Few games have stood the test of time quite like Scrabble. Found in homes, classrooms, and competitions around the world, Scrabble is more than just a board game. It is a story of invention, persistence, and reinvention.

At its core, Scrabble reflects the same journey every great idea takes. It begins with a spark, evolves through challenges, and adapts to stay relevant.

Inventing Scrabble 

Scrabble was invented by Alfred Mosher Butts during the Great Depression in the 1930s. An out of work architect, Butts set out to create a game that blended vocabulary skill with the element of chance.

His approach was methodical. He analyzed newspapers to calculate how frequently each letter appeared in everyday language. This data driven insight became the foundation for the letter distribution and point values still used in Scrabble today.

His first version of the game was called Lexiko, later evolving into Criss Cross Words. Despite its ingenuity, the game struggled to gain traction. Like many inventors, Butts faced years of rejection before his idea found its moment.

From Struggle to Breakthrough

The turning point came when James Brunot discovered Butts’ game in the 1940s. Brunot saw its potential and licensed the rights, making key refinements including the name Scrabble.

He also streamlined production and began manufacturing the game himself. What started as a small operation soon grew into a surge of popularity, especially after a Macy’s executive reportedly discovered the game and helped bring it into mainstream retail.

By the 1950s, Scrabble had become a household name.

Reinventing a Classic

What makes Scrabble truly remarkable is not just how it was invented, but how it has continually reinvented itself.

Over the decades, Scrabble has adapted to changing times:

• Deluxe editions with rotating boards and upgraded design
• International versions supporting multiple languages
• Competitive tournaments, including the World Scrabble Championship
• Digital transformations through mobile apps and online gameplay

Each evolution has kept the game fresh while preserving its original essence.

This ability to adapt is what separates a one time idea from a lasting success.

What Scrabble Teaches About Innovation

The story of Scrabble mirrors the journey of countless successful inventions.

It started with a simple concept.
It faced early rejection.
It evolved to stay relevant across generations.

Innovation is not just about the initial idea. It is about how that idea grows, improves, and adapts over time.

From Then to Now

Today, Scrabble remains one of the most beloved games in the world. From living room tables to smartphone screens, it continues to connect people through creativity and competition.

And its journey is far from over.

Have An Idea? Wondering What’s Next?

Having a product or app idea is a very exciting time. Knowing what to do next is where some ideas began to fall by the wayside. Having a clear method or journey to follow that places idea confidentiality at the forefront when bringing an idea to the real world is vital. This is one reason Davison invented the 9-Step Inventing Method.

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At Davison, we believe true innovation is driven by bold ideas, disciplined creativity, and cutting-edge engineering. Few industries embody this philosophy better than the automotive world of product and supercars. These extraordinary machines are not just vehicles, they are rolling laboratories where advanced technology, futuristic design, and high-performance systems converge to redefine what is possible.

Today’s next-generation supercars are no longer measured solely by top speed or horsepower. They represent a complete ecosystem of innovation, where aerodynamics, materials science, electronics, software, and sustainability all work in harmony. In many ways, supercars show us what happens when imagination is allowed to run at full throttle, and when engineering is trusted to bring it safely back to earth.

Click here to expand the features of the supercar below.

Where Product Design Meets Engineering

Inventing begins with a problem. Inventing a supercars begins with a design challenge.

Supercar engineers and designers must work together from the earliest sketches to ensure that visual impact never comes at the expense of performance. Modern supercars are crafted with aerodynamic precision, where every curve, vent, and surface is intentional.

Airflow is treated as a structural component. Front splitters guide air beneath the chassis to increase downforce. Sculpted side intakes feed cooling systems while reducing turbulence. Rear diffusers and active spoilers manage airflow at high speeds to keep the car planted on the road.

What makes today’s designs especially impressive is the rise of active aerodynamic systems. These systems can adapt in real time,opening, closing, or repositioning elements based on speed, braking, and cornering forces. The result is a vehicle that dynamically reshapes itself for optimal efficiency and stability, something that would have sounded like science fiction just a few decades ago.

Lightweight materials play an equally critical role. Carbon fiber composites, aluminum alloys, and advanced structural plastics reduce mass while increasing rigidity. Less weight means faster acceleration, more responsive handling, shorter braking distances, and improved energy efficiency. It also enhances safety, as modern materials can be engineered to absorb and redirect impact forces more effectively than traditional steel.

