Jeff Steck
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jefstec.bsky.social
Jeff Steck
@jefstec.bsky.social
920 followers 380 following 520 posts
Patents for a brighter dystopia
📍Chicago
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Reposted by Jeff Steck
design-law.bsky.social
D375,915 - issued in 1996 for a design for a "lump of coal Christmas stocking." #DesignPatents
stocking with a lump of coal in the toe
December 25, 2025 at 1:58 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
Elf on a Shelf, but with shoes.
US Patent 11986748
Patent drawing of an Elf on the Shelf but, you guessed it, he's wearing shoes.
December 24, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Jeff Steck
jefstec.bsky.social
Use Christmas tree ornaments as targets for an electronic shooting game.
US Patent 11918133
Patent drawings of a child, rendered as a stick figure, shooting a gun almost their size at a Christmas tree ornament. The ornament is displaying a reindeer fleeing in terror.
December 24, 2024 at 2:40 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
The outtakes from Emmet Otter go hard
December 19, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Reposted by Jeff Steck
peterisskorovs.com
#OnThisDay in 1871, Samuel L. Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, received U.S. #Patent No. 121,992 for an “Improvement in adjustable and detachable straps for Garments”.
Even literary legends file patent applications.
#OTD #PatentHistory #USPTO
U.S. Patent No. 121,992 "Improvement in adjustable and detachable straps for garments". Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, and essayist.
December 19, 2025 at 3:01 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
"Reusable toilet paper system"
US Patent 12274399
Patent drawing of a bin for holding used cloth wipes as they steep in five quarts of liquid.
December 19, 2025 at 2:34 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
Turn old artificial Christmas trees into underwater reefs.
US Patent 12495775, issued today
Patent drawing of two artificial Christmas trees joined into an hourglass shape with fish swimming alongside.
December 16, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Jeff Steck
peterisskorovs.com
1/4 #OnThisDay in 1836, the U.S. Patent Office in Washington, D.C., burned in what became known as the Great Patent Fire. The blaze destroyed all 9,957 patent records and roughly 7,000 patent models, wiping out much of the early U.S. patent archive.
#OTD #PatentHistory #Patents #USPTO
U.S. Patent No. X-6490 "Fire Ladder". Blodget's Hotel, built 1793. Ruins of the Patent Office.
December 15, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by Jeff Steck
peterisskorovs.com
1/4 #OnThisDay in 1948, U.S. #Patent No. 2,455,992 was granted to Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann for the “Cathode-ray tube amusement device”, often considered the first video game.
#OTD #PatentHistory #VideoGameHistory #GamingHistory
U.S. Patent No. 2,455,992 "Cathode-ray tube amusement device". U.S. Patent No. 2,455,992 "Cathode-ray tube amusement device".
December 14, 2025 at 9:52 AM
jefstec.bsky.social
"Pillow Assembly," patented this week.
US 12490848
Patent drawing of a pillow that you wear on your head. It looks like a bulbous batting helmet. Side view of the pillow helmet, which now resembles a pompadour wig.
December 12, 2025 at 2:47 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
A system for suspending your laptop overhead. Patented yesterday.
US 12490828
Patent drawings of someone lying in bed with their laptop hanging from the ceiling above them.
December 10, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Reposted by Jeff Steck
meredithlowry.bsky.social
I really want to do a post on how men with less legal experience explain things to me, but I had a client that did this and then her mansplainer stalked her and called in a threats to her place of business.

So the internet is super fun.
December 9, 2025 at 8:33 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
A virtual reality system that simulates vaping at sea.
US Patent 11284646
Patent drawing of the view from a VR headset, including simulated vape smoke blowing over the bow of a ship.
December 5, 2025 at 11:47 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
Hoodie with integrated popcorn bucket, patented this week.
US 12484689
Series of patent drawing of a popcorn bucket being unfurled from a zipper in the front of a sleeveless hoodie.
December 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
An interactive facemask that changes from a smile to a frown when people get too close.
US Patent 12484643
Patent drawing of a person wearing a mask over the lower half of their face. A cartoonishly large smile is displayed on the mask.
December 3, 2025 at 7:25 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
A mirror to detect whether you have an asymmetrical face that demonstrates "criminal tendencies."
US Patent 1779655
1928 patent drawing showing a right-angle mirror reflecting the face of a potentially dangerous flapper.
December 1, 2025 at 2:48 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
Chicago billboard (2022)
Billboard reading "don't be a dibsh*t" with a red line through a drawing of lawn furniture saving a parking spot in the snow.
November 29, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by Jeff Steck
asrothstein.bsky.social
Happy Thanksgiving to all the patent folks on Bluesky (and also you turkey burlesque show fans).
jefstec.bsky.social Jeff Steck @jefstec.bsky.social · Feb 6
A fan of feathers that lets hunters put on a little burlesque show for the turkeys.
US Patent 11857036
Patent drawing with a bow hunter wearing a wrist-mounted fan of turkey feathers.
November 27, 2025 at 6:27 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
"Bird Stand"
US Patent 12245583
Patent drawing of a mounted turkey that looks like it is standing on a peg leg like a pirate.
November 27, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Jeff Steck
douglasmack.bsky.social
* Before patenting the now-iconic bear-shaped honey container, the inventor also patented other honey bottle designs. We could've had penguins or creepy clowns instead!
several bottles in the shapes of adorable bears, all peeking out of a crate patent application illustration of a seal-shaped honey bottle patent application illustration of a penguin-shaped honey bottle patent application illustration of a honey bottle that looks like an incredibly creepy clown head with a gaping mouth
November 25, 2025 at 5:11 AM
jefstec.bsky.social
A head support for surgeons.
US Patent 12440303
Patent drawing of a surgeon wearing a sort of harness with a rod extending up the back and supporting his head. He is operating on a rather glamourous patient.
November 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
Chicago sunset tonight
Photo of a mottled red and grey sky over trees
November 22, 2025 at 10:40 PM
jefstec.bsky.social
Garment top with permanently attached suspenders, patented this week.
US 12471653
Patent drawing of a woman wearing a bustier crop top with suspenders.
November 21, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Jeff Steck
peterisskorovs.com
1/2 #OnThisDay in 1923, U.S. #Patent No. 1,475,024 was granted to Garrett Morgan for his ingenious traffic signal.
#OTD #PatentHistory #BlackInventors #BlackHistory
U.S. Patent No. 1,475,024 for "Traffic signal". Garrett Morgan was was a Black American inventor, businessman, and community leader.
November 20, 2025 at 8:06 AM
jefstec.bsky.social
Dekalog: One (Krzysztof Kieślowski, 1988)
November 14, 2025 at 9:15 PM