The patent laws provide for the granting of design patents to any person who has invented any new and non-obvious ornamental design for an article of manufacture. The design patent protects only the appearance of an article, but not its structural or functional features. The proceedings relating to granting of design patents are the same as those relating to other patents with a few differences.
Design patents filed on or after May 13, 2015, in the United States last for 15 years from the date of grant. For applications filed before that date, the term is 14 years from the grant date. Design patents do not require maintenance fees to remain in force.
The drawing defines the scope of patent protection.
(Excerpted from General Information Concerning Patents print brochure)