Electric Turbo Power: Instant Performance

One of the most transformative innovations in modern supercars is the use of electric-assisted turbocharging. Traditional turbochargers depend on exhaust gases to build pressure, which often results in turbo lag, a noticeable delay between pressing the accelerator and feeling the power.

Electric turbo systems eliminate this delay by using an electric motor to spin the turbocharger instantly. Power delivery becomes immediate and linear, creating a smoother and more controlled driving experience. This technology allows smaller engines to produce astonishing levels of power while improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.

From an innovation standpoint, this is a powerful lesson: limitations are often solved not by scaling bigger, but by thinking smarter. Electric turbo systems show how combining mechanical engineering with electrical innovation can unlock performance gains that once seemed impossible.

Smart Wheels and Intelligent Control

Innovation in supercars doesn’t stop at the engine, it extends all the way to the wheels. Smart wheel and tire systems continuously monitor temperature, pressure, traction, and road conditions. This data is fed into onboard control systems that adjust suspension, braking, and power delivery in real time.

In electric and hybrid supercars, independent motors can control each wheel separately. This enables torque vectoring, delivering power exactly where it’s needed for maximum grip and cornering precision. The result is a vehicle that feels almost predictive, responding to road conditions faster than any human driver could.

These systems are not just about speed. They dramatically improve safety, stability, and adaptability, especially in changing weather or road conditions. Once again, performance innovation proves to be inseparable from user experience and protection.

Augmented Reality Inside the Cockpit

Inside the cabin, innovation becomes personal. Augmented reality (AR) dashboards and heads-up displays are redefining how drivers interact with their vehicles. Instead of glancing down at gauges or screens, critical information,speed, navigation, hazard alerts, and performance data ,is projected directly onto the windshield.

By keeping the driver’s eyes on the road, AR systems reduce distraction and improve reaction times. They also create a more immersive experience, blending digital intelligence with physical motion. This is a clear example of how software and interface design have become just as important as mechanical components in modern product development.

For inventors, it highlights a key insight: innovation often lives at the intersection of disciplines. The most powerful ideas frequently emerge when hardware, software, and user behavior are designed together.

Gullwing Doors & Structural Innovation

Iconic show-stopping features like gullwing doors are more than visual statements, they are engineering challenges that when solved create a better customer experience. Roof-hinged doors require reinforced frames, precision hinge systems, and lightweight materials to maintain structural integrity and safety.

Modern supercars solve this through advanced load-bearing structures, carbon fiber monocoques, and carefully distributed reinforcement points. The result is dramatic access and unmistakable style without compromising crash protection or rigidity.

This balance between aesthetics and engineering serves as a reminder that great design is never superficial. When executed correctly, even the most eye-catching features are grounded in serious problem-solving.

What Supercars Teach Us About Innovation

Supercars often act as proving grounds for technologies that eventually reach everyday vehicles. Adaptive lighting systems, regenerative braking, advanced driver assistance, lightweight materials, and intelligent energy management all made their debut in high-performance or concept vehicles.

Breakthrough ideas often begin as ambitious, unconventional concepts. With an experienced team, equipped with the right tools, facilities, and engineering capabilities – those ideas can undergo proper testing, detailed refinement, and technical development. The ability to transform an idea into a practical, scalable product solution that impacts everyday life is both rare and deeply rewarding.

The process is rarely linear. It requires creativity, resilience, and a willingness to challenge assumptions. Supercars remind us that progress favors those who are willing to push boundaries,and then put in the work to make bold ideas functional and reliable.

Innovation Starts With an Idea

Those who see problems differently and imagine better solutions use Davison’s proven 9-step inventing method. Whether the innovation is automotive, kitchen, pet, consumer-focused, or rooted in emerging technology, every breakthrough starts with an idea and the determination to bring it to life.

Supercars show us what’s possible when creativity meets engineering, when design is backed by discipline, when innovation is allowed to evolve and dreamers dream without limits. The next groundbreaking technology may not be on the road yet, but it could already exist in the mind of an inventor ready to take the first step – and that’s where innovation truly begins! 

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So you’ve brought something new and wonderful into this world. At first reading, you may think we’re referring to the magic of parenthood, but we’re actually talking about a different kind of creation (though you might consider it your “baby”). For some, it’s a formula or for others, it’s a design or even a whole new invention, the likes of which the world has never seen. Regardless, your hard work and research have finally paid off so give yourself a pat on the back. You’ve done all you’ve set out to do… now what? Well, to protect the intellectual property of your creation, you’ll need to patent it (if your invention isn’t patentable, there may be other IP protection available). Unfortunately, unlike the excitement that comes with inventing, the patenting process is a bit arduous. To help you out, here are some general time estimates for the patent process:

Disclaimer: Davison is not a law firm and does not provide patent services or other legal services. The information being presented is factual in nature and is not offered as, nor may it be taken as, legal advice. Any legal questions should be directed to a competent patent attorney or patent agent.

