Declaration of Independence Patents
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Written by Gene Quinn Patent Attorney & Founder of IPWatchdog Zies, Widerman & Malek Follow Gene on Twitter @IPWatchdog Posted: Jul 4, 2009 @ 6:28 am 
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Today is the day we celebrate our Independence some 233 years ago. What better time to take a look and see what patents exist with an Independence theme. It would seem that in preparation for the Centennial celebration there were a number of individuals who were quite interested in obtaining design patents. The one below caught my eye in particular, I am not exactly sure why. Perhaps I am being overly sentimental, but as I read this particular patent a certain pride seems to shine through in the words. We can poke fun all we like at the inventions of others, but as an inventor myself I know how much of yourself goes into an invention. It becomes a project like none other, and while any particular idea or invention might seem odd to you, to the inventor it is a piece of themselves. This particular design patent, Design No. 8310 entitled “Design for fans,” seemed to capture both a great pride in America, as well as pride in what has been created, and for that reason I selected it above all others. The fact that it also includes a bit of poetry is just a bonus.
Happy Fourth of July everyone!
Design for fans
Design No. 8310
Applied for April 5, 1875
Issued May 4, 1875
Term of Patent 3.5 years
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, Mrs. Elizabeth W. Perry, of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a Design for Fans, of which the following is a specification:
The object of my design is to provide a fan adapted to the centennial period, in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence, and of historical persons and events of that time, and which may be of any grade material, finish, and expense to suit variations of taste and means.
In the accompanying photographic representation of my design, to which reference is made, A representes the body of the fan, which may be made of any material, size, or shape, convenient for use, in connection with the design.
The design consists in a likeness of Martha Washington on one side of the fan, printed, woven, embroidered, engraved, lithographed or otherwise produced.
Any motto or patriotic inscription may be placed on the reverse side of the fan, at discretion; but, if making a selection myself, I would prefer the following lines:
O, fit companion of our chieftain great,
The hero’s darling and the patriot’s mate,
When stricken Freedom knew on earth no home,
With him you spoke the word which bade her come!
You spread the welcome feast and soothed her woes,
while he with armed men chastised her foes.
One hundred years have wrought their deeds of fame,
Alike renowned in peace or traced in flame,
And swelled from sea to sea the wide acclaim,
Not writ on freedom’s scroll a sweeter name.
But this I do not claim as part of my design.
What I do claim, however, as my invention is —
The design for a fan, having the likeness of Martha Washington on one of its sides or faces, substantially as described, and illustrated in the accompanying photographic representation.
ELIZABETH W. PERRY
Witnesses:
Mary Hart,
Walter St. J. Jones.
About the Author
Gene Quinn is a US Patent Attorney, law professor and the founder of IPWatchdog.com. He is also a principal lecturer in the top patent bar review course in the nation, which helps aspiring patent attorneys and patent agents prepare themselves to pass the patent bar exam. Gene started the widely popular intellectual property website IPWatchdog.com in 1999, and since that time the site has had many millions of unique visitors. Gene has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the LA Times, USA Today, CNN Money, NPR and various other newspapers and magazines worldwide. He represents individuals, small businesses and start-up corporations. As an electrical engineer with a computer engineering focus his specialty is electronic and computer devices, Internet applications, software and business methods.
That’s fantastic! I think it is interesting that back in the “good ‘ol days” a design patent issued in under 1 month. Keep in mind that’s without electronic filing and the other conveniences we have. I guess things really were more efficient in the 1800′s!