Did You Know...
...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 |
| 5826914 | Periodical insert having composite structure A composite insert for a magazine or other publication is shown that includes a postal reply card. In one embodiment, the insert has a first portion formed of heavy paper stock suitable for use as a postcard, and a second portion formed of paper stock tha... | 10/27/1998 |
| 4130083 | Activating mechanism for flashlamp article Activation means for activating at least one percussive flashlamp unit located within a flashlamp article. An activator moves within a casing when released by a pivotal retaining arm to engage and effect release of the flashlamp unit's striker spring. The... | 12/19/1978 |
