Shamrock Related Patents and St Patrick's Day Publicity Stunts

By Mary Bellis, About.com Guide

Eyeglasses with shamrock clovers
Inventors: Jones; Craig T. of Aurora, CO; Vaughan; David M. of Denver, CO
Assignee: Day Shades, Inc. of Denver, CO
D335,678
May 18, 1993

Legend of the Shamrock

Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary travelling from village to village in Ireland. Several members of a tribe approached Patrick and told him that they found it difficult to understand and believe in the Holy Trinity. Patrick thought a moment, then stooped down and picked one of the plentiful shamrocks growing wild around Ireland. "Here are three leaves," he said, "yet it is one plant. Imagine the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as each of these leaves. Here they are, yet they are one plant." The tribesmen understood, because Patrick had used a familiar object to explain. From that time on, the shamrock has been a revered symbol of Ireland.