United States Patent and Trademark Office

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We’ve got PLENTY of GOOD trademarks to share – here's one for vintage candy enthusiasts or anyone with a sweet tooth.On ...
06/12/2026

We’ve got PLENTY of GOOD trademarks to share – here's one for vintage candy enthusiasts or anyone with a sweet tooth.

On this day in 1928, Good & Plenty – one of the oldest branded candies in the U.S. – received a registered trademark. Created by the Quaker City Chocolate and Confectionery Company in 1893, Good & Plenty candies are known for their distinct pink-and-white candy shells and black licorice center.

The brand has grown in popularity over the years, even creating a catchy jingle and cartoon mascot “Choo Choo Charlie” featured in commercials throughout the 1950s.

Today, The Hershey Company manufactures and distributes Good & Plenty under a licensing agreement while trademarks continue to identify the source of the iconic snack.

🎵 Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks... 🎵Whether topping your hot dog with just the right amount of ketchup or being ...
06/11/2026

🎵 Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks... 🎵

Whether topping your hot dog with just the right amount of ketchup or being tempted by your favorite candy bar in the grocery store checkout line, snacks and condiments have served as little treats for generations of Americans. Here’s the history behind some of the most recognizable brands in the business:

🍿 Is sweet and salty your jam? The caramel-coated popcorn and peanut combo of the Cracker Jack brand has been a go-to game day snack since 1896. Just two years later, Nabisco got its start as the National Biscuit Company. The brand now manufactures crackers in both the Ritz and graham varieties.

🍪 You don’t have to be a cookie monster to appreciate the convenience of pre-packaged baked goods. Oreo, the popular cream-filled sandwich cookie, debuted in 1912, and Hostess’ iconic tw***ie dates back to 1930.

🍫 Chocolate makers have been hands-on over the years. When Hershey’s first produced chocolate Kisses in 1907, assembly line workers would wrap each chocolate in silver foil by hand. Forrest Mars Sr. created M&M'S in 1940, coating his chocolate in a hard candy shell to prevent it from melting.

🍓 Seen any strange ingredients in a Jell-O mold? The brand gained popularity in the early 20th century through the distribution of free cookbooks, including some creative options.

🌭 Two of the most recognizable condiment brands trace their roots to the 1860s. H.J. Heinz developed his company’s “57 varieties” slogan and keystone-shaped label, which paid homage to the company’s home state of Pennsylvania. Louisianan Edmund McIlhenny began producing a fiery and flavorful pepper sauce crafted from aged red peppers, vinegar, and salt, which he named Tabasco®.

Hungry for more trademarks? Stay tuned as we highlight iconic brands throughout the summer.

Join us for “America250: Mission – Innovation: Veterans and Military Spouses – How to apply, get hired, and thrive at th...
06/11/2026

Join us for “America250: Mission – Innovation: Veterans and Military Spouses – How to apply, get hired, and thrive at the USPTO.” It’s a live virtual event! 📣

Held during the Nation’s 250th anniversary year, this event also supports America250 by honoring military service and highlighting continued public service through innovation at the USPTO.

Learn about veteran and military spouse hiring paths, the federal application process, and how the USPTO Military Association supports employees through mentorship, networking, and community.

📅 June 25, 2026
⏰ 3 – 4 p.m. ET
🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/4dMI5rw

You’ve got mail – and it’s protected by a patent. ✉️📬 You’ve probably tossed one in the recycling bin without a second t...
06/10/2026

You’ve got mail – and it’s protected by a patent. ✉️📬

You’ve probably tossed one in the recycling bin without a second thought, but the window envelope was once a brand-new innovation.

On this day in 1902, inventor Americus Callahan received U.S. Patent No. 701,839 for an envelope featuring a transparent window. Instead of addressing both the letter and the envelope by hand, the recipient’s address could be viewed through the window.

Callahan’s goal was to save businesses time and money by reducing the amount of handwriting required and the chance for errors. More than 120 years later, this simple idea is still helping deliver everything from bills to birthday cards.

Patent examiner in 1935: “It’s an avocado... thanks.” Next time you order avocado toast or microwave your leftover chili...
06/09/2026

Patent examiner in 1935: “It’s an avocado... thanks.”

Next time you order avocado toast or microwave your leftover chili, you have an inventor to thank. Let’s take a look at a few inventors who held patents in the field of food, storage, and preservation:

🥑 There are plant patents behind some of your favorites in the grocery store produce section. Rudolph Hass patented his avocado in 1935, initially selling the crop at a roadside stand. Noting hardiness and crisp texture as features, horticulturalists from the University of Minnesota received a plant patent for the Honeycrisp apple in 1990.

