> This is to protect (somewhat) against lookalikes. Right. Fits with my understanding. Basically they (and others -- HP/LG) use these patent classes to protect

> This is to protect (somewhat) against lookalikes. Right. Fits with my understanding. Basically they (and others -- HP/LG) use these patent classes to protect aspects of technical designs in the way that Coca Cola used design patents to protect their classic bottle shape. So possibly not an actual design patent but something with the same narrow scope. I guess it's an open question as to whether they should be allowed, but they surely seem largely to be easy to avoid in good faith.