The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

The Devil's Advocate - Apple Receives Patent for Pentagon-Shaped Buttons [TMO Scoop]
by - May 25th, 2004

Apple filed for a patent application on a "User Interface for Computer Display" on June 4, 2002, which was issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as US Design Patent No. D490,440 S on May 25, 2004. This patent is a division of an application filed on January 4, 2000.

Here's what it looks like:


Sketch included in the patent application

It's basically a design patent on pentagon-shaped close-minimize-expand buttons in a window title-bar. In a previous article I highlighted other shapes, like Jolly Rancher squares, that were also considered by Apple.

This is not an exciting patent. It's mostly of interest to show how many other designs Apple considered before settling on the gum-drops in the window title-bar and that Apple is really developing quite a fortress of patents around its user interface.

is an attorney. Please don't hold that against him. This work does not necessarily reflect the views and/or opinions of The Mac Observer, any third parties, or even John for that matter. No assertions of fact are being made, but rather the reader is simply asked to consider the possibilities.

You can send your comments directly to me, or you can also post your comments below.

Most Recent Columns From The Devil's Advocate

The Devil's Advocate Archives


Warning: include(/usr/local/etc/httpd/sites/macobserver.com/htdocs/forums/extension.inc) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /var/www/bbm/macobserver.com/ee2/www/htdocs/comments/comments.php on line 108

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/usr/local/etc/httpd/sites/macobserver.com/htdocs/forums/extension.inc' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/share/php5:/usr/share/php') in /var/www/bbm/macobserver.com/ee2/www/htdocs/comments/comments.php on line 108

Warning: include(/usr/local/etc/httpd/sites/macobserver.com/htdocs/forums/common.) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /var/www/bbm/macobserver.com/ee2/www/htdocs/comments/comments.php on line 110

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/usr/local/etc/httpd/sites/macobserver.com/htdocs/forums/common.' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/share/php5:/usr/share/php') in /var/www/bbm/macobserver.com/ee2/www/htdocs/comments/comments.php on line 110

Warning: include(/usr/local/etc/httpd/sites/macobserver.com/htdocs/forums/includes/bbcode.) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /var/www/bbm/macobserver.com/ee2/www/htdocs/comments/comments.php on line 112

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening '/usr/local/etc/httpd/sites/macobserver.com/htdocs/forums/includes/bbcode.' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/share/php5:/usr/share/php') in /var/www/bbm/macobserver.com/ee2/www/htdocs/comments/comments.php on line 112

Fatal error: Call to a member function sql_query() on a non-object in /var/www/bbm/macobserver.com/ee2/www/htdocs/comments/comments.php on line 532

Recent Headlines - Updated June 18th

Mon, 7:05 PM
Analysis - Apple Expands Jony Ive’s Title to Cover All ‘Design’
6:26 PM
Analysis - Apple’s Eddy Cue Details Steve Jobs Interest in iBooks
6:25 PM
Mac Geek Gab Podcast - MGG 454: Power Interruptus
6:00 PM
TMO Interview - Marc Edwards at WWDC: Customers Will Be Shocked to See iOS 7
2:59 PM
TMO Interview - Kevin Hoctor at WWDC: People Need a Great Money App; I Made One
2:20 PM
Video Demo of Using 6 Displays in Apple’s New OS X Mavericks
11:51 AM
Swipe through Email with Mail Ninja
11:28 AM
TMO Quick Tip - Wireless Emergency Alerts: What You Need to Know
9:55 AM
Analysis - Apple’s Public Statement: No PRISM Involvement from Us
9:04 AM
News - AT&T Pushes Emergency Alert Update to iPhone Users
8:25 AM
How-To - iOS: A Guide to Guided Access
Sat, 11:27 AM
TMO Interview - Dave Peck at WWDC: Making VPN Fun and Easy (for a Change)

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • Support TMO, Buy from Amazon, MacMall and The Apple Store

  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!