Step-by-Step: Navigating the Patent Process

Patent Process Step 1: Patent Searching (15 minutes to several weeks)

This first step involves searching for other patents, products or information in existence that may be similar to yours. While a search isn’t required to submit an application, it is an important step. This way, when you apply, you’ll be sure to avoid claiming features that already exist. You can do this yourself; however, if you’re not experienced at performing patent searches, you may want to work with a patent attorney/agent. If working with a patent attorney/agent, the time can vary depending on the case, but typically can be done in a manner of weeks.

Patent Process Step 2: What kind of patent?

This step involves simply making sure you’re aware of what type of patent to file for. This way you’re filling out the proper paperwork. There are three types of categories to consider:

Utility, Design, or Plant Patent?

a) Utility Patent: A utility patent may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new or useful process, machine, composition of matter, article of manufacture, or any new useful improvement thereof.

b) Design Patent: A design patent may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, or ornamental design for an article of manufacture.

c) Plant Patent: A plant patent may be granted to anyone who discovers or invents and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.

Patent Process Step 3: Drafting a Patent Application (Several weeks to several months)

Once you’ve done your research and figured out what type of patent you’ll be applying for, it’s time for the next step- apply! At this stage, you’ll be required to put together the patent application. If you complete an application yourself, the process would simply be as long as it takes you to form a draft without errors. But again, if you lack experience, a patent attorney/agent is strongly recommended. Similarly to the patent search stage, an attorney/agent could take anywhere between several weeks to several months complete the application. This depends on the type of patent, the volume of work, and information provided by the client. At the very least, you should have a patent attorney/agent review your work.

If your invention needs a Utility Patent, you’ll have to decide whether to file a Provisional or Non-provisional application.

a) Provisional: a quick, informal and less-expensive application process. This applicant is not examined by the USPTO and is only valid for a year. That time allows an applicant to seek funding or test the marketability of the invention before incurring the added expense of a non-provisional application.

b) Non-provisional: Only a non-provisional application can lead to the issuance of a patent. The process of filing one is a lot longer and more expensive than a Provisional form.

Patent Process Step 4: File to Acceptance (7 months to 23.9 months)

At this point, your patent will have a ‘Patent Pending’ status. Don’t get too excited when you see 7 months up there, though. Typically the only cases where a patent is approved within a 7 month period is if it’s what’s called a Track One, which just means it’s prioritized. This can only apply to plant or utility applications and has different requirements, including a much larger fee than a normal non-provisional patent application.

Per the USPTO, the current estimated time for review from a Patent Examiner (or First Office Action) is 15.7 months (or 1.7 months for Track One) and the average wait to actually get a final determination (notice of allowance or final rejection) is 23.9 months. A provisional application is not examined and gives the applicant one year from that date to file for a non-provisional patent.

The non-provisional patent application process is lengthy because, at any given time, the USPTO has hundreds of thousands of patent applications to process. For example, in 2015, 629,647 applications were filed. Compare this to the mere 7,966 Patent Examiners working as of 2014.

We know this process can be overwhelming for some, and, for anyone feeling a little out of their depth, a patent attorney/agent can be very helpful. Our patent attorney, David DeMay, empathizes with those who get overwhelmed with the process, stating, “It certainly can be overwhelming, particularly if you are unfamiliar with government bureaucracy. There are numerous federal statutes and regulations that need to be followed and failing to follow proper procedure can have negative effects on the individual’s rights. That is why the USPTO requires every patent attorney/agent to pass the Patent Bar Exam before they are permitted to represent another individual in patent matters.”

Overall, there’s no one size fits all timeline for the patent process. It’s kind of like ordering from your favorite Etsy shop, the delivery timeline is just a rough estimate. Sometimes you’re pleasantly surprised, and other times you’re left waiting longer than you bargained for. The keys to getting through the process are to take your time, be detailed/thorough, and most of all – be patient. If you’re able to do all of this then, eventually, your invention or creation will legally be yours.

How do you feel after learning about those simple four steps to get a patent? Do you know what kind of patent would work for your idea? Are you ready to research your idea?

