Slide to unlock

Out of all the things on the list, this is the one that isn't a design patent. The "slide to unlock" patent, which Apple was granted in early February of last year, covers unlocking the device by using a gesture on the touch-sensitive display. Apple introduced the feature in its own devices with the first iPhone, and later brought it over to the iPod Touch and iPad.

In Apple's legal fracas with Samsung, a Dutch judge last week said Apple's European counterpart of that same patent was obvious, a move that means the court does not believe Samsung is infringing on it with its own devices.

Where's the sci-fi hook, you ask? The 1987 film "Predator," where the film's alien antagonist slides its digit across the face of its wrist-mounted electronics device to activate it. A Buzz out Loud listener put together an example of the two ideas side by side in video form last year.