A creeping baby doll
Robert Clay submitted this drawing in support of his patent application for a creeping baby doll in 1871. In his application, he claims that this will be “a very...
A house that fits under your bed
On August 17, 1886, Joseph P. Buckingham, was granted a patent for an improvement for collapsible toy houses. In his application, he explains the intricate details of...
A machine that really adds up
This drawing by William Seward Burroughs is from his first patent application for a calculating machine—an important step toward the modern computer. A sometime...
A mechanical fan
In 1830, James Barron submitted this drawing with his patent application for an improvement on fans. In his application, he states that this fan is not limited to...
A new and useful window blind
On May 13, 1907, Dayton I. Andrews submitted a patent application for an improvement for window blinds. In his application, he states that this type of blind, “the...
Airship
On April 15, 1913, The Patent Office granted David Hamilton Coles a patent for an improvement on airships. In his application, Coles meticulously described his new...
Amusing children
On June 27, 1871, the Patent Office granted Sarah E. Saul’s patent for an improvement in seesaws. In her application, she states that “my invention has relation...