Click HERE to connect with a Davison invention team member.

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For many of us, the holidays can be the most stressful time of year. This is why we decided to put together our top 5 products to help you through the holiday season! 

So, whether you’re preparing for what can feel like an endless number of people at your house this holiday season or if you are looking for ways to de-clutter for the new year, these products might just help you achieve a stress-free holiday. 

Let’s check them out! 

1. The Catch-It

Bonfires are a blast! It’s a go-to activity for friends and family to get together, laugh, and enjoy quality time with the ones you love.

It’s also a great time to roast and enjoy those sweet and savory snacks, as long
as those snacks are not lost to the bonfire.

Remove the stress from this heartwarming activity with the Catch-It! 

Product Features:

The Catch-It features two roasting pans that prevent food items from landing in the fire. In addition to the Catch-It’s roasting pans, this product is made from 302-grade stainless steel, which means the Catch-It can handle high amounts of heat.

The Catch-It also includes a telescoping arm that extends 13 inches! Thanks to this product, you might just be able to relax a bit at your next bonfire get-together. 

 2. The Clip & Fill

With all the planning and preparation required for the holidays, who has time to plan and prepare a meal every evening, too? We get it, which is why the Clip & Fill was our number two product pick!

Food prep is crucial this time of year. Planning, preparing, and storing next week’s dinner is one task you can cross off that to-do list with ease, thanks to the Clip & Fill. 

This product is one kitchen gadget you will want in your arsenal every day of the year. The sleek and sturdy design of the product is flawless while holding open your food storage bags so you can fill them without any unnecessary kitchen spills.

Product Features:

This product features adjustable, weight-bearing arms that allow you to use various size storage bags. Thanks to smart product design, the Clip & Fill is capable of withstanding various weight levels without collapsing which means you won’t have to worry about  tipping and spills. 

So if you are a year-round meal prepper, or if you’re looking to survive the holidays with fewer spills, this is the perfect product for you.

CLICK HERE to learn more about this product and to purchase your CLIP & Fill TODAY!

3. Ladder Friend 

 ‘Tis the season for gathering with your loved ones, which means it’s time to add an extra coat of paint to the guest room, clean the cobwebs from the hall closet, and hang those holiday lights.

But this year, instead of running up and
down the ladder for tools, our number 3
product will help you tackle those tasks with ease. 

The Ladder Friend easily attaches to any extension ladder, is easy to store, and is perfect for those tough construction jobs or a simple cleaning task.

Product Features:

The Ladder Friend is easy-to-use and lightweight. It features five compartments for you to store paintbrushes, cleaning products, tools, and more. 

This year you can be a taskmaster when you have your Ladder Friend in hand or on the ladder.     

Give yourself the gift of time and energy with the Ladder Friend! 

CLICK HERE to support this invention and purchase your Ladder Friend TODAY!

4. Paula Deen’s Gift Wrap & Ornament Organizer  

 A well-known holiday tradition is gift-giving. Although it feels so good when you hand over the “perfect gift” to your loved one, we all know gift-giving comes with its own challenge–gift wrapping.  

These days, gift wrapping is like an
Olympic sport and the competition is fierce. Well, our number four product might just give you an edge this holiday season! 

I give you the Gift Wrap Organizer by Paula Deen! With this product in hand, you will be wrinkle-free and wrapping like a pro in no time! 

Product Features:

Gift Wrap Organize offers 360 degrees of storage! Thanks to the unique product design, you can stow away up to 15 rolls of wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, tape, glitter, glue, and more! 

But, Paula didn’t stop there. She also created the Ornament Storage Box which eliminates the struggle we all face with keeping ornaments safe and secure for next year. With Paula’s Ornament Storage Box you can store approximately 54 ornaments using four separate divider trays that keep your ornaments in perfect condition all year long! 

So, whether you are the family’s all-time gift wrapping champ or just looking for an easy way to store and organize wrapping paper and ornaments, Paula has you covered. 

CLICK HERE to watch this product in action and purchase your Holiday Organizers TODAY!

5. The Voltee

 If you haven’t noticed, preparation is the common theme of the products we have chosen to help you through the holidays. Being prepared for the holidays can be the key to less stress.

Whether you are organizing decorations, cleaning out the guest room, hanging holiday lights, or doing meal prep, preparation is the common denominator. 

Maybe more than any of the other products, our fifth and final holiday
helper can prepare you for surprises.

