Rockin’ (Design) Patent – “Electronic Percussion Instrument”

November 20, 2020

Rockin’ (Design) Patent: US Design Patent No. 244,717
Filed: 10 July 1975
In the name of: Florian Schneider and Ralf Hütter of Kraftwerk fame
Title: Electronic Percussion Musical Instrument
What’s claimed: “The ornamental design for an electronic percussion musical instrument, substantially as shown”
Why this (design) patent rocks: First of all, this is a ‘design patent’ rather than a ‘utility patent’. What’s referred to as a ‘design patent’ in the US is often called a ‘registered design’ in other countries. Design patents (or registered designs) protect the way things look rather than how they work. This can be seen from what’s claimed; an ornamental design rather than functionality of the instrument as such. Oh, and the Kraftwerk connection is pretty cool too of course.

If you’re a patent-savvy music tech business looking for patent help, get in touch with Russell IP here!

The information above is for general interest and information only and does not constitute legal advice.

Share the Post:

Russell IP Recognised in Financial Times’ Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms 2026

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney & Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA – 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions, AI, telecommunications and music technology). Published: June 2026 Last updated: June 2026 We are delighted to share that Russell IP has been independently recognised in the Financial Times’ Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms 2026. This is a survey-based ranking of patent attorney firms across Europe, compiled by the Financial Times in partnership with the research company Statista. For a boutique firm focused on technology innovations – including AI, machine learning, computer-implemented inventions, telecommunications, and music technology – being named

Software Patent Drawings Explained

By Iain Russell, Patent Attorney and Director at Russell IP (BSc, CPA, EPA, FRSA – 20 years’ experience in computer-implemented inventions and music technology). What Drawings Do Software Patents Typically Include? Published: June 2026 | Last updated: June 2026 Software patent applications often rely heavily on drawings to explain how an invention works. The types of software patent drawings used can look quite different from those in mechanical or chemical cases, mainly because the invention is usually a process or a system rather than a physical object you can show in physical form. At Russell IP, we specialise in protecting

Gain the Competitive Edge

Let's see how we can help protect your IP

Get in touch using the contact form or the phone number below to see how we can protect your IP.

There’s no obligation to sign up for anything.

Rockin’ (Design) Patent – “Electronic Percussion Instrument”

Related Posts

Russell IP Recognised in Financial Times’ Europe’s Leading Patent Law Firms 2026

Software Patent Drawings Explained

Let's see how we can help protect your IP