Oozing Goo - The Lava Lamp Syndicate

I'm trying to purchase a large volume of empty motion lamp bottles (full lamp minus wax and liquid), but want to purchase them straight from the manufacturer. Problem is I'm not sure who that is. I've found a lot of conflicting information about all this. Apparently, Lavalite is the U.S. manufacturer? But, when I contacted them about wholesale orders they directed me to Schylling Inc. Why? I've actually had better luck discussing purchasing large volumes from Bed Bath and Beyond. I find it strange that BB&B offers some of the lowest retail prices and is more willing to discuss wholesale numbers with me. My biggest concern is how to get the bottles empty. This requires me to go straight to the manufacturer, before the contents are installed. I've seen information that Lavalite manufactures in China, but was thinking about bringing some manufacturing back to the U.S. for quality reasons. Does anybody here know the full story?

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Good luck with this.....since Lava Lite has trademarked the "shape of lava lites" here in the U.S. I truly doubt they would sell you empty bottles so you could compete with them with their own trademarked shape.  However, there is a "scientific supplies" website that has had some new, empty bottles for sale.  I cannot remember their website URL but someone here on OG probably will know it.  The last time I checked the site they only had 32oz empties available.  You may be able to search the forum here and find info on who this company is.  

If this were my project I'd look to other suppliers for a non-trademarked shape to create your lamp with.

Good luck with your endeavor.


What exactly is the trademark? There's a huge assortment of these things in China. How do I tell what shapes are/aren't trademarked?


Critter said:

Good luck with this.....since Lava Lite has trademarked the "shape of lava lites" here in the U.S. I truly doubt they would sell you empty bottles so you could compete with them with their own trademarked shape.  However, there is a "scientific supplies" website that has had some new, empty bottles for sale.  I cannot remember their website URL but someone here on OG probably will know it.  The last time I checked the site they only had 32oz empties available.  You may be able to search the forum here and find info on who this company is.  

If this were my project I'd look to other suppliers for a non-trademarked shape to create your lamp with.

Good luck with your endeavor.

The shape of the bottle/lamp is trademarked.

But they have so many shapes over the years. Surely, they must have a specific description of the shape trademarked instead of just the 'shape'? I've noticed some odd shapes being offered by Chinese vendors, perhaps this is why?

Additionally, I would like to know if the language in the trademark only covers if the bottles are used for liquid motion lamps. For example, lets say hypothetically glitter lamps never existed. And I took a lava lamp and poured out the wax, then turned it into a glitter lamp. Would this violate the shape trademark or does it no longer apply because it is technically a new and different product?

Critter said:

The shape of the bottle/lamp is trademarked.

Thanks so much for this information . It's been very helpful. May I ask were you obtained this knowledge? 

Critter said:

There is only one trademarked shape.  The entire current line up presently for sale by Lava Lite, inc.  has it....the wide bottom, narrow topped bottle.  That's it the only trademarked shape....this trademark is why Mathmos cannot sell their Astro lamps in the U.S.....even though Crestworth/Mathmos invented the shape in '63.   The other shapes (cylinders mostly) are not trademarked by them.....it's also why they won't produce any other shapes other than the trademarked "lava lite" shape.  Personally their best looking lamps were the cylinder shapes but those are free game.  As I said before if it were my project I'd stay away from the trademarked bottle shape and do another, besides I'm sure it would or could be better looking anyhow.

Go to Lava Lite's page and read here:  http://lavalamp.com/TermsConditions

Call Lava Lite and ask questions.  Many of us on this site have called Lava Lite many times with questions and requests.  The staff there are helpful and quite kind. 

Also read around on the forum here the info you are asking has been discussed many times before.  Again good luck with the project.  I hope you have great success, there are never enough motions lamps!

That lamp image is the trademarked shape, follow the link below for more info,

http://lavalamp.com/TermsConditions

Lol, I just noticed I duplicated your link 

Critter said:

Go to Lava Lite's page and read here:  http://lavalamp.com/TermsConditions

Call Lava Lite and ask questions.  Many of us on this site have called Lava Lite many times with questions and requests.  The staff there are helpful and quite kind. 

Also read around on the forum here the info you are asking has been discussed many times before.  Again good luck with the project.  I hope you have great success, there are never enough motions lamps!

So is Lava Lite allowed to sell their brand outside the U.S.?

Yes.  Lava Lite even sells lamps in Great Britain, in direct competition with Mathmos.  Pretty underhanded to me!

k-nano said:

So is Lava Lite allowed to sell their brand outside the U.S.?

It does sound pretty absurd. I can't find anybody on the web selling Lava Lite's products outside the U.S. and Canada, though. Conversely, Mathmos seems to refrain from selling to the U.S. through their website.

For some reason, I always thought that the original inventor in UK sold the rights to US company (now known as LL) and the agreement was that the US company manufactured and sold in US, while UK company had rights to rest of the world. I guess I was wrong about this...

Keith said:

Yes.  Lava Lite even sells lamps in Great Britain, in direct competition with Mathmos.  Pretty underhanded to me!

k-nano said:

So is Lava Lite allowed to sell their brand outside the U.S.?

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