8951 stethoscope and ear trumpet Having a hard time hearing others? Have others speak into your stethoscope, and hear them with both ears.

34100 improved step ladder A step ladder that utilizes braces and supports to improve stability.

59745 Whirligig What? You have never heard of a whirligig? You probably know this invention by its modern name yo-yo.

90928 improvement in making blooms of steel and wrought iron Use super-heated air to make wrought-iron and low carbon steel.

93141 Chewing Gum Compound Although chewing gum has been around for centuries, it was first patented in 1869 for a chewing-gum compound made of white rosin and olive oil. Over the years more appetizing flavors have been brought to market and now the average person in the United States chews 200 sticks a year!

221360 Cash Register and Indicator A mechanical cash register that has a visual indicator.

268693 Device Indicating Life In Buried Persons Don’t be buried alive, use this device to let others know you are alive and buried!

622834 Golf Ball This golf ball, also known as the Haskell ball, was patented in 1899. The design provided golfers with a ball that was easier to hit than the competition and gave the striker a sense of power. Its use created a surge in the popularity of golf and the game has never been the same since.

821393 Flying Machine Orville and Wilbur Wright’s flying machine patent.

1062025 Hat Don’t go bald from tight fitting hats. This hat has a series of depressions on the hat band, allowing blood to freely circulate.

1150523 Engine Starting Device Before this invention, an owner of a vehicle had to manually “crank” start the engine.

1160677 Paper Milk Carton The unique feature of this patent was that the box could be delivered flat, then folded, glued, filled and sealed at the dairy, saving the dairy owners a lot of money in comparison with pre-formed cartons.

1340423 Parachute Jump from a plane without this invention and you will discover the power of gravity.

1387598 Actuating Device for Windshield Cleaners A patent covering an invention to wipe a vehicle’s windshield.

1573846 Method and Means for using motor fuels Use lower grade fuels by adding lead compounds.

3167440 Plastic Modeling Composition of a Soft Pliable Working Consistency A patent on non-drying, pliable modeling compositions.

3349949 Ring Shaped Tag for Tear Strips of Containers Do you remember when sodas in the can had pull-tabs?

5743035 Machine Producible Three Dimensional Greeting Card Two dimensional cards are so boring. Now you can send a three-dimensional card to your friend, or loved one.

7921528 Broken Heart Shaped Coffin Spend eternity in style in this unusual casket.

7970598 System For Automated Translation of Speech Easier than Spanish 101! On June 28, 2011, Mary A. Flanagan and Philip Jensen of Ohio, along with Douglas Chinnock of Arizona, were granted a patent for a “System for Automated Translation of Speech.” This invention allows subscribers of an online service to have real time conferences with users who speak a different language by using a speech recognition feature that automatically translates messages into one or more different languages before broadcasting to other participants.

6469 Buoying Vessels over Shoals Abraham Lincoln is mostly known for freeing the slaves during the civil war. Few know that he is the only President that received a patent.

D11023 Statue In 1885, Augusta Barthodi gave the United States the Statue of Liberty. Patent #D11,023 is Barthodi’s design patent covering the Statute of Liberty.

174465 Telegraph In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was issued a patent for the telephone, changing the world forever.

223898 Electric Light Thomas A. Edison’s patent on the incandescent light bulb.

365701 Gas Motor Engine In 1887 James Otto received a patent for the four stroke gas engine. The modern automobile still utilizes the technology developed by James Otto.

390414 Dynamo-Electric Machine During his lifetime, Nikola Tesla advanced electric power production, delivery, and utilization. Patent #390,414 is a fine example of a generator device he invented.

608845 Internal Combustion Engine The diesel engine has been the main power engine for the worlds shipping, trucking and farming needs since Rudolf Diesel invented it in 1894.

748626 The Landlord’s Game Most know this game by the name of “Monopoly.” In 1904, Lizzie J. Maggie was issued a patent on the game. Twenty years later the game was revised and received another patent #1,509,312.

775134 Razor King C. Gillette received a patent for the safety razor in 1904. Prior to his invention, men shaved with a very sharp bare blade against their skin resulting in many nicks and cuts.

1005186 Transmission Mechanism The automobile already existed before Henry Ford’s Model T, but unfortunately, for most they were too expensive to own. Henry Ford revolutionalized the automotive industry but utilizing more efficient assembly techniques, and more reliable parts.

1103503 Rocket Apparatus In 1926 Robert Goddard launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket. Patent #1,103,503 is for a rocket that is fueled with gasoline and liquid nitrous oxide.

1370316 Diver’s Suit Harry Houdini is best known for his magical death defying stunts; however, few people know that he invented the diver’s suit.

1460354 Package Handle In 1921, George Washington Carver patented a handle to carry packages bound by rope or twine.

1475024 Traffic Signal In 1922, Garrett A. Morgan invented the traffic signal. It is hard to imagine what it would be like traveling in today’s world without this invention!

1509312 The Landlord’s Game This is the second version of “Monopoly.”

1541478 Paint and Stain and Method of Producing Same In 1925 George Washington Carver was issued a patent for a paint and stain that used clays and iron compounds as colorants.

1773980 Television System Philo Farnsworth was the first person to actually patent and demonstrate a working television. In addition to the television, Philo also invented a small fusion device called the Fusor.

1781541 Refrigeration Almost everyone has heard about Albert Einstein’s E=MC2, but few know about the refrigeration system that he invented.

2058562_Albert_Einstein_Patent Albert Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his discovery of the Photoelectric Effect. However, he was also an inventor and was issued several patents. In 1936, he was issued a patent from the USPTO for his collaboration with Gustav Bucky on the Light Intensity Self-Adjusting Camera. This was one of the first camera designs that included an auto-exposure feature.

2220482 Prefabricated Bathroom Invented by Richard Buckminster Fuller, this is not your typical, music festival port-a-potty.

2230654 Tetrafluoroethylene Polymers (Teflon) Roy Plunkett accidentally created one of the most useful substances know to humankind while attempting to make a new carbon-fluoro-carbon refrigerant. The question remains, if nothing sticks to Teflon, how do they get it to stick to the pan?

