Famous Inventions
A patent is a legal document. It stops people from copying an inventor’s idea. The U.S. began giving out patents in 1790. Here are a few inventions that have received patents.
Cotton Gin
BETTMANN/GETTY IMAGESELI WHITNEY got a patent for the cotton gin in 1794. It was a machine that quickly cleaned cotton. This made it easier to make cloth for clothing.
Electronic Lightbulb
CHRIS HUNTER—GETTY IMAGESTHOMAS EDISON was given a patent for an electric lightbulb in 1880. Edison got more than 1,000 patents for inventions.
Airplane
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/GETTY IMAGESWILBUR AND ORVILLE WRIGHT got a patent for a “flying machine” in 1906. They invented the first successful airplane.
iPhone
KIM KULISH—CORBIS/GETTY IMAGESThe first iPhone was released in 2007. In 2008, APPLE INC. got patents for its design.