Best in the World: Patents at the forefront of Sports and Technology – DecathaLAW Series: Article 4 – Patent – Intellectual Property

Olympians are often celebrated for their physical achievements—but some are also innovators who have contributed to the development of the sporting world. Another notable example is Ted Ligety, an alpine skier who won gold medals at the 2006 Turin Olympics and the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Ligety holds two patents for protective equipment. designed to protect athletes. One of those patents, US Patent No. 10,143,258, entitled “Protective Helmet,” aims to reduce head trauma by incorporating multiple padding layers to absorb impact during sports. The patented helmet, featured below, reflects Ligety’s dedication to runner safety.

Some Olympians have gone beyond sports with their inventions. James “Jimmy” LuValle, a black athlete and chemistry major at UCLA, won a bronze medal in the 400-meter dash at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. After LuValle returned to the Olympics and graduated from UCLA , he pursued a successful career in the photography industry, eventually acquiring thirteen patents. His inventions, including advances in film, such as X-ray film for medical diagnosis, helped revolutionize the film industry. Although not directly related to sports, LuValle’s contributions to X-ray technology are important for the treatment and prevention of injuries in athletes, highlighting the broad impact of his work.

Even the Olympic torch, the symbol of the Games, saw a new development. The 2020 Tokyo Olympic torch, patented in the United States as US Patent No. 11,555,584, issued in 2023, is an engineering proof of design. Designed to resemble a cherry blossom, the torch is made from recycled aluminum from temporary housing built after the 2011 earthquake in Japan. Featuring tapering and radiating wires, the torch’s unique design was used for 121 days during the Olympic torch relay, culminating in its arrival at the Olympic Stadium for the ceremony. open Tokyo. The new design highlights the fusion of modern technology and tradition in the Olympic symbols.

Copyrights can cover a wide range of technologies, including Olympic-specific technologies. Despite the extensive participation in these events by athletes, coaches and other sports enthusiasts, obtaining patents for related technologies is possible.

For example, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) often classifies gymnastics equipment under CPC A63B (gymnastics, gymnastics, swimming, climbing or fencing equipment; football equipment) ; training equipment), in particular A63B 6/00 (mats or the like for shock absorption for jumping, physical exercise, or the like) and A63B 7/00 (suspended equipment freedom). Based on data from the Patent Public Search Console, from 2001 to 2024, 288 published patent applications were filed in these categories, and 189 were granted patents. Similarly, for normal swimming accessories A63B 33/00 (swimming accessories attached to the head, for example, swimming caps or goggles) and A63B 33/002 (swimming goggles) , 177 patents were filed during the same period, and 91 were issued. These statistics reveal a more than 50% chance of obtaining a patent for fitness or swimming equipment, which shows great innovation in these fields. In addition, there are many other US and non-US Patent Office classes and subclasses into which Olympic sports inventions are classified.

The Olympics are not just championships on the field; many are also trailblazers of technology and innovation. From Ted Ligety’s protective helmets to James LuValle’s groundbreaking work on film, these athletes show that their influence extends far beyond their sporting achievements, showing how these elite athletes have physical and mental gifts. As patent practices in Olympic sports reveal, there is potential for further technological advancements both in and out of the field.

Sspecial thanks to Rachel Vierra, Foley’s summer patent engineer in the Boston office, for her contributions to this article.

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