Introducing the Voltee! A common mistake people make is accidentally leaving a flashlight on so when an unexpected power outage occurs there are no working flashlights anywhere in the house. If you have the Voltee, you can be worry-free.  

Product Features:

The small but mighty product will automatically turn off a flashlight, radio, or another item that runs on D batteries after three minutes of inactivity. So the next time you reach for the flashlight, you can rest assured the power of the Voltee will light the way! 

CLICK HERE to learn more and purchase this must-have household item TODAY!

Want to see more Davison-designed products?
CLICK HERE and get FREE access to Davison’s Holiday Catalog TODAY!

The post Davison’s Top 5 Holiday Helpers appeared first on Davison.

Voting for the US President  started in 1776, the same year the Declaration of Independence was signed. Since that time, it has gone through multiple changes aimed at providing a better, more secure, and more accurate vote count and preserving the integrity of the election. These innovations of the process, equipment, and management of voting have revolutionized the way we select our leaders of this nation. Each innovative step led to the next to take a simple paper ballot system all the way to touch screen voting. 

The word ballot comes from the word ball in Italian, ballot, and some of the very first elections in the world were cast with balls. The earliest form of voting in America involved paper ballots which were then hand-counted. Several issues arose with this form of voting, paper ballots can be torn, lost, forged, and tampered with. Hand counting votes is a slow, labor-intensive process and can open the door to exploitation of election results. There had to be a better way. 

Patent Approved

Anthony Beranek received a patent for the first voting machine to be used in the USA. It consisted of push buttons that the voter used to select their candidates of choice. It had an automatic reset after a voter made their choices so that the next voter could use the machine. This innovation improved privacy while voting. Based on Anthony Beranek’s design, Jacob H. Myers received a patent for a lever voting machine in 1889. This machine dominated the voting system in America for most of the 20th century. While this machine solved a lot of issues that paper ballots had, it had a glaring defect. The voting machines were maintained by technicians and if they were paid off they could easily rig the machine to only allow a certain number of a particular candidate’s lever to be counted. There had to be a better way.

Out With The Old

A new innovation, punch-card voting, had been developed over the course of a century, but first saw adoption in 1965 with Joseph P. Harris’ creation of the Votomatic punched-card system. This invention was licensed to IBM and the prototype was built by William Rouverol. This system used a pre-scored punch card and a device that the voter would use to punch the card in order to choose their candidate. The card was then fed into a card reader which tabulated the vote. Controversy surrounded this form of voting on multiple occasions. Sometimes the card wouldn’t be properly punched through, leaving errors and discrepancies when it ran through the card reader. Some calculations showed that there was anywhere between a 5% to 10% misrepresentation of voters in any given election. There had to be a better way. 

Direct-Recording Electronics are commonly referred to as DREs. These devices include buttons or a touchscreen, and the votes are tabulated and stored in a removable memory component. This device first surfaced in a government election as the Video Voter, developed by Frank Thornber Company. The DREs address several problems of earlier voting systems. One, they make it easier for people with disabilities to cast their votes secretly. Two, they don’t have the error rate that the punched-card system had. Three, it tallies votes quickly and effectively with a graphical user interface that can be adapted to any variation needed for voting. However, there is a huge vulnerability with these machines, since they’re electronic and sometimes feed votes to a centralized location for counting and reporting, they are susceptible to hacking. There has to be a better way. 

A Simple Purpose

Over two centuries of innovation for one simple purpose, to make sure your vote is securely counted. For all that effort, it’s clear how much your vote means to this great country.

At Davison®, we’ve fostered inventors providing the same sort of innovation to our society for decades. It’s our mission and calling to continue our inventor’s quest, helping those who have a passion for inventing. We look forward to another 30 years of creating, designing & developing the ideas of tomorrow.  

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Society does not progress in a straight line. It makes jumps, leaps, and bounds ever upward.  Society’s goal is to change for the better and, to facilitate that, big changes must be made.  It is not people in positions of power that make these changes, not the rich, nor the most influential.  It is the inventor that provides those changes that lead to the jumps in society’s progress.  Looking over the past 100 years, where would be without the microwave, the smartphone, and the computer just to name a few?  Each of these inventions changed the way people behave.  With each new invention, society adjusts. People no longer take hours in the kitchen to heat up food, and few write letters and wait for the mail to deliver them.  People can now use the time that they spent on those activities for different more productive purposes.