2292387_SECRET_Communications System Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-born American actress known primarily for her great beauty and her successful film career. However, in an effort to help the allies defeat the Germans in World War II, she co-invented an early form of spread spectrum encoding, a key to modern wireless communication. The invention manipulated radio frequencies between transmission and reception to develop an unbreakable code so that top-secret messages could not be intercepted.

2393676 Cartography Expand your horizons with Richard Buckminster Fullerís method of creating a flat map of a round world.

2495429 Method of Treating Foodstuff Percy L. Spencer came up with the idea of a microwave oven after a candy bar melted after being exposed to radar microwave radiation.

2682235 Building Construction Richard Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome is an instantly recognizable landmark of the Epcot theme park in Orlando, Florida.

2717437 Velvet Type Fabric and Method of Producing Same (Velcro) Georges de Mestral was walking along the Alps when he noticed that burdock seeds were sticking to his dog and clothes. Being curious, Georges looked at the tiny seeds under a microscope and saw little hooks covering the outside surfaces. Georges then set off to replicate nature and gave us the wonder of Velcro.

3138747 Integrated Semiconductor Circuit Device Few people have changed the world as much as Jack Kilby, the inventor of the integrated circuit chip. Everywhere you go you are surrounded by them, from phones to watches, they are everywhere!

3473526 Cardiac Pulse-rate Monitor There’s nothing funny about the youngest Marx brother’s invention. It was designed to provide a visual and an audible warning of changes in the pulse.

3914799 Pantyhose with Shaping Band for Cheeky Derriere Relief Although best known as TV’s Catwoman, Julie Newmar graduated high school at age 15 and has I.Q. of 135. Her invention enhances the natural shape of the wearerís derriere, rather than a giving it a board-like flatness.

4753647 Infant Garment Who could have guessed that, during the ‘Scream Queen’ period of her career, Jamie Lee Curtis was also inventing a new infant diaper?

5239624 Pseudo Random Point Sampling Techniques in Computer Graphics Pixar Animation Studios is an Academy AwardÆ-winning computer animation studio that helped to create a new generation of animated feature films. Their inventions have helped make animated films look more realistic.

5255452 Method and Means for Creating Anti-Gravity Illusion Michael Jackson an inventor? This patent shows details of one of his trademark moves, in which he leans forward at a slanted angle, seemingly defying gravity. This illusion looks spectacular, but the truth behind it is far less mystifying – hinges on special shoes which stabilize the performer and allow them to lean over at impressive angles!

5235774 Enhanced Fish Attractor Device Gary Burghoff, who portrayed Radar on the t.v. series M.A.S.H., invented this device to entice fish with chum.

6283658 Chapstick Dispensing Apparatus With this invention, you wonít need Adonis DNA to apply your lip balm one-handed, without losing the cap. Thank you Charlie Sheen.

6458008 Remote Control Device With Gyroscopic Stabilization and Directional Control It ís no myth that myth-buster Jamie Hyneman invented this remote control device.

6812392_Drumhead Tensioning Device and Method Although best known for his Academy Award winning performances as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront, and as Vito Corleone in The Godfather, Marlon Brando also holds several patents. His invention allows an individual to quickly and reliably tune a drum.

6895694 Toe Shoe  After visiting a ballet company and seeing first-hand the toll pointed dancing shoe takes on dancers’ feet and ankles, Bill Nye the Science Guy came up with a new shoe to help reduce the damage.

1351140 Dog Muzzle This early dog muzzle tightens when the dog’s muscles tense before a bite.

4150505 Bird Trap and Cat Feeder This inventor must really liked cats, or really dislike sparrows.

4364132 Aquarium Bath A clear bathtub designed so your fish can swim around you while you bath. Actually a pretty unique invention, but not for the bashful!

4605071 Therapeutic Horseshoe If your horse has sore, tired hoofs, this is solution!

5901666 Pet Display Clothing A cool vest that allows your hamster to travel with you. It looks like a costume from a Michael Jackson video.

5934226 Bird Diaper The title says it all.

5983411 Toilet Tank Aquarium Enjoy your aquarium when nature calls.

6206000 Canine Scuba Diving Apparatus What dog doesn’t deserve to go scuba diving?

6327997 Combination Aquarium and Furniture System Even a fish can be a couch potato.

6416217 Aquarium Watch Another invention illustrating our fascination with the aquarium.

6490999Collar Apparatus Enabling Secure Handling of a Snake by Tether Check out Figure 4 of this patent. Kind of sums it all up for you reptile lovers out there!

6761131 Apparatus for Determining Dog’s Emotions by Vocal Analysis of Barking Sounds and Method for the Same Finally! This invention takes the guesswork out of determining if your dog is feeling “assertive” or “wistful.”

6769382 Flush Toilet for a Dog Why shouldn’t your dog have all the modern conveniences of human life?

6871616 Pet Umbrella and Combined Pet Leash and Umbrella You may be skeptical, but check out this invention, it is actually pretty impressive.

6883462 Doggie Poop Freeze Wand It is much easier to clean up a ‘poopsicle’ than it is to clean up a warm one.

7090268 Dog Waste Catcher and Holder This patent is included merely for the humorous drawings of a dog.

7516717_leash_jogging_belt This combined leash and jogging belt is very interesting, especially if you are a small person with a large pet. Could be fun (or funny!)

8397676 Drool Stopper Dog Bowl Dog owners will rejoice! No more slobber trails around the dog’s dish, in the kitchen, by the front door, across the dining room.

8732919 Underwater, Pet Ashes Memorial Display And Marine Refuge I especially like Figure 14 of the drawings. Is that a moray eel?

20090188617 Dog Nose Art My windows aren’t dirty; my dog is just artistic.

D699403 Pet Costume A surfer-themed costume for your dog.

D688423 Pet Costume A car-themed costume for your dog.

D688422 Pet Costume An airplane-themed costume for your dog.

11942 Tapeworm Trap A drug free method of removing tapeworms from 1854!

35600 Improvement in Combined Plow and Gun I wonder if the ox pulling the plow would consider this an improvement.

D545112 Slot Machine Shaped Toaster Do you love Las Vegas? Have toast and feel like you’re in the heart of Vegas with this recently issued design patent.

D75776 Headlight Accessory False eye lashes for your car. Check out Fig. 8 for the full effect.

