How to protect functional innovative designs

An Austrian SME engaged in the logistics sector created a device that would enable workers to carry more weight while protecting their health, mainly the back from injuries. The device has an innovative design, which distributes and absorbs the weight keeping the workers’ physical efforts to the minimum. The SME had already applied for an invention patent in the EU, and since they were planning to expand to several markets, China included, they were also about to start a PCT application. The aim of the SME was to protect the device as soon as possible, because their technology was based on the design which could easily be copied once the product was launched to the market.