What kinds of designs qualify for design patent protection?

• Basically, any new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture.
• Consider design patent protection for products which are different or distinctive from anything that has been done before. Good candidates for design patent protection are hand tools, vehicle designs, industrial equipment and designs or arrangements of equipment which are ergonomic and ornamental.
• These standards are set out in Section 171 of Title 35 of the United States Code (35 USC § 171)

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