1215117 Wrinkle Remover This device uses wire and tape to stretch out skin and remove wrinkles.

1370223 Illusion Apparatus This illusion uses mirrors to give the viewer the impression of a person’s head in a basket.

1420640 Diving Suit A very unique looking diving suit.

1458575 Illusion Device What magic show is complete until someone is put in a box and “cut in half?”

1466559 Exercise Device Did you know that playing tug-of-war with your teeth is good exercise?

1528238 Whirling Sparkler This sparkler claims to produce sparks which appear to be colored, preferably in red, white and blue.

1678226 Toy Representing a Turkey Gobbler An interesting old invention made from pine tree burrs and paper mache.

1749090 Apparatus for Obtaining Criminal Confessions and Photographically Recording Them A skeleton with blinking lights for eyes, ghastly apparitions and interrogation chambers; sounds more like a thriller novel than a patent!

1913083 Beauty Mask This mask is designed to shield the face from “skin coloring radiations or emanations,” except for areas of the face where radiations and emanations are desired.

2011800 Costume An odd bodysuit costume issued in 1935

2034407 Theatrical Illusion This is a great twist on the “guillotine” illusion, which involves the use of two people, a dummy and large wheel.

2109609 Cigarette Ring I wonder if this ring would need to carry the Surgeon General’s warning?

2571544 Method of Preparing Boned Turkey Here’s a way to bone a turkey while leaving the meat mostly intact.

2593988 Diving Apparatus Just one of Jacques Cousteau’s many contributions to the field of underwater exploration.

2617570 Foundation Frame for Parade Floats Why wait for a parade? Even a trip to the grocery store will be more interesting if you turn your car into a parade float.

2851707 Swimming and Diving Device Explore the reefs without bothersome breathing equipment.

3342171 Toy Pop Gun having an Air Pump with a Resiliently Flexible Movable Chamber Closure Member Defend the fort from enemy invaders with this air vortex bazooka.

3381303 Space Suit Issued in 1968, this early space suit was researched using high altitude balloons and airplane flights.

3552388 Baby Patting Machine Included in the description of the invention is a baby patting machine which is simple, inexpensive, rugged, easy to use, and efficient. I don’t see the word “safe” anywhere in the document.

US3735423A_Cooling_Hat_Patent A hat designed to cool the wearer’s head with a built in fan.

3771192 Combination Toy Dog and Vacuum Cleaner An object of this invention is to reduce fear of the vacuum cleaner in dogs.

3845512 Infant Bed for use on Horseback A means of securing your sleeping infant to a horse.

3931983 Snow Cycle Somewhere between a tricycle and a snow mobile, this invention is intended for use by adults and children alike.

3938264 Sock and Shoe No more sock wedgies! This invention uses Velcro to prevent socks from creeping between the wearer’s toes.

3964418 Floating Campground Park your recreational vehicle on another recreational vehicle and hit the water!

3977093 Cold Weather Shoe A battery operated heating element built into this shoe keeps the wearer’s feet warm in cold weather.

4022227 Method of Concealing Partial Baldness These drawings have convinced me that sometimes, bald is better.

4185413 Toy MIlkable Animal Figure Some 70’s kids might remember Milky the Marvelous Milking Cow.

4189019 Ski Fan The gas-powered ski fan was invented back in 1980 and straps onto your back and is steered by hand controls. This might be useful if there are no hills or mountains were nearby whoever heard of uphill skiing?? Don’t even ask about the brakes!!

4247283 Musical Instrument Adapted To Emit A Controlled Flame “Controlled” flame being an important element of this musical instrument invention.

US4344424 Anti-Eating Face Mask Patented in 1982, this invention is supposed to stop you from overeating while you prepare your meals, but looks a bit like a device worn by Dr. Hannibal Lecter in “Silence of the Lambs.”

4350712 The Frozen Beverage Stick Including Retractable Cup Beer on a Stick!

4375733 Bleeding Monster Toy A gruesome, but AWESOME, toy.

4431395 Gingerbread House Apparatus These patented cooking molds allow novices in the kitchen to look like Martha Stewart! After cooking the gingerbread, you pop it out of the mold and start decorating with candy and icing.

4436214 Anti-Theft Picnic Device Especially effective for protecting your pic-a-nic basket from talking bears in Jellystone Park.

4457509 Levitationarium For Air Flotation Of Humans This object of this invention is to create a means of air flotation for fun and enjoyment, or for the more practical purpose of parachute training.

4536889 Nose Wipe Runny noses happen in cold weather outdoor activities, specifically skiing. When your nose starts to run, a skier has to stop, drop a pole and a ski glove, retrieve tissues from a pocket, use it and stick it back in the pocket. Rather than interrupt the ski run, a wiper holder has been invented that attaches to the lower arm of the skier and has a retractable cover. Insert a package of tissues and you’re in business. ‘Snot’ a bad idea!!

4643375 Space Living Quarters Having Artificial Gravity Environment This invention uses centrifugal force to simulate gravity.

4656917 Musical Instrument Support Having a hard time holding your instrument while playing? Check out what guitar guru Mr. Eddie Van Halen came up with. Wear this musical contraption and you will play just like him!

4665907_thumbsucking inhibitor Steel girders and metal support beams attach to the desired appendage. No way would anyone willingly suck on that!

4666159 Toy Slot Machine Right up there with candy cigarettes and lawn darts in the list of questionable marketing directed at kids.

4710979 Mother’s Apron or Bib with Detachable Multicolored Two-Dimensional Infant Toys to Aid Supervised Baby Play Anyone who’s held a baby while wearing a clean shirt will probably agree that a bib for the adult makes a lot of sense.

4889342 All Weather Golf Driving Range Work on your swing in comfort year-round.

US4982959A_Water_Game_Patent Generations of people have enjoyed the game ‘Twister’ Now they can enjoy a ‘Twister’ style game combined with sprinklers.

5031161 Life Expectancy Timepiece In 1991, David Kendrick was issued the patent for his Life Expectancy Timepiece. This brings new meaning to the phrase “death watch”.

5159703 Silent Subliminal Presentation System Communication beamed directly into your brain. I hope there is an ignore feature.

