Jamie Lee Curtis has ruled the cinema for decades now with films like ‘My Girl 2,’ ‘Freaky Friday,’ ‘Freakier Friday,’ and ‘True Lies,’ but did you, she, once invent something too? In 1988, the star actually patented her own original design of diapers. While the concept was the same, her design had its own waterproof pockets installed to keep wet wipes in them! Read ahead to know more about this side of Curtis and what happened with the patent.
About Jamie Lee Curtis’ patented diaper design
On Google Patents, the ‘Freaky Friday’ star’s product description is written as, “A disposable infant garment which takes the form of a diaper, including, on its outer side, a sealed, but openable, moisture-proof pocket which contains one or more clean-up wipers.” The patent that was filed by the star had a detailed description of the item, along with a diagram to explain how it worked, showing just how much thought and planning was put into the product by Curtis.
Jamie Lee Curtis is one of the many stars who have invented something during her career. In 1988, she first filed a patent for a diaper design with a waterproof pocket for wet wipes. (Instagram)
The actress is a well-known mother figure in a lot of films and also plays the role in real life, as she has two daughters named Annie and Ruby, whom she shares with her husband, Christopher Guest. Keeping in mind the entire hassle that comes with having a baby, including diapers, wipes, bottles, binkies, bibs, and everything else in between that they need, Curtis’ idea of making disposable diapers with built-in pockets for wipes, which were also stated to be included in the package, was a great idea to lessen the hassle for struggling parents.Another part of the lengthy description further shared, “For example, until now, diapers and wipers have been sold, stored, and handled as two different, separate, independent entities. So, one making use of these products, both at home and while travelling, must necessarily store, dispense, and travel with, etc., two separately packaged items. Quite apart from these issues, there is the further consideration about the convenience of bringing the two (separate diaper and separate wiper) into necessary proximity when an infant’s diaper is to be removed for changing and a clean-up conducted.”
What happened with the diaper patent?
According to the listing, Lee’s design patent has officially expired for now. The application was originally filed on February 20, 1987, and was later granted on June 28, 1988. According to the listing, the official date of expiration was for February 20, 2007.While the design was patented for a very long time, Curtis never approached the topic of marketing the design and actually bringing it to consumers. In an old appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” the star revealed that “at the time, it felt a little landfill-y.”
Jamie Lee Curtis’ second patent for a built-in disposable bag
Jamie Lee Curtis filed another patent in 2017 for another design with an in-built disposal bag. (Instagram)
She did not stop inventing, streak, with this patent. In 2017, according to another set of filings available on Google Patents, she was granted another patent for a diaper design that had a built-in disposable bag, which would prove to be an extremely helpful design, especially when you’re on the go. The patent is named “Unitary disposable diaper with an integrated soilage-management structure including disposal container.” The item has a built-in, deployable plastic pouch to seal up soiled diapers and trap odours. As of right now, it isn’t expected to expire until 2036, which gives the star a lot of time to consider her options and see if she ever wishes to take the product to consumers.