Thursday January 26, 2012
To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, Elisha Gray, of Chicago, in the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new art of transmitting vocal sounds telegraphically...
In the 1870s, two inventors Elisha Gray and Alexander Graham Bell both independently designed devices that could transmit speech electrically (the telephone). Both men rushed their respective designs to the patent office within hours of each other, Alexander Graham Bell patented his telephone first. Photo LOC
Sunday January 22, 2012
Did you know that the image of Mickey Mouse is the most reproduced in the world? Over 7,500 items bear his likeness. Jesus is number two, and Elvis is number three. Mickey Mouse's likeness was conceived by Walt Disney himself, who you might be surprised to find out was also an inventor. Walt Disney was granted U.S. patent 2,201,689 for his "art of animation" camera on May 1, 1940. Photo Credit: Getty Images Mickey And Minnie Mouse Welcome Everyone To Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
Saturday January 21, 2012
A patent does not guarantee monetary success by itself. An inventor gets paid by either selling the invention or by licensing or selling (assigning) the patent rights to someone else. Not all inventions are commercially successful. The invention may actually cost the inventor more money than he or she makes unless strong business and marketing plans are created. The drawing to the right is of Patent No. 1 issued on July 13th, 1836, to inventor John Ruggles for traction wheels. Provided by USPTO.
Wednesday January 18, 2012
January 18th, 2012 - According to an Los Angeles Times blogspot, "Following through on their threats to shut down for a day over controversial proposed anti-piracy legislation, a coalition of websites including the hugely popular user-generated encyclopedia Wikipedia went black as midnight struck the East Coast."
