Have a Seat– A Brief History of School Desk Patents
New wardrobe has been purchased, school supplies have been stocked, lunch is packed, now it's time for your first patent history lesson of the new school year-- a brief history of school desk…
Rudolf Diesel's "Internal Combustion Engine"
On August 9, 1898, Rudolf Diesel was granted U.S. Patent No. 608,845A, for his "INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE." Rudolf Diesel, who is best known for the invention that bears his name, was born in Paris,…
The Patent Behind Prince's Keytar
On July 26, 1994, Prince R. Nelson was granted a design patent for his infamous keytar: PORTABLE, ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, U.S. Patent No. D349,127 Prince Rogers Nelson was born on…
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Mission
July 20, 2019, marks the 50th anniversary of NASA's Apollo 11 lunar mission. Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969. The…
Independence Day Innovations
To celebrate America turning another year older, we are highlighting a few American innovations that make celebrating Independence Day so enjoyable. The Fourth of July marks the anniversary of the…
5 Baseball Patents You Won't Find at the Men's College World Series
As the NCAA Men’s College World Series comes to an end, fans from around the country are gathering in Omaha, Nebraska to root for their favorite team. In honor of the “Greatest Show on Dirt,” we…
The Patent that Led to the Creation of Morse Code
On June 20, 1840, Samuel F. B. Morse was granted U.S. Patent No. 1,647A, "IMPROVEMENT IN THE MODE OF COMMUNICATING INFORMATION BY SIGNALS BY THE APPLICATION OF ELECTROMAGNETISM." This invention later…
Intellectual Property and the 4th of July
Independence Day, or Fourth of July, has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but has been observed since 1777, the first anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of…
The Youngest Person to Receive a U.S. Patent
On June 4, 1963, Robert W. Patch became the youngest person to receive a U.S. patent. Patch’s “Toy Truck” (U.S. Patent No. 3,091,888) allowed for a toy truck to be taken apart and reassembled in…
Can you find this IP at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge?
Since the release of the first film in the Star Wars saga in 1977, Lucasfilm has been attached to over 188 registered patents, 51 published patent applications, 1,138 registered trademarks…
World IP Day 2019: IP and Sports
Today, April 26th, 2019 marks the 19th annual World Intellectual Property (IP) Day. Each year, IP offices, inventors, enterprises, and students are encouraged to celebrate the important role…
Celebrating Black History Month: Iconic Inventors Throughout History
As Black History Month comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to shine a light on 10 iconic African American inventors and scientists who have helped shape innovation in the United States.…