5175571 Glasses with Subliminal Message Subliminal imaging spectacles for self-improvement or behavior modification.

5195917 Tear-Apart Stress Relief Doll and Method Doesn’t everyone need a doll (that mimics a referee) to tear apart?

US5197216 Combined Camouflage and Decoy Device Get a gander at this!! In order to fool the birds, the inventor suggests a hunter wear this costume and move their head from side to side and flap the cape to simulate a goose.

5225804 Treadmill Foot-Control for Electronic Gauging of Classroom Satisfaction Patented in 1993 by Daniel Silbelus, this invention was intended to give students the opportunity to express their opinions of the instructor’s methods by rolling a treadmill under their desk.

5233914 In-Car Coffee Maker Running late? No need to sacrifice your morning coffee, brew it on the road.

5307162 Cloaking System Using Optoelectronically Controlled Camouflage This invention may have been right at home on the USS Enterprise.

5356330 Apparatus for Simulating a “High Five” This invention solves the problem that arises when you’re watching a sporting event alone.

5380237 Snowman Accessory Kit Want to have the best dressed snowman in your neighborhood? This accessory kit includes all the finishing touches to make your own patented version of ‘Frosty.’

5443388 Infant Simulation System for Pregnancy Deterrence and Child Care Training This doll is no toy. It records all of your poor parenting choices.

5523741 Santa Claus Detector Your little ones will light up when they see these stockings aglow. It will mean that Santa has been to their house!

5548851 Aquatic Safety Slide and Wading Pool After receiving bruises and cuts from the rough terrain under their Slip N Slide, Noah and Joshua decided to improve on the design. At ages 9 and 11, they went to work designing and refining their design. They filled the slide with air to cushion the ride and put an air-cushion on the end so you wont slide off onto the grass. At the ages of 13 and 15, were awarded their patent, calling it the Aqua Flight.

5571247 Self Containing Enclosure For Protection From Killer Bees Virginia Butler of California has invented a way to protect you from oncoming swarms of killer bees. Intended to be used when you hear a swarm coming, this invention could save the day. Let’s just hope that killer bee swarms make plenty of noise!

US5713603 Body Mounted Sail Assembly Look up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s bat boy! Skating his way into a city near you, and able to leap tall speed bumps in a single bound!!

5758569 Poultry Frying Apparatus More commonly known as a Turkey deep fryer, this invention cuts down on cooking time and allows the turkey to be cooked outdoors. However, careful not to use them on decks or in garages. They might go up in flames!

5787838 Egg Decorating Bag Shake, but don’t bake.

5820534 Bionic Exersuit The bionic exersuit attaches to your legs, shoulders, feet, arms and everything in between. It works by providing resistance to any body movement. You can stay in shape with this exersuit just by breathing!

5823496 Outdoor Beverage Holder Assembly A unique beverage holder that attaches to a fishing pole holder.

5893360 Inflatable solar oven Cook your food in an inflatable ball shaped solar oven.

5971829 Motorized Ice Cream Cone Formerly a journalist and public school teacher, Rick Hartman has invented many popular toys like Professional Thumb Wrestling, and Crazy Cords Friendship Bracelet Factory. He was playing with the idea of mechanizing an everyday object for his next invention while reading the book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” to his son. The caterpillar in the story ate through an ice cream cone and Rick had an idea–put a motor inside a cone-shaped machine to automatically spin your ice cream! Since his “eureka moment,” he has sold thousands of units and showed Jay Leno how it is used.

6112980 Discipline Stick The purpose of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, durable method of disciplining a child or pet. Nothing says I love you like physical abuse!

6161223 Pants Separable At The Crotch For Style Mixing Never choose between two pairs of pants again.

6193578 Bubbling Brain Novelty Slow day at the office? Try replacing the water cooler with this novelty and watch your coworkers’ reactions.

6244518 Snake Repellent System Thelma Pogue of Arizona has invented a humane and environmentally friendly system to aid in prevention of snake bites. She was granted a patent for her garlic and onion based repellent system on June 12, 2001.

6273780 Edible Accessories for Conventional Toys Have you ever been playing with your dolls and become so hungry that you wanted to eat those little plastic shoes? Me neither, but hereís a solution, just in case.

6368227 Method of Swinging on a Swing Tired of the boring old front to back swinging method? Be the hit of the playground when you show off some new moves.

US6351867 Body Squeegee This invention is a glove that claims to be a convenient way of drying one’s body without the use of towels, thereby decreasing laundering time and making life easier. You would have to be pretty talented to be able to dry your back with a glove!

6387064 Foot Pump Powered Neck Massaging Device Get a massage on the go.

US6612440 Banana Protective Device Patented in 2003, this invention is a banana protective device for storing and transporting a banana carefully. Can’t you just imagine the jealous looks you will receive when you pull this out of your lunch bag?

6620019 Magic Egg An odd realistic looking egg toy.

6684552 Turkey Decoy For those who want to hunt their own turkey, this device not only looks like a turkey, but can be made to move like a turkey with a remote control.

skin_irritating_game_patent_6561905 You may find it shocking that voltage is outputted from the main unit to the player who loses this game.

6743460 Tomato Raisin The title says it all. The inventor has combined a love for tomatoes and raisins. The patent is assigned to the uniquely named Tomasin company.

Body_Connected_Bike_Patent_6805657 Created for downhill riding, this bike consists of front and rear wheel assemblies which are connected by the body of the rider.

6826983 Light Bulb Changer This invention automatically detects a burned out bulb and replaces it.

6830009 Solar Powered Bird Feeder The best part is – the bird feeder doesn’t use the power it produces!

6835390 Method For Producing Tissue Engineered Meat For Consumption Concerned with what’s really in your hot dogs? Throw some non human tissue engineered meat product on the grill instead!

6851275 In-Car Hydration Systems Intended for race car drivers, this invention could solve the problem of the giant convenient mart cup that won’t fit in your car’s cup holder.

US6886759B1_Misting_Umbrella_Patent Beat the sun and the heat with this water misting umbrella.

6960975 Space Vehicle Propelled By The Pressure Of Inflationary Vacuum State According to the abstract, “A cooled hollow superconductive shield is energized by an electromagnetic field resulting in the quantized vortices of lattice ions projecting a gravitomagnetic field that forms a spacetime curvature anomaly outside the space vehicle.” But does it come with cup holders?

