Microsoft first revealed the Xbox One, and its case design, in May 2013 but today, the company officially received the patent for that particular enclosure from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The exact patent number from the USTPO is D700,246 and is officially for an "ornamental design for an electronic housing". The patent itself is supposed to last for 14 years and lists Joel B. Jacobs, Scott Dullmeyer, Carl J. Ledbetter, Jonathan R. Harris and John Kenichro Ikdea as its inventors.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about this document is the date shown when Microsoft first applied for the patent: February 28, 2013. That means this design was actually submitted to the USTPO nearly three months before the Xbox One was first revealed to the public. It just goes to show that there are still some secrets that can be kept even in this Internet media age where photo and information leaks are the norm rather than the exception.
It"s more than possible that Microsoft has also filed U.S. patents for the Xbox One"s controller and for its Kinect add-on device. If they are granted, you can be sure you"ll find news about the award here on Neowin.
Source: USTPO via Patent Bolt | Image via Microsoft