Jakub Dlouhy Apple has patented a lot. However, with its patents, the apple company protects not only the technologies it develops, but also the design of its own stores, which many companies try to imitate. Thanks to companies like Xiaomi or Microsoft, which mercilessly copy the style of Apple stores, Apple has decided over time that it must also ensure the uniqueness of its stores in a legal way. And very thoroughly. Almost everything you look at in the Apple Store is patented by the Cupertino company. From shopping bags to glass stairs.
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Amaya Toman Jobs' glass stairs
The first and relatively well-known patent is the typical glass stairs that are part of many multi-story Apple Stores. The Cupertino firm has patented them under the code USD478999S1, and Steve Jobs is listed as the first author in the patent. The stairs consist of three layers of glass, joined with titanium joints and laser engraved, which makes them non-slip and opaque. Stairs have been patented by Apple in many forms, most recently in the form of a spiral staircase used, for example, in a Shanghai store.
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Chair
With the gradual redesign of the stores according to the ideas of Angela Ahrendts' team, which is responsible for Apple Story, cube-shaped wooden chairs began to appear in the areas intended for educational programs. Apple didn't leave anything to chance with these either and they can be found as patent USD805311S1.
Paper shopping bag
The 20160264304 patent US1A2016 has received a lot of publicity. The fact that the Californian technology giant applied for a patent for something as common as a paper shopping bag surprised even the British The Guardian. The patent states, for example, the minimum proportion of recycled paper or a precise description of the individual parts of the bag as well as the production procedures. A more environmentally friendly production was probably the main intention of this patent.
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Architecture
None of the other patents would make sense if the general appearance of apple stores was not patented. Patent USD712067S1 titled simply Building shows a glass cube with the Apple logo. This is almost a description of a famous store on Fifth Avenue in New York City, but of course it applies to anyone who would like to copy the design in any way. There are many other patents in various variations that Apple uses to protect the exterior and interior of its stores, the most recent for example captures a large revolving glass door that allows you to open an entire wall and can be seen in newly opened stores.
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Genius Grove
Relatively new to Apple Stores are living trees in a section of the store called the Genius Grove. The apple company patented both the entire concept of the part of the store with trees, as well as the very appearance of the flowerpots. Genius Grove is a new version of the former Genius Bar, and the transformation took place because, according to Angela Ahrendts, the bars are noisy, and the new version should have an inviting and calming effect.
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Stands for iPads and Apple Watch
Apple has patented even the smallest details in its stores. Stands on which iPads are placed or whiteboards in which the Apple Watch is embedded and used to discover its software were not exempted. Patent USD662939S1 shows a transparent stand, USD762648S1 then protects the plates used to display the Apple Watch.
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