Gasparilla weekend is officially here, and that means plenty of parades and pyrotechnics. As you’re watching the sky light up this Saturday, keep this bit of history in mind: Did you know you can patent a firework? One of the first firework patents in the U.S. was U.S. Patent No. 638,416 from 1899 for a toy firework device. Trademarks also played a key role in protecting fireworks, as brands often trademark the names of different fireworks. The trademark for the Black Cat word plus design mark was registered in 1967 and is still registered to this day
