Patent Pending Blog—Patents and the History of Technology

Bob Shaver

This is a blawg "celebrating the history of technology and creative genius over the centuries."

Author: Bob Shaver is a partner at Dykas, Shaver & Nipper in Boise, Idaho.

Blawg Related Categories: Intellectual Property Law • Patent Law • Legal History • Solos/Small Firms • Solo / Small Firm

Recent Posts from Patent Pending Blog—Patents and the History of Technology

The First Internal Frame Backpack - Kelty's Tour Pack by John Robinson
In the early 1970s the outdoor equipment industry was changing rapidly. Kelty backpacks were the premier backpack, with others made by Jansport and Alpenlite being quality brands. REI made a Cruiser which was a cheap…
The First Tadpole Tricycle
The first tricycle that I have found with the two wheels in front and the larger wheel in back (the tadpole configuration) was patented in England before 1876, and sold as by the Rudge company.…
Ancient Ceramic Archimedes Screw Found
Below is a picture of a strange technology, that maybe some smart person can identify. This is what appears to be a clay or ceramic Archimedes Screw. This is one of several pieces of the…
1907 Screw Drive Vehicle
Thanks to Terry Harper, who informs that "one of the earliest such vehicles was patented by Ira Peavey of Maine in 1907. At least two were built and tested succesfully. One was stream poweredm the…
Babylon
The Greek historian Herodotus visited the city of Babylon in 460 BC, after it had been conquered by the Persian Cyrus, and stripped or treasures, but when its walls and temples were still standing, and…
The Lybe Spring Motor Carriage
In 1891 a Daniel I. Lybe filed a patent application on a vehicle powered by a wound up spring. The spring of the vechicle was given an initial winding, then would recoup winding on the…
Much Ado About 'Almost' Nothing
Hans Camenzind has written a great little book about the history of man's understanding and use of the electron, titled "Much Ado About 'Almost' Nothing". The book is about this tiny little atomic particle, with…
The Douglas B-23 Dragon Bomber
In the late 1930s the Douglas Aircraft Company found a superior design for a sturdy long range aircraft in the civilian DC-2 and DC-3. These were the finest passenger planes yet created, and also served…
Jim's first year in Scouts, summer of 2007
Our Scout activities in 2007 basically amounted to an experiment in whether young scouts of age 11 could carry off a schedule of adventurous activities, such as snow camping and backpacking. These pictures shows the…
The Star Bicycle
In the era when alternatives were being tried to the "ordinary" bicycle, many new configurations were tried. One was that made by the Star Company, of H. B. Smith. In this design, the small wheel…