designs of various shape and color.” Reportedly this was even more popular than the Valentine-themed vacuum cleaner.

U.S. Patent No. 3,016,178 discloses a box construction, such as Valentines Day boxes, which are intended to contain candy or other comestibles or flowers. This is one of many patents on heart-shaped boxes.

U.S. Patent No. 6,172,328 discloses methods for etching, cutting and/or altering, the surface of a flower, plant, cut foliage, allowing one to inscribe a Valentine’s Day greeting on the flowers themselves.

U.S. Patent No. 6,053,399 “relates to mailers and envelopes and, more particularly, to envelops and mailers for sending small sachets and photographs.”

U.S. Patent No. 5,160,087 discloses a drinking straw, designed to demonstrate the need for teamwork.

U.S. Patent No. 4993184 discloses a “heart-shaped, free standing, living plant comprises at least two living plants, a left plant and a right plant, formed into opposed lobes forming the heart configuration.”

Last, but not least, U.S. Patent No. 5727565, discloses a heart shaped “kissing shield comprised of a thin, flexible membrane and a frame or holder” to ensure that your Valentine’s Day is both safe and happy!

More examples of how the patent system improves everything — including Mardi Gras. U.S. Patent No. D645226 protects an Edible Cookie Mask, and get that last snack in before Lent begins:

U.S. Patent No. D629177 also provides a Mardi Gras mask, but without the snack:

U.S. Patent No. PP21407 provides an Aeonium Plant named “Mardi Gras” (and a cool word with all of the vowels):

U.S. Patent No. D611117 provides a Mardi Gras Doubloon Fishing Lure, to get a jump on meatless Fridays:

U.S. Patent No. PP15203 provides an Abelia Plant named “Mardi Gras”:

U.S. Patent No. D375658 provides a serving basket in the form of a Mardi Gras parade float:

U.S. Patent No. 8672169 provides a decorated cup for your Mardi Gras libations:

There are approximately 638 issued patents that mention Santa Clas, more that a hundred or so that actually show him. His first appearance was in U.S. Patent No. 276,586 in 1883:

Since then, his appearance has changed over the years, as the following collection shows:

Santa Claus, whatever he looks like, is about to come to town a gain. Happy holidays!

While he may not live up to modern standards, Chrisopher Columbus’ voyages to the New World were, for the time, heroic and skillful, navigating the barely sixty foot Santa Maria wil a crew of 42 on a thirty-five day journey across the Atlantic Ocean. His achievements were celebrated and memorialized, including on Owen Gray’s Educational Globe. the subject of U.S. Patent No. 418455 issued December 31, 1889, which showed two of Columbus’ four voyages in dashed lines on the globe:

as the patent explained:

J.W. Meese patented (U.S. Patent No. D21533) this statue of Columbus in 1892:

There are numerous other Columbus statues, medals, plaques, spoons, and canes, celebrating his bravery.

Inventors have devoted some attention to the celebration of Flag Day. U.S. Patent No. 4,972,794 on a Flagstaff with Protective Housing is the result. As the Abtract explains:

More recently, U.S. Patent No. 9,672,761 on a Flag and Banner Display System for Motor Vehicles and the Like, reviewed the law before disclosing a way of displaying a flag on a vehicle:

Earth Day has been the inspiration for numerous environmental initiatives, including the EPA. and it has also been the motivation for many inventions:

U.S. Patent No. 5505114 protects a Simulated Musical Rainmaker, which the patent describes as the “perfect toy to celebrate Earth Day.

U.S. Patent No. D407127 protects the ornamental design for a baseball. which can include an Earth Day logo:

U.S. Patent No. 10,712,723 on a System and Method of Compiling and Organizing Power Consumption Data and Converting such Data into One or More User Actionable Formats, suggests that the invention “could include real-time feedback as events like Earth Day occur, to demonstrate the en-masse savings and conservation, the environmental impact, etc.”

U.S. Patent No. 9336540 on a Method and System for use of Game for Charity Donations suggests that it can be used to raise funds for Earth Day:

On this this 54th Earth Day, the world has accomplished a lot, but there is much more to be done; hopefully with creativity and inventiveness we can continue to make progress.numer

Shamrocks, Leprechauns, and pots of gold are hard to find (except on St. Patrick’s Day), but the hunting is good in the patent collection:

While shamrocks, Leprechauns, and pots of gold are usually scarce in the real world (except on St. Patrick’s Day), they are pretty easy to find in the world of patents. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. In the field of inventions and patents, there are many important and prolific women inventors, but one worthy of remembrance on International Women’s Day is Elizabeth J. “Lizzie” Magie was born in Macomb, Illinois in 1866. She was a stenographer, short story and poetry writer, comedian, stage actress, feminist, and engineer. In 1893, at the age of 26, Lizzie received her first patent on an improvement in typewriters:

Lizzie was a political activist, and invented a game called The Landlord’s Game to demonstrate the economic ill effects of land monopolism, and the use of taxes as a remedy for it. Lizzie applied for a patent on her board game, and was granted U.S. Patent 748,626 on January 5, 1904:

As her first patent on the Landlord’s game was expiring, Lizziey, now married, invented and patented an updated version of the Landlord’s Game:

If Lizzie’s game seems familiar, you may be thinking of C.B. Darrow’s Monopoly game, patented in 1935 and marketed by Parker Brothers.

After the release of Monopoly, Lizzie gave in interview in which she was critical of Parker Brothers, and identified the similarities between Monopoly and The Landlord’s Game. Parker Brothers agreed to publish two more of her games, but continued to give Darrow the credit for inventing the game itself. Many years later, Ralp Anspach stumbled upon Lizzie’s patents while fighting his own legal battle with Parker Brothers over Anspach’s Anti-Monopoly game, which resulted in increase appreciate for Lizzie’s contribution to the game.

Wikipedia reports that Lizzie believed that women were as capable as men in inventing, business, and other professional areas. She was correct then, and for that, worthy of remembrance now.

From masks to beads, patents protect a number products for celebrating Mardi Gras, including:

U.S. Patent No. 4,864,663 protects an integral costume mask and display headgears, suitable for Mardi Gras celebrations:

U.S. Patent No. 5,135,390, protects a Flambeau Torch:

U.S. Patent No. 5,219,069 protects a chainable Plastic Coin Holder for collecting Mardi Gras coins:

U.S. Patent No. 5,787,508 protects a Decorative Mask Assembly suitable for Mardi Gras celebrations:

U.S. Patent No. 5,896,756 discloses a Soft Necklace suitable for throwing at Mardi Gras:

U.S. Patent No. 6,296,364 discloses a Lighted Bead Necklace, suitable for wearing at Mardi Gras:

U.S. Patent No. 6,578,981 discloses another version of a Lighted Bead Necklace suitable for wearing at Mardi Gras:

U.S. Patent No. 6,991,141 discloses Methods of Producing and Treating Twisted Beads for Mardi Gra celebrations:

U.S. Patent No. 8,672,169 protects a Novelty Cup with Jewelry for your Mardi Gras libations:

U.S. Patent No. D611117 protects a Mardi Gras Doubloon Fishing Lure:

U.S. Patent No. 8,082,753 protects Beverage Bead for holding your Mardi Gras hurricane:

The U.S. patent collection has patents for every occasion, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. Here are ten patents to set mood for the day: