Apple has received a patent that relates to the design of a notebook that looks very similar to the first generation MacBook Air. Therefore it is highly unlikely that Apple will make use of the patent to sue other ultrabook manufactures for patent infringement.

The patent D654.072 describes the design of an electronic device and refers to the pictures that were submitted. Former Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs and Apple’s designer Jonathan Ive are named as the inventors, the images that are submitted clearly show a MacBook Air.

The website Mashable claims that ultrabook makers must be careful with their design and Apple could now use these patents against them. Yesterday we reported that Apple was forcing iPad manufacturer Pegatron to stop of the Asus Zenbook, because it would similar to Apple’s MacBook Air. The notebook that is being used on the patent application show more similarity with the first generation MacBook Air, making it less likely that Apple will make use of the patent.

Images after the break!