6972117 Apparatus For Producing Ozone Gas for Beauty Treatments  I think I’ll stick to “aging gracefully.”

7036154 Game Bird Decoy Apparatus  Every bird hunter needs an outfit that makes them look like a giant bird. Seems a little dangerous.

7036449 Man-Made Island Resort Complex with Surface and Underwater Entertainment, Educational and Lodging Facilities Some of the amenities include a wolf habitat, a 24-hour barbecue, and a constant rainbow. If only it had a constant double rainbow!

7037243 Cordless Jumprope Apparently the patent attorney couldn’t bring themselves to title this one a “Ropeless Jump Rope.” Amusing reading nonetheless.

7037541 Alcoholic Beverages Derived From Animal Extract, And Methods For The Production Thereof. Belly up to the bar for a shot of “fermented alcoholic beverages with a rich aroma, flavor and alcohol content” which can be made from “meat extract, meat stock and/or bone extract.” Sounds delicious.

7051973 Airborne Enhancement Device Why not combine skiing and hang-gliding?

7178342 Instant Snowman One thing we’ve learned by living in the great State of Ohio; the weather is completely unpredictable. But with this latest invention, you can create an instant snowman…snow or no snow!

7210400 Folding Coffee Maker In a hurry? Don’t have time for a cup of coffee before leaving home in the morning? Don’t worry…fold up your coffee maker and head on in to the office!

7227067 – Tarpin A String Musical Instrument This relatively new musical instrument is reminiscent of a lyre and an electric guitar. Looks great, but how does it sound?

7410254 – Heated Eyewear Elton John should be so lucky as to own a pair of these! Keep them off your snowman and keep warm everybody!

7698101 Smart Garment Clothes that tell you when they need replaced, contain physiological monitoring equipment and a GPS. I think I prefer being smarter than my sneakers.

7828003 Collapsible Hunting Blind A blind for hunting wild turkeys that will come in very handy of it starts raining while you’re in the woods.

7837865 Container For Purifying Water By Utilization of Sunlight This invention uses the sun’s heat and ultra violet rays to kill harmful micro-organisms in drinking water.

8077148 Solar Powered Mouse Make sure to do your web surfing in a well lit room.

8087969 Costume Apparatus Would someone explain to me why Bruce Wayne is not listed as an inventor?

8737634 Wide Area Noise Cancellation System And Method Noisy neighbors? Fight back with noise cancelling sound waves of your own.

8795025 Infant Mannequin A mannequin for documenting features of a specific human infant; complete with heartbeat, thermal circulation system, sound generator, skin, hair, skeleton, and… data port!

8833308 Pet Door Fluid/Powder Applicator Device If your pet won’t cooperate when you’re trying to apply topical medications, show them the door!

20130297301 Coupling An Electronic Skin Tattoo To A Mobile Communication Device Paragraph 27 describes an optional, lie detecting, feature.

20140345601 Solar Oven This cooker uses sunshine instead of propane to cook your food.

pp12333 Pulmonaria plant named “Dark Vader” This plant is characterized by a combination of dark, thick leaves with silver spotting, reminiscent of the night sky, as seen from the Death Star.

pp17322 Sedum Plant named “Jaws”  This plant is characterized by its leaves with deep, sharp serrated margins that resemble shark’s teeth.

pp24290 Heuchera plant named “Gotham”  It’s rumored that if you plant this on city rooftops, it will attract masked men in bat suits…

USPP00001 Climbing or Trailing Rose President Hoover signed the amendment of the patent laws on May 23, 1930, allowing plants to patentable. Henry F. Bosenberg, a landscape gardener, received U.S. Plant Patent no. 1 on August 18, 1931, which gave “ever-blooming” characteristics to the climbing rose.

USPN_X000001_first_US_patent Method of Making Pot Ash This patent, issued July 31, 1790, was the first of the “X-patents.” On December 15, 1836 a fire at the patent office destroyed all 10,000 or so of the patent records and several thousand patent models. Fortunately, a total of 2,845 of the earliest patents were restored, most of which were eventually given a number beginning with “X”.

USPN1 Traction Wheels This patent, issued July 13, 1836, was not the first patent that issued. Prior to July 4, 1936, issued patents were given names and dates rather than numbers. The Patent Office had already issued close to 10,000 patents, but a fire destroyed many of the records. The Patent Office was able to restore some of these patents and these restored records were issued beginning with an X (they were called the X-patents). The patents that couldn’t be restored were cancelled. Patent #1 was the first patent issued with the new numbering system, went to Senator John Ruggles of Maine. It is a cog mechanism for locomotive wheels.

50 Stove and Fireplace The stove and fireplace were patented on October 11, 1836 by a man named Jordan L. Mott of New York City. An Article in the New York Times dated July 15, 1915 is attached and gives insight into the inventor’s life and his work.

50_Jordan_Mott 125 Improvement in Compositions for Making Boots and Shoes Water-proof This patent issued on February 10, 1837 to Patrick J. Nagle. Mr. Nagle’s patent reads like a recipe; take two pounds of balsam-copaiba, five pounds of the essence of the myrtle tree, one pound of gum-copal, two pounds of rosin, and three pounds of rendered suet, cut into small pieces, put into a large pot and boil.

240 Improvement in the Process of Divesting Caoutchouc, Gum Elastic, or India-Rubber of its Adhesive Properties, and also of Bleaching the Same and thereby Adapting it to Various Useful Purposes Caoutchouc was the name for rubber used by the Indians of Central and South America. This patent, issued on June 17, 1837, was Charles Goodyear’s first patent for a process that made rubber an easier product to work with. However, this was not the patent Charles Goodyear is best known for. On June 24, 1844, Charles Goodyear was granted U.S. Patent No. 3,633 for vulcanized rubber.

D27483_DESIGN_FOR_FUEL If it wasn’t for the invention of charcoal briquettes more than 100 years ago, many great family cookouts may have been different. The history of charcoal briquettes began when Ellsworth B.A. Zwoyer of Pennsylvania applied for a patent in 1897. However, it was Henry Ford, with the help of Thomas Edison, who helped popularized its use in the 1920s.