Consider GPS, for example.  It was invented and used solely by the U.S. military for a long time.  After an international incident involving a plane being shot down by mistake, the U.S. military released the technology for all to use.  The first handheld GPS was sold by Magellan in 1989.  Before GPS, people would give directions, often using landmarks.  People searching for locations could get lost for hours.  Now GPS is what all smartphone users have in their hands at all times, able to pinpoint any location easily and quickly.  Getting from one place to another has never been simpler.

What about the ballpoint pen?  It was patented in 1943.  The invention is now the world’s most popular writing instrument.  Millions of units are shipped daily.  Before this invention, people would struggle to write while having to dip their pen in ink as it ran dry.  The ballpoint pen was a cleaner, more efficient way to write, and one that changed society forever.

What will be the next invention that makes society jump to a higher plateau, ditching archaic behaviors and replacing them with new more efficient, and more purposeful ones?  We simply do not know what those inventions or behaviors will be.  However, we do know one thing, one constant that has remained true throughout time, the inventor will be the one that changes society and invents the future.

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But, what about the day-to-day? Do women innovators impact our lives? Well, if you use the GPS on your cell phone, turn on your windshield wipers, or have a chocolate chip cookie today, you can thank women innovators for that! But that’s not all female inventors did.

Check out a few female inventors that discover a better way ultimately impacting the world as we know it.

                                        Meet Marie Skłodowska Curie

Marie Curie was born on November 7, 1867 in Poland. Before passing on July 4, 1934 at the age of 66 due to exposure to radiation, Marie studied at Warsaw’s clandestine Flying University and began her practical scientific training in Warsaw. At the age of 24 Marie and eldest sister Bronisława Dłuska left for Paris where Marie where she earned her higher degrees and conducted her subsequent scientific work.

Marie was a two-time Nobel Prize winner. Once in 1903 and again in 1911.

Her brilliance was focused on radioactivity, a term that she coined. Her discoveries expanded medicine, physics and chemistry, resulting in the discovery of two elements, polonium and radium and the development of the mobile radiography units which was used to provide X-ray services to field hospitals during World War I.

To this day, the Curie Institutes in Paris is a leading medical research center.

                                         Meet Henrietta Leavitt

Henrietta Leavitt was born on July 4, 1868 in Lancaster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Leavitt attended Oberlin College before transferring to Harvard University’s Society for the Collegiate Instruction of Women where she studied a broad curriculum that included classical Greek, fine arts, philosophy, analytic geometry, and calculus.

Around this time in 1892 she began working at working at Harvard College Observatory. Although women were not permitted to operate telescopes in the early 1900s, Henrietta was tasked with observing the behavior of stars and reviewing data provided to her.

Leavitt eventually identified and classified over 2,400 of these stars — and discovered there was a relationship between the period and the luminosity of a particular type of variable stars, the Cepheids

This discovery changed the way astronomers considered the universe. It allowed scientists to measure the distance to remote galaxies and laid the foundation for a new understanding of the structure and scale of the universe.”

   Meet Mary Phelps Jacob

Mary Phelps Jacob was born on April 20, 1891 in New Rochelle, New York, where she went on to live a very interesting life. Mary was an innovator, a trendsetter, an American patron of the arts, a publisher, and the “literary godmother to the Lost Generation of expatriate writers in Paris.”

I the earlier years, Mary and her second husband, Harry Crosby, founded the Black Sun Press, which was instrumental in publishing some of the early works of many authors who would later become famous, among them Ernest Hemingway, Archibald MacLeish, Henry Miller, Anaïs Nin, Kay Boyle, Charles Bukowski, Hart Crane, and Robert Duncan.

On November 3, 1914, a patent was granted to Mary P. Jacob, a rebellious New York socialite, for her revolutionary new undergarment, the “backless brassiere.”

She designed it the year before in front of a mirror using two pocket handkerchiefs, ribbons and pins. Her French maid helped. It was a rejection of the brutal, old-fashioned corset — “a box-like armour of whalebone and pink cordage,” she recalled.

We Thank You
So, here’s to all the ingenious women whose inventions and methods have reshaped the world as we know it.  Their influence on the women of today and the girls of tomorrow is an enduring legacy that will outlast any particular innovation.

Click on the image below to view the full infographic we created highlighting the above innovators and a few others!

Enjoy!

The post The Original Female Influencers appeared first on Davison.

A Roman judge in Alexandria, Vitruvius, tried and found multiple poets guilty of stealing poems. The theft was revealed during a literary contest. Similar cases in first century Rome include literacy piracy. Despite the importance of these events, there is no known law from ancient Rome regarding intellectual property theft.

