I was checking the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database today, and I spotted something fresh. Garmin was officially granted a brand-new design patent for a “Watch with display” (Patent No. US D1138792 S).
As far as I can tell, no one else has reported on this filing yet. Here is a breakdown of what it is, who is behind it, and what it could mean for upcoming Garmin wearables.
What Is a Design Patent?
Before diving into the drawings, it is important to remember what a Design Patent actually covers. Unlike standard utility patents—which protect internal sensors, battery technology, or software code—a design patent strictly protects the visual appearance of a product.
In simple terms: this document is all about how the device looks on the outside.
Key Details from the USPTO Document
-
Patent Number: US D1138792 S
-
Title: Watch with display
-
Assignee: Garmin International, Inc.
-
Lead Inventor: Todd P. Register (Garmin’s VP of Industrial Design)
Having Todd Register’s name on the filing is a big deal. His team is responsible for the iconic look of Garmin’s most popular outdoor and sports watch lineups, including the Fenix, Epix, Forerunner, and Instinct series.
Decoding the Patent Sketches
When you look at USPTO design patents, the legal rules are specific:
-
Solid Black Lines: This is the exact design Garmin is claiming as their original property.
-
Dashed Lines: These outline the “environment”—meaning the wrist, buttons, or strap outline are drawn in broken lines just to show context and scale.
The solid lines in this patent focus on the specific geometry of the casing, bezel, and display outline. When a major manufacturer files a wireframe like this, it usually means one of two things:
-
A New Physical Chassis: We could be looking at the early exterior design for an upcoming watch model, featuring an updated bezel shape or lug structure.
-
A Protected UI Layout: Alternatively, Garmin often uses “Watch with display” titles to protect custom screen interfaces, widget structures, or watch face graphics.
What’s Next?
Garmin files many patents throughout the year, and not every registered sketch turns into a retail product immediately. However, seeing a newly granted design patent directly from Garmin’s top design team gives us a clear look at what their hardware team has been working on behind closed doors.
Stay tuned—I’ll keep tracking the global regulatory databases and patent offices to see if this design surfaces in real-world FCC filings soon!
Also Read: Garmin’s First Smart Ring Leaks in Official Certification Database “CIRQA Smart Ring”
