12 Days of Christmas IP


From wacky patents to famous trademarks, it's no surprise that the holidays bring out some of the most interesting pieces of intellectual property.…

Spooky IP

Spooky IP


As Halloween approaches, enjoy some Spooky IP!  Every year billions of dollars are spent on Halloween in the United States, but few people appreciate…

Engine Starting Device Patent

Patent History: Engine Starting Device


On August 17, 1915, Charles Kettering was granted the patent for “Engine Starting Device”, U.S Patent No. 1,150,523.  Charles F. Kettering was born…

Crash Test Dummy Patent

Patent History: Anthropomorphic Dummy for Use in Vehicle Crash Testing


On April 4, 1981, Samuel W. Alderson was granted the patent for “Anthropomorphic Dummy for Use in Vehicle Crash Testing” U.S Patent No. 4,261,113.…

Patent History: Dish Washing Machine


On December 28, 1886, Josephine G. Cochrane was granted the patent for “Dish Washing Machine”, U.S. Patent No. 355,139. Josephine G. Cochrane was…

Mimeograph

Patent History: Method of Preparing Autographic Stencils for Printing (Mimeography)


On this day in 1876, Thomas Edison received a patent for the Mimeograph, entitled “Method of Preparing Autographic Stencils for Printing,” U.S Patent…

Post-It Note Patent

Patent History: REPOSITIONAL PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE SHEET MATERIAL (Post-it Notes)


On March 16, 1993, Arthur Fry was granted the patent for REPOSITIONAL PRESSURE-SENSITIVE ADHESIVE SHEET MATERIAL, U.S. Patent No. 5,194,299. Dr.…

Rubik's Cube Patent

Patent of the Week: Spatial Logical Toy (Rubik’s Cube)


On March 29, 1983, Ernö Rubik was granted the patent for SPATIAL LOGICAL TOY, U.S. Patent No. 4,378,116. The spatial logic toy, known today as the…

Amazon Purchasing Patent

Patent of the Week: Method and System for Placing a Purchase Order Via a Communication Network


On September 28, 1999, inventors Peri Hartman, Jeffrey P. Bezos, Shel Kaphan, and Joel Speigel were granted the patent for METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR…

Corn Flakes Cereal Patent

Patent of the Week: Flaked Cereals and Process of Preparing the Same (Corn Flakes)


On April 14, 1896, John Harvey Kellogg was granted the patent for FLAKED CEREALS AND PROCESS OF PREPARING THE SAME, U.S. Patent No. 558,393. Cereal…

Gameboy Patent

Patent of the Week: Compact Hand-Held Video Game System (Gameboy)


On February 9, 1993, inventors, Satoru Okada and Shin Kojo were granted the patent for COMPACT HAND-HELD VIDEO GAME SYSTEM U.S. Patent No. 5,184,830.…

Acetyl Salicylic Acid

Patent of the Week: Acetyl Salicylic Acid (Aspirin)


On February 27, 1900, Felix Hoffmann was granted the patent for Acetyl Salicylic Acid, U.S. Patent No. 644,077. Acetyl Salicylic Acid, known today as…

Cardiac Pulse Rate Monitor Patent

Patent of the Week: Cardiac Pulse-Rate Monitor


On October 21, 1969, Albert Dale Herman and Herbert Zeppo Marx were granted the patent for Cardiac Pulse-Rate Monitor U.S. Patent No. 3,473,526.…

Abraham Lincoln Buoying Vessels Patent

Patent of the Week: Manner of Buoying Vessels Over Shoals


On May 22, 1849, President Abraham Lincoln was granted the patent for MANNER OF BUOYING VESSELS OVER SHOALS U.S. Patent No. 6,469. This patent was…

Climbing or Trailing Rose Patent

Patent of the Week: Climbing or Trailing Rose


On August 18, 1931, Henry Bosenberg was granted the patent for CLIMBING OR TRAILING ROSE US PP1. The climbing rose or “New Dawn” was the first plant…

Teflon Patent

Patent of the Week: Tetrafluoroethylene Polymers (Teflon)


On February 4, 1941, Roy J. Plunkett was granted the patent for “Tetrafluoroethylene Polymers” also known as Teflon®. U.S. Patent No. 2,230,654. Roy…

Soda Fountain Patent

Patent of the Week: Brewing Beer and Ale


On January 28, 1873 Louis Pasteur was granted the patent for BREWING BEER AND ALE, U.S. Patent No. 135,245. Louis Pasteur born in Dole, France was a…

Soda Fountain Patent

Patent of the Week: Soda Fountain


Samuel Fahnestock was granted a patent for the first soda fountain on April 23, 1819. MINERAL WATER APPARATUS, U.S. Patent No. X3,096. While soda…

iPhone Patent

Patent of the Week: Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device (iPhone)


January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs, the late founder and CEO of Apple Inc., unveiled the iPhone (Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device US 2006/0197753) at the…

Mistletoe Headband Patent

Patent of the Week: Mistletoe Supporting Headband


Mistletoe, a parasitic plant that thrives off the healthy plants it attaches itself to, is a plant that has been associated with Christmas for…