Earliest Patent Systems

The first real patent system wouldn’t be enacted until centuries later. The Venetian Act of 1474 streamlined the patenting process and made them easier to apply for. Until then, Europe had the concept of patents, but there were no set standards. They were issued on an individual basis upon request. The Act meant the patent had to be for something one-of-a-kind and useful. This remains the standard for patent applications around the world to this day, including in the United States.

That’s not to say that there weren’t any forms of intellectual property protection throughout Medieval times, but they were less structured than formal patents. In larger cities, guilds would be formed to protect the knowledge of certain crafts. As only guild members could learn the craft, such as glassmaking, this raised the commercial value of the products in the region. Venetian glassmakers were highly regulated, with everything from working days to ingredients monitored closely. It nearly created a monopoly in the glass industry. While featuring the same protective features of patents, these were all self-contained and had no influence from the government.

Queen Elizabeth I and Patents

Queen Elizabeth made many changes to how patents worked in England during her reign. Early on, she sent letters encouraging other countries to bring their manufacturing technology and new products to England. At first, it worked, bringing in foreigners and helping her country grow in multiple industries. As years passed, however, she used her same policies to issue patents on everything, including long-established trade and techniques. This resulted in Parliament attempting to legislate against monopolies- something Elizabeth was able to pacify them from doing.

King James Changes the Rules

With a change in ruler came a change in the power of patents. In 1624, King James I made a royal proclamation that abolished the Brehon Laws and introduced English common law instead. Once incorporated into the Statute of Monopolies 1623, it limited the power a monarch would have regarding patents. Under the new law, patents could only be given to inventors of an original creation during a certain window of time. While it caused some upset and didn’t fully end patent abuse, it is still notable for creating a fairer system.

US Patents

The history of the United States and patent law is as equally turbulen as Europe’s. The first US Patent Act only lasted three years, from 1790 to 1793. It was then quickly replaced with a new Patent Act which functioned on an examination system. This further prevented abuse by having the product examined before the patent was issued. While the modern American patent system doesn’t quite resemble that from 1790, the standard for applying for a patent is more or less the same.

A third Patent Act was passed in 1836, to combat problems created by the previous two. It marked the creation of the Patent Office. The Secretary of State was no longer responsible for issuing patents, although the task still fell within the jurisdiction of the Department of the State. The new act also required that patent information be accessible in public libraries, thus preventing repeat patents. The addition of a seven-year extension to the existing fourteen-year patent was introduced as well. Additionally, immigrants could now apply for patents in the United States. It also raised the standards for American patents.

Patent Law Criticism

Every change has its critics- especially in England, where free trade economics reigned supreme. Patent law began to be criticized in the 1850s, believing it hindered research and served little good to the general public. Adrian Johns, a modern patent historian, summarizes the main complaints from the public in his book Piracy:

“[Patents] projected an artificial idol of the single inventor, radically denigrated the role of the intellectual commons, and blocked a path to this commons for other citizens — citizens who were all, on this account, potential inventors too. […] Patentees were the equivalent of squatters on public land — or better, of uncouth market traders who planted their barrows in the middle of the highway and barred the way of the people.”

The Depression of 1890 did not help matters in America. In an already strained economy, patents seemed to be promoting monopolies. Courts attempted to invalidate patents and the government had to intervene. President Benjamin Harrison introduced the Sherman Antitrust Act, which prohibited agreements and conduct that would attempt to monopolize a market. It should be noted, however, that this was to combat artificial monopoly through restricting trade and inflating prices. “Innocent monopoly,” or a monopoly achieved on pure merit, remained legal under the new system.

Patents in the 20th Century

Before we return to worldwide patent law, a quick recap of the last century or so of American laws will bring us up to date. In 1952, a new Patent Act was issued. The amendment required the inventor to not only describe their creation but also how it could be infringed upon. It also dictated all patents should be for “non-obvious” inventions- i.e., not for the steering wheel of a car or a spring in a Slinky. As the atmosphere grew more pro-patent, Congress created the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to hear all appeals regarding patents beginning in 1982. 2011 saw the switch from “first to invent” to “first inventor to file” after the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act.

1980 saw the change to patents on a global scale, all thanks to one case. A microbiologist for General Electric, Anand Chakrabarty, filed an application to patent a bacterium he genetically engineered to break down crude oil. At the time, no one had attempted to patent a living organism. The patent was rejected, but the United States Court of Customs and Patent Appeals overturned the USPTS decision and held that the patent should be issued. The case was taken to the Supreme Court, and Chief Justice Warren Burger wrote the majority opinion that the bacteria could be patented. Craig Nard, director of the Intellectual Property Center at Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University, cites this as jumpstarting the biotech industry.

