The United States patent number for each year is the first patent issued that calendar year. Always remember, patent date is only when something was patented, not when it was actually made, many items were manufactured for many years after it was patented. These Patent's cover the design of an item, are usually designated with a D in the number. The number for each year is the first design patent issued that year. The first year for design patents was 1843.
Design patents refer to any new ornamental design for an item.
The design patent protects only the appearance of an article, but not its structural or functional features. Inc. All Rights Reserved.