6281 Safety Pin Walter Hunt, of New York, NY, received patent #6,281 for the safety pin on April 10, 1849. Hunt’s pin was made from one piece of wire, which was coiled into a spring at one end and a separate clasp and point at the other end, allowing the point of the wire to be forced by the spring into the clasp.

D8593 Flag This patent, issued on August 31, 1875, is the first ìflagî patent we could locate. Invented by Joseph Deming of Norfolk, Virginia, it consists of a tree, whose 13 roots represent the original 13 colonies of the United States. The depicted tree also has 18 branches which represent the 18 administrations (to date) and the foliage contains the names of the 37 states and 12 territories which composed the Union at that time.

19783 Pencil and Eraser A user had to sharpen both ends of this early pencil.

D27483 Design for Fuel Ellsworth Zwoyer made cooking outside and creating an even cooking temperature easier when the design patent for the familiar shape of charcoal briquettes was issued to this Pennsylvania inventor on August 3, 1897.

D46178 Paper Sheet or Similar Article A nifty Halloween design from 1914.

95095 Artificial Sliding Hill This invention solves the inconvenience of hauling your sled up a snowy hill.

139121 Fastening Opening Pockets In 1872, Levi Strauss received a letter from Jacob Davis, a Nevada tailor. Davis was one of Levi Strauss’ regular customers. In his letter, Davis told about the interesting way he made pants for his customers: he placed metal rivets at the points of strain-pocket corners and the base of the fly. He didn’t have the money to patent his process so he suggested that Levi pay for the paperwork and that they take out the patent together. The patent was granted on May 20, 1873, and the first blue jeans were born.

188292 Ear Muffler Patent In 1873, 15 year-old Chester Greenwood was ice skating out on a pond near his home in Farmington, Maine. Although he was bundled up, his ears wouldn’t stay warm. He didn’t want to wrap them in a scarf because wool made his ears itch. Therefore, he decided to cut a piece of wire, shape it around his head, and have his grandmother sew together some fur onto each end. The ear protector proved an instant hit and he was awarded a patent for his invention at the age of 18. Before his death in 1937, he received over 130 patents and was quite a celebrity in his home state of Maine.

206360 Sparkler Issued in 1936, similar sparklers are still popular on the 4th of July.

D295627 Portable Telephone or Similar Article A cutting edge electronic device from 1988.

298710 Roller Coasting Device This early roller coaster, consisting of a single circular track, was probably a cutting-edge thrill ride in 1884.

396252 Jack A Lantern Meet Jack A Lantern. He enjoys celebrations, torch-lit processions, and political meetings. I’m not sure I trust that creepy smile though.

398984 Flying Machine This flying machine from 1889 has feathers and a balloon to keep the aeronaut aloft.

D516730 American Flag Bandage This patent, issued on March 7, 2006, was invented by Craig Anduss of San Antonio, Texas, and consists of a band-aid with a flag ornamental design. Note there are only 17 stars, evidently, you need to have a larger wound in order to get the one with 50 stars!!

540648 Road Vehicle This patent issued on June 11, 1895. In a roundabout way, we can all blame Duryea for high gas prices; after all, he is credited with one of the first gasoline powered car in the United States.

557085_POWER_SLED The first U.S. patent awarded to a power sled came on March 24, 1896, to Moses, William and Joseph Runnoe of Crested Butte, Colorado. Their power sled had an endless track of chain and eight steel crossbars supported by spring straps. The cleats had spurs on the outer edges for traction.

D567137_Heart_shaped_diamond_or_similar If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then heart shaped diamonds are her soul mate! Roni Rydlewicz has been awarded many patents for his diamond designs, but none more romantic than his 2008 design patent for his heart shaped diamond.

D590269 Bottle with Applicator Julian Pavone’s invention was born out of necessity. After making a mark on his father’s white shirt, Julian felt bad and wanted to “fix it.” Three-year-old Julian climbed up, grabbed some white-out to correct his mistake, and applied it to his father’s shirt. After applying the correction fluid, the stain was no longer visible and Julian waved his arms and declared, “Abracadabra.” It was at that time Julian’s “Abracadabra” Stain Cover-Up invention was born. Being a drum prodigy, he designed the container to look like a bass drum and an applicator to look like a drumstick.

D691133 Electronic Device A familiar design for an Apple electronic device.

D696738 Sports Ball You may recognize this design from the balls used at the 2014 World Cup™

721359 Pocket Protector This patent was issued to Himan C. Dexter in 1903.

737371_JACK_O__LANTERN_HELMET John J. Du Ket’s invention begs us to ask the question: a cardboard mask tied around your head with a lit candle. what could go wrong? Hopefully those who used his invention did not end their Halloween festivities in the burn unit of their local hospital.

743801 Window Cleaning Device Mary Anderson’s early windshield wiper was removable so as not to “mar the usual appearance of the car during fair weather.”

1090778 Confetti-Bomb An early U.S. patent awarded for a confetti-bomb came on March 17, 1914, to Harrison Clark of San Francisco, California. His invention is a serpentine roll with confetti inside. When the serpentine roll is thrown, it opens and discharges a shower of confetti. Sanitation Workers are forever grateful.

1120656_2 Push Pin The push pin, keeping our take-out menus and notes scribbled on scrap paper organized since at least 1914.

1183492 Weapon A hat mounted weapon from 1916.

1242674 Method of Producing Moving Picture Cartoons Inventor Max Fleisher could be considered one of the founding fathers of modern animation.

1329336 Flying Boat Hull Issued in 1920, this is an early example of a hydroairplane patent.

1344317 Combined Automobile and Motor Boat No need to buy that boat trailer!

1345326 Traction Boat A boat designed to crawl over shallow river beds.

1354021_1920_Stationary_Bike_Patent_Exercise_Equip_Patent_ Apparatus for Providing Public Amusement and Exercise. This invention contains twelve stationary bicycles and twelve corresponding small models that move so you can race in place!

1354908 Portable Telephone Set Although not as sleek as our modern portable phones, this telephone set was intended for military use in trenches and dug outs.

