[Image: Washington patent issuance, wikipedia /Artwork: designslinger]

Did you know that the United States actually issued its first patent not too long after
George Washington became president? There have been over 7 million patents issued by the U.S. government since then, and there is a treasure trove of artwork related to all the patents applied for and issued.

Not all patents require drawings but the Utility and Design patents have such a requirement:

                                   "Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or
                                     discovers any new anduseful process, machine, article of
                                     manufacture, or compositions ofmatters, or any new useful
                                     improvement thereof."

                                   "Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a                                   
                                     new, original, and ornamentaldesign for an article of manufacture."

                                   "Black and white drawings are normally required. India ink,
                                     or its equivalent thatsecures black solid lines, must be
                                     used for drawings. Drawings madeby computer printer
                                     should be originals, not photocopies."

                                    "The drawing must contain as many views as necessary
                                      to show the invention. The viewsmay be plan, elevation,
                                      section, or perspective views."

                                     "The use of shading in views is encouraged if it aids in
                                       understanding the inventionand if it does not reduce legibility.
                                       Shading is used to indicatethe surface or shape of spherical,
                                       cylindrical, and conical elementsof an object. Flat parts may
                                       also be lightly shaded. Spaced linesfor shading are preferred."

Thomas Edison gets all the good press. This was a conclusion I came to the other evening
after watching a special about Nikola Tesla the person responsible for the AC electrical current we use in our homes today. Edison was promoting DC current, which proved to be inefficient to Tesla's AC, but in our popular imagination Edison was the man who brought us all things electric. I don't know of any "Tesla" company delivering electricity to any community in the U.S., but there sure are a number of "Edison's."

[Image: Tesla turbine, 100th American patent via wikipedia /Artwork: designslinger]

Tesla obtained some 300 patents around the world before his death in 1943, and what I found
as interesting as the accomplishments of the man, were the beauty of the drawings produced with his patent applications. Even if only one-half of all patents submitted contained drawings, that's over 3 million pieces of art stored within the Commerce Department's archives. Some of the drawings are wacky, some are technically exact, some would qualify as the Grandma Moses school of patent art. But, all have an inherent beauty.

[Image: Tesla coil and electrical condensor via wikipedia /Artwork: designslinger]

It is a remarkable collection that should have much more public exposure, whether in a museum,
or as prints for purchase by the general population. It's time to take this wonderful resource out-of-the-closet and share the artistry of the unsung heroes of patent pictures and celebrate their artistic achievements.