Backtracking a bit, many countries, particularly those in the British Empire like India and New Zealand, followed British patent laws until the 1850s. TUnder British rule, citizens from these nations were at a disadvantage when it came to patents. Once the countries gained their freedom, however, they swiftly abolished the old English laws and established their own systems. Many of them still closely resemble European systems and have their own share of reforms and addendums. Still, it gave them a chance to share their inventions globally without fear of theft. New Zealand was actually among the top 5 patent offices in 2006.

Present Day Patent Laws

Finally, we reach the present day. While America is still among the world’s largest patent offices, it was rapidly outpaced by China. Of the approximate 1.98 million patent applications filed in 2012, 526,412 were filed in China. The United States was in a close second with 503,582 patents filed. Thomson Reuters researchers predicted China would outpace the USA in 2005, and the prediction was brought to life. (For the record, the other three offices belong in Europe as a whole, Japan, and South Korea.)

Patents play a large part in encouraging creativity and innovation in the world. Because each patent must be unique and “non-obvious,” it encourages inventors to think outside usual limits and create something truly original. But constant change through new laws and amendments impact both inventors and consumers and require adjustment in the approach to patenting.  Patents remain a complicated piece of the already massive jigsaw puzzle that is the world of inventing and innovation.

(SIDEBAR ON CAVEATS: Patent caveats were briefly available in the United States. Like traditional patents, it described an illustration or invention but did not have the full examination into the patentable subject manner and patent claims. It was merely a notice on the intention of filing for a proper patent, expiring after one year. Provisional applications today are somewhat similar but have significant differences. Caveats could be issued between 1836 and 1909, before being abolished by the US government.)

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In addition to the constant changes seen throughout the inventing industry, having the right mindset and resources readily available throughout your inventing process is crucial.  

Although your inventing toolbox will gain and lose items throughout, here are some of the things you’ll always need:

Lots of Questions
Every step of the inventing process involves asking yourself lots of questions. Before you begin, think about why you’re doing this. Were you bothered by the lack of variations for a specific product on the market? Or, maybe you came across a poorly designed product? Or have you always wanted to be an inventor but you were just waiting for the right inspirational moment to strike?  No matter the reason, it’s important you keep this at the forefront of your mind. You may need to remind yourself of it later in your journey.

As you move forward in the process, you’ll have to start asking yourself more complicated questions. Who is my invention for? What makes my invention different from the competition? These questions can make some inventors feel like they’re slipping into an existential crisis, but don’t get overwhelmed. Take the questions one step at a time. You don’t need to have all the answers right away

The Problem and the Solution
The core function of any invention is to act as a problem-solver. You’ll need to ask yourself- what is the problem that is driving you to build this invention? How does your invention solve that problem? The problem itself could involve creating an entirely new invention or it could be adding something to improve a pre-existing invention. For example, Uber Elevate is inventing a completely new mode of travel in order to solve the problem of Uber customers facing traffic issues. Similarly, every new iteration of the iPhone improves on its predecessor in certain specific features like battery life, picture quality, facial recognition, etc. Inventors often make the mistake of thinking their invention needs to be some big, entirely new creation–that’s not true at all. Think about it, how many people bought the latest iPhone?

Your Idea Sketch(es)
When you think of your idea, you should immediately begin working on the design. And there’s no better way of doing that than by sketching. We recommend keeping a notebook solely for this purpose because your sketch will change several times throughout the course of inventing. Keep your notebook handy and date each sketch along the way. It’s also a fun way of seeing how far you’ve come by the end of the inventing process.

Don’t make the mistake of putting too much pressure on your first sketch. The first one–like any first draft–will be rough. Just focus on getting the idea down in as much detail as you can. You can work out the details later. As you go on, focus on making sure all of the pieces fit together the way that you think they will in your head. And begin to think about what materials would work best as certain parts. If on your third or fourth sketch you realize a certain part or feature won’t work, be honest with yourself about it. Don’t wait until you get into the building process to double-check because you’ll just end up wasting materials. Try to work out a solution right away.

Don’t focus on the aesthetic of your design until the end of the process. Functionality comes first. Once you have that down, then you can worry about making it look pretty.

Lots of Inspiration
Another common mistake inventors make throughout the process is spreading themselves out too much. They make their