If Tim Saciri’s application is accepted, the word will be registered under his name and will become a Swiss trademark.

The man told the newspaper Le Nouvelliste that “While Americans were sleeping I lodged my application to patent the word.”

The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property will now consider the application, which is expected to take three to four months.

Mr Saciri is confident he will succeed, saying: “I have great plans for the trademark; this will be really good for the canton of Valais.”