🥜 Some inventors transformed foods to solve problems. After witnessing the tragic deaths of children aboard a steamship due to spoiled milk, Gail Borden invented condensed milk. An agricultural scientist, George Washington Carver devised more than 300 uses for the peanut, which he promoted for their nutritional and soil-replenishing benefits.

🫙 The ability to safely store food for longer periods of time was a gamechanger, leading to healthier diets and less food waste. John Mason’s patented jar with a screw top lid made home canning more accessible. A century later, Earl Tupper’s airtight plastic containers made leftovers and meal prep safer and tastier.

🍎 To preserve the nutrients and taste of fresh foods, inventors drew inspiration from nature. Inspired by how fisherman would freeze fish by throwing them onto the ice, Clarence Birdseye invented a flash-freezing process that retained flavor. Sylvia Blankenship and Edward Sisler discovered compound that greatly extended the length of time fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers could be stored.

From chemical processes to the seeds themselves, American agriculture is fed by innovation.

We’re hiring an Attorney Advisor in the USPTO’s Office of General Law. In this role, you’ll provide legal counsel on co...
06/09/2026

We’re hiring an Attorney Advisor in the USPTO’s Office of General Law.

In this role, you’ll provide legal counsel on complex federal acquisition and information technology procurement matters, support source selection and contract administration, analyze procurement policies, and represent the USPTO in bid protests and contract disputes.

If you’re ready to work on challenging legal issues, collaborate with a talented and collegial team, and support the mission of America’s Innovation Agency, apply by June 18: https://bit.ly/4fsP7Eq

Have an NIL deal? You might already have a common law trademark. Unlock extra benefits with a federal trademark registr...
06/09/2026

Have an NIL deal? You might already have a common law trademark.

Unlock extra benefits with a federal trademark registration:

✅ Strengthens deals

✅ Helps stop copycats

✅ Makes enforcement easier

✅ Adds value to your brand

Go beyond common law—strengthen your protection. www.uspto.gov/NIL

What does a day in the life of a USPTO patent examiner really look like? Join our webinar for behind-the-scenes insight...
06/08/2026

What does a day in the life of a USPTO patent examiner really look like?

Join our webinar for behind-the-scenes insights about how patent examiners review applications, work with emerging technologies, and protect innovation. Hear directly from USPTO employees about the role, the work, and what makes this career path unique.

Join us June 9, 1 p.m. ET: https://bit.ly/4ulWRwk

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Before robot vacuums zipped around our living rooms, inventor Ives W. McGaffey received U.S. Pat...
06/08/2026

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. Before robot vacuums zipped around our living rooms, inventor Ives W. McGaffey received U.S. Patent No. 91,145 for an “Improved Sweeping-Machine” on this day in1869. It was one of the earliest vacuum cleaners in the United States.

Instead of plugging it in, users powered it the old-fashioned way by pushing the machine with one hand while cranking a handle with the other. Talk about a full-body cleaning routine.

McGaffey’s invention used a hand-cranked, belt-driven fan to create a current of air that pulled dust and dirt from carpets. Heavy debris collected in a catch pan, while finer dust was trapped in a cloth bag that let air escape but kept the dirt behind. The goal was cleaner carpets without sending clouds of dust flying through the room.

McGaffey’s sweeping machine helped lay the groundwork for the high-powered vacuum cleaners we know today. Vroom, vroom, vroom.

On Thursday, USPTO Director John A. Squires recognized the newest classes of National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Senior ...
06/05/2026

On Thursday, USPTO Director John A. Squires recognized the newest classes of National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Senior Members and Fellows, who represent the highest levels of achievement in science, engineering, technology and innovation.

Director Squires joined inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs, and innovation leaders from across the country to celebrate the people and partnerships driving American innovation.

In his closing keynote, Director Squires emphasized the critical role intellectual property plays in strengthening U.S. competitiveness and helping transform discoveries into real-world impact and economic opportunity. He also highlighted the importance of collaboration among universities, industry, government, and inventors to accelerate innovation, commercialization, and technology leadership in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductors.

The USPTO is proud to be a longstanding partner of NAI and to support the innovators whose ideas improve lives, strengthen our economy, and inspire the next generation of inventors.

Congratulations to all of this year's NAI honorees!

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