You can patent artistic design with a design patent, though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_patent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_patent I'd guess th

You can patent artistic design with a design patent, though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_patent http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_patent I'd guess that's why the patents are labeled 'D790, etc. instead of just '790 patent.