Q: What is actually patented on D906,015 Looks like a basic towel with small eyelet holes?

A: The leading digit D tells you that it is not a utility patent (on the features) but a design patent on the appearance. This keeps people from selling things that look just like a product and thus fooling consumers into buying a knockoff. So they have not patented all combinations of towels with grommets.

If you are looking to sell a towel with these features, you need to work with a patent attorney to spell out how different in appearance do you need to be to be safe. For example, -- can you have 8 grommets (4 on each long side) and be safe? This will be partly driven by what prior art was already out there before this patent application was filed. There may be an argument that this patent is invalid as it was repeating things that had been done before. A prior art search may be required to help sort out your situation.

Many patent attorneys do not work extensively with design patents so you may want to look to find someone that has obtained many design patents in part of your search for a patent firm.

If you found this answer helpful, you may want to look at my answers to other questions about patent law are available at the bottom of my profile page at

https://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/kevin-e-flynn-880338

Kevin E Flynn

A: Yes, it can be as simple as that. However, those are not eyelet holes, meaning that those holes have any function except for an ornamental function. These holes are not designed to hold a drawstring or whatever.