Home-Kitchen · Amazon Best-Sellers
Is the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Patented?
Yes. Instant Brands holds multiple utility and design patents covering the multi-function pressure cooker — including the multi-mode control logic, the lid safety sequence, and the iconic ornamental design.
Quick answer
Yes — multiple utility + design patents
Yes. Instant Brands holds multiple utility and design patents covering the multi-function pressure cooker — including the multi-mode control logic, the lid safety sequence, and the iconic ornamental design.
The full story
The Instant Pot is the classic example of a product that looks like a basic appliance but is wrapped in patent protection at almost every layer. The pressure-cooker category itself is centuries old, so Instant Brands' patents don't cover pressure cooking in general — they cover the specific multi-mode control logic, the lid safety sequence, and the now-iconic ornamental design.
Instant Brands' original parent Double Insight filed its core utility patents between 2010 and 2016. Those patents are still in force, which is why competitor multi-cookers have to license, design around, or accept being sued. The 2023 Instant Brands bankruptcy did not void any of the patents — they transferred with the company in the Chapter 11 reorganization.
What to know
- The patents cover the specific Instant Pot implementation — not pressure cooking generally.
- Competing multi-cookers (Ninja Foodi, etc.) design around these claims or license.
- Instant Brands' 2023 Chapter 11 did not cancel or invalidate any of the patents.
Frequently asked
Can I make a clone of the Instant Pot?
Not without infringing at least one of Instant Brands' active utility patents. Competing multi-cookers use alternate safety-interlock designs and different control algorithms specifically to avoid those claims.
When do the Instant Pot patents expire?
The earliest core utility patents (filed 2010–2011) expire around 2030. Design patents follow a 15-year term from grant date.
Have your own invention idea?
If a product like Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1can get patent protection, your idea probably can too — assuming it’s novel. The cheapest first step is a provisional patent application, which locks in your priority date for 12 months while you validate the market. LegalZoom files provisionals from $199 + USPTO fees; you can also read the official USPTO patent basics first if you prefer.
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