I. Case Overview

For a sensor manufacturer, product appearances including sensor housings, amplifiers and safety light curtains serve as the primary brand recognition touchpoint for end customers and are the most vulnerable to copying. Multiple commercialized products had long lacked design protection, leaving the client without grounds for enforcement once imitated. Meanwhile, the cycle and cost of individual design patent filings made the enterprise hesitant about whether such investment was worthwhile. ZYIP rolled out a bundled plan for seven design applications covering flagship models such as safety light curtains, multi-sensor-head amplifiers, contact displacement sensors (short-range pen type / box type), image sensors and laser sensors, with standardized views and brief descriptions. All seven applications were filed collectively in April 2026. Six of the seven design patents were granted, achieving an approximately 86% grant rate. The granted designs cover core product lines and substantially curb end-product counterfeiting risks. Together with 33 invention patents and 28 utility model patents, these design rights form a multi-layered protection portfolio of 93 patents in total.

II. Case Details

Client Profile & Industry

Sensor manufacturer. Product appearances (sensor housings, amplifiers, light curtains, etc.) are the key brand identification feature for end users and highly susceptible to imitation.

Client Pain Points & Challenges

• Many on-sale products had no design protection. The client lacked valid rights to take enforcement action after copycat products emerged.
• The filing cycle and cost for separate design patents raised internal doubts over the return on investment.

Solutions & Implementation

(1) Holistic planning for product exterior designs Seven design applications were planned in one batch for flagship products: safety light curtains, multi-sensor-head amplifiers, contact displacement sensors (short-range pen type and box type), image sensors and laser sensors. Drawings and brief statements were standardized, and all applications were submitted together in April 2026.

(2) Combined protection with inventions and utility models Design patents enable rapid right confirmation for fast defense; invention patents protect core algorithms and optical structures; utility models cover structural improvements. The three layers complement one another.

Deliverables & Outcomes

• Among the seven collectively filed design applications, six were granted, with a grant rate of roughly 86%.
• Granted rights cover flagship products including safety light curtains, laser sensors, image sensors and contact displacement sensors, effectively mitigating counterfeiting risks in the market.
• Alongside 33 invention patents and 28 utility model patents, they build up a three-dimensional protection network consisting of 93 patents.

III. Case Significance

This case illustrates ZYIP’s strategic thinking and execution capability in patent portfolio layout. Instead of evaluating each design application in isolation when the client questioned its value, ZYIP adopted a strategy of holistic exterior design planning combined with invention and utility model rights. Design patents act as a “swift shield” to secure rights quickly, forming a mutually reinforcing three-tier protection system. The batch filing outcome — six grants out of seven applications and an 86% grant rate — addressed the client’s concerns with tangible results. It repositioned design patents from optional extras to an indispensable component of the integrated IP protection framework. This model offers a replicable blueprint for manufacturers to fill gaps in design protection and build comprehensive patent barriers with low cost and high efficiency.