1356381 Aeroplane Kite Besides looking like a cool old biplane, this kite is also designed to be easily dismantled and folded for transport.

1392217 Unsinkable boat Exceptional design, or excessive hubris?

1400791 Ouija Board This invention has been scaring folks since 1921!

1404539 Confection Christian Kent Nelson, a schoolteacher and candy store owner, claimed to have received the inspiration for his invention in 1920 when a boy in his store was unable to decide whether to spend his money on ice cream or a chocolate bar. He initially sold the treat as the “I-Scream Bar,” but later changed the name to “Eskimo Pie.”

1447090 Necktie Considered to be the father of the Modern Necktie, New York tie maker Jesse Langsdorf came up with a method of cutting the fabric on the bias and sewing it in three segments. This technique improved elasticity and allowed the tie to return to its original shape. Since that time, most men have worn the “Langsdorf” tie.

1461189 Novelty Headware A knock down paper hat for waiters and bakers, but also a fashion statement at parties.

1505592 Frozen Confectionery In 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson left a mixture of powdered soda, water, and a stirring stick in a cup on his porch. It was a cold night, and Epperson awoke the next morning to find a frozen pop. He called it the “Epsicle.” It later was a hit with his own kids who called it “Pop’s ‘sicle.” So in 1924, Epperson changed the name to Popsicle and applied for a patent.

1669198 Lacing for Soccer Footballs An early patent directed to a novel means for lacing the leather casing of soccer balls.

1679834 musical pitchfork (Stringed Musical Instrument No jug band would be complete without a musical pitchfork!

1703786 Snow Removing Machine Growing up on a dairy farm in Canada, Arthur Sicard saw just how inconvenient snow-covered roads could be. His family couldn’t get milk to market when deep snow made the roads impassible. It wasn’t until the winter of 1925 that Sicard developed a snowblower that worked. That year, residents of Montreal saw a strange four-wheel-drive truck rumbling through the streets of the city. Instead of pushing the snow aside, the way plows did, the new machine could cart it off or throw it well out of the way.

1718305_BASKET_BALL Although basketballs were made by the A.G. Spalding Co. and the Overman Wheel Co. prior to 1900, neither company decided to patent it. An inventor named G.L. Pierce applied for and was awarded the first basketball patent in 1929.

1830380_vibratory_exercise_machine_Workout_Equipment_Patent_Lawyer You may have seen similar inventions in television comedies where the machine always seems to get out of control.

1841170 Calculating Machine I hope that desks were bigger in the early 20th century.

1867377 Machine for Slicing an Entire Loaf of Bread at a Single Operation The phrase “the greatest thing since sliced bread” is a commonly used way of praising an invention, however, the phrase certainly applies to Otto Frederick Rohwedderís invention of the first “loaf-at-a-time” bread-slicing machine. Wonder Bread launched a 1930s ad campaign touting the innovation.

2012899_punching_bag_Exercise_vending_maching_patent What better way to motivate someone to exercise than to require they pay for it?

2074327 Kite Somewhere between a kite and a pinwheel, this patent issued in 1933.

2089171 Electrical Stringed Instrument Where would popular music be today without this invention? This patent for an early electric guitar was issued to G.D. Beauchamp in 1937.

2096507 Forming Configurations On Natural Growths If you enjoy jack-o-lanterns, but don’t like the mess of carving, this may be your solution.

2127656 Production of Motion Pictures of the Animated Cartoon Type Inventor Paul H. Terry founded the animation studio Terrytoons, credited with the creation of many iconic animated characters, including Heckle and Jeckle and Mighty Mouse.

2208049 Toy Construction Blocks This was inventor C.H. Pajeau’s second patent for Toy construction blocks. The patent for the predecessor to the Tinkertoy was issued in 1916.

2260092 Method of Creating Cartoon Effects Check out the drawings of one of Walt Disney’s most recognizable characters.

2268213 Shielded Fireworks Holder The Fig. 1 drawing is just great. That kid looks HAPPY!

2442417 Kite This bird-shaped kite has realistic flapping wings.

2556800 Diaper Wrap With May celebrating Mother’s Day, it seems fitting to highlight a Marion Donovan, a mother and inventor who was a pioneer in the diaper industry. After changing her baby’s dirty cloth diapers, bed sheets and clothing yet again, she sat down at her sewing machine with a shower curtain and, after several attempts, she completed the first waterproof diaper cover. She later developed a fully disposable diaper. It was not until nearly a decade later, in 1961, that Victor Mills drew upon Donovan’s vision to create Pampers®.

slinky_patent_2415012 It walks down stairs, alone or in pairs.

2611901_GLOVE_OR_MITTEN_CONSTRUCTION Calling it a “love glove,” Mark Neider describes his 1952 patented invention as a mitten where the different sexes can hold hands within the mitten, keeping covered and warm while the boy and girl have hand-to-hand engagement with one another. Donna Reed would approve!

2714326 Stringed Musical Instrument of the Guitar Type and Combined Bridge and Tailpiece Therefor Gibson Guitar Corporation president Ted McCarty was granted a patent in 1955 on a Stringed Musical Instrument of the Guitar Type and Combined Bridge and Tailpiece Therefore thereafter dubbed The Les Paul Guitar.

2737842 Combined Bridge and Tail Piece for Stringed Instruments The inventor listed on this patent is none other than Lester William Polfuss. Haven’t heard of him? How about guitar pioneer Les Paul? This patent, issued in March of 1956 was for the now famous trapezoidal tailpiece and bridge.

2768109 Alcohol-Catalyzed Cyanoacrylate Adhesive Composition During World War II, Harry Coover was part of Eastman-Kodak’s chemical division conducting research with chemicals known as cyanoacrylates in an effort to find a way to make a clear plastic that could be used in precision gunsights for soldiers. While working with the chemicals, he discovered that they were extremely sticky, and this property made them very difficult to work with. Years later, he realized these sticky adhesives had unique properties in that they required no heat or pressure to bond and “Eastman 910,” later renamed “Super Glue,” was born. During the Vietnam War, this accidental invention was used to treat war wounds. Field surgeons began using the substance by spraying it over open wounds, which stopped bleeding instantly and allowed hurt soldiers to be transported to medical facilities for conventional treatment.

2817025 Control System Dr. Adler’s TV remote had buttons that controlled the power, volume on and off, and channel up and down. The sound made by the tiny hammers striking the rods gave birth to the nickname that would endure for generations, referring to your remote as the “clicker”. His device was sold with more than nine million televisions before the advent of infrared technology in the 1980s.

2998896 Container This egg-shaped plastic container may have helped to change the way we think of Easter eggs.

lego_patent_3005282 Everyone loves Lego toy bricks! At least they do until they step on one.

3018680 Electrical Musical Instrument USPN 3,018,680 covers another Les Paul invention. On January 30, 1962, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued Les Paul a patent for an invention titled “Electrical Music Instrument” The invention related to improvements magnetic pick-ups that converted string vibrations into electrical variations. The principal object of the invention was to produce tones without the harshness and metallic sound usually produced by most electrical instruments.

3044989 Segmented Copolymers Joseph Shivers invention of Spandex allows fabric made with this fiber to stretch up to 600% and then recover to its original shape. Swimmers, Super Heroes, members of 80’s Rock bands and Thanksgiving overeaters are forever in his debt. DuPont’s annual sales of Lycra spandex are estimated at more than $1.5 billion.

3235259 Toy Boxers The Red Rocker and the Blue Bomber have been knocking each other’s block off since 1966.

3285228_Anti-Gravity_Space_Pen NASA programs previously used pencils, but because of the danger that a broken-off pencil tip poses in zero gravity and the flammable nature of the wood present in pencils, a better solution was needed. Paul Fisher independently invented his pen, and then asked NASA to try it. After the introduction of the AG7 Space Pen, both the American and Soviet space agencies adopted it. Today, the Fisher Zero Gravity Pens are still used on all manned space flights.

3474987 Helicopter Device This patent for a one man helicopter device was issued in 1969.

3538508 Combination Pillow and Crash Helmet One of the objects of this invention is to protect sleeping airline passengers during crash landings

3574791 Block and Graft Copolymers Containing Water-Solvatable Polar Groups and Fluoroaliphatic Groups. Also known as Scotchgard, this invention has been saving sofas from spill prone owners since 1971.

3597875 Toy Building Set Danish inventor, Ole Kirk Christiansen named his invention LEGO after the Danish words leg and godt which translates as play well.

3725561 Method of Electrically Reproducing Music and Improved Electrical Pickup for Practicing the Same This Gibson guitar patent covers yet another invention by the legendary Les Paul. The patent is directed to the selective reproduction of the low and high frequency content of an audio output. Les Paul is the only individual to share membership into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Amazing.

US3724122A_Frisbee_Patent The “Frisbee” probably one of the most popular summertime toys ever made.

3745691 Harmless Firework The definition of “harmless” was a little different in the 1970’s. The description includes phrases like: “lighter fluid is squirted,” “fluid is ignited,” and “charge of non metallic projectiles.”

3832556 Luminescent Backing Sheet for Writing in the Dark In 1972, 10-year-old Becky Schroeder was sitting in the car, waiting for her mother to return from shopping. She decided to try to finish her math homework, but it was getting dark and hard to see the paper. She wished her paper would light up somehow, and that’s when the idea came to her. After visiting the hardware store she created the first Glo-sheet, a clipboard that glows, illuminating the paper that is placed on top of it.

4365802 Deformation Preventing Swingable Mount For Basketball Goals Growing up on a farm, Arthur Ehrat was familiar with “thinking outside of the box” when trying to solve a problem at hand. It was this set of skills he used to help his nephew, a university basketball coach, solve the problem of bending rims and broken bones when his players were trying to slam dunk the ball and created the first Breakaway Goal.

4800783 Method and apparatus for removing a cork or plastic stopper from a champagne bottle Born in Texas to poor parents, Herbert Allen first made his mark and fortune inventing tools for the oil industry and parts for jet engines. In 1951 he traveled to Europe where he developed a passion for wine and, over the next 20 years, assembled one of the best wine cellars in Texas. After Allen’s wife had a particularly frustrating experience opening a bottle of wine, she asked her husband to produce a corkscrew that would extract the cork effortlessly and perfectly every time. He succeeded and launched the Screwpull line of cork extractors. In this cork extractor line is the Metal Star Champagne & Sparkling Wine Opener, based on this patent.

4830373 Soccer Ball This patent claims that the star-shaped panels allow players to have greater control over the ball.

5339741 Precision Fireworks Display System Having a Decreased Environmental Impact Fireworks were invented in ancient China to scare away evil spirits, but leave it to The Walt Disney Company, the largest consumer of fireworks, to improve upon the invention. In 2004, Disney developed the commercial use of aerial fireworks launched with compressed air rather than gunpowder. The benefits of this method are a reduction in fumes; greater precision in height and timing; and more ‘Oohs’ and “Aahs!”

5463175 Glyphosate Tolerant Plants A patent for plants that are tolerant of a common herbicide.

pat5906540 Animal Stunning System Prior to Slaughter Although never a pleasant topic, Dr. Temple Grandin’s invention was developed as a means to create more humane conditions in livestock handling facilities.

5693473 Linked Breast and Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility Gene A method of identifying and isolating a gene which can be linked to predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer.

7306112 Spill-Proof Container Melinda Shepard came up with the idea of a weighted snack container after her toddler spilled Cheerios all over the back seat of her minivan for the umpteenth time. Melinda described her “spill-proof bowl” concept to her husband Brad, an engineer, who created the initial design. The spill-resistant invention swivels, dips and oscillates in all directions to keep snacks in the bowl, and has kids of all ages “playing” with their food once again.

US7594669 Halloween Portable Container When the bags, backpacks, duffel bags, pillowcases or the ever popular pumpkin-shaped orange plastic pail becomes too heavy to carry all of your goodies, what is a kid to do? Linda Acosta cleverly came up with the idea of goodie bag on wheels, much to the delight of dentists across the country.

7802522 Multi-Track Multi-Vehicle Roller Coaster With Special Effects Star Wars fans can finally feel as if they are piloting their own X-Wing starfighter.

7993835 BRCA2 Mutations and Uses Thereof A method of identifying and isolating a gene which can be linked to predisposition to breast and ovarian cancer