...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 6936034 | Insulin syringe with magnified sheath The insulin syringe with magnified sheath is a syringe with a transparent outer sleeve constructed of a material capable of magnifying printed information. The outer sleeve is slidably attached to the syringe barrel and can lock into a retracted position where it su... | 08/30/2005 |
| 7168394 | Slipcover for dog collars The slipcover for dog collars is a fabric sleeve designed to slide onto the collar, covering the entire collar except the metal bracket and tongue of the buckle. A strip of fabric, slightly narrower than the sleeve and with an elastic loop at the end, is attached to... | 01/30/2007 |
| D490659 | Beverage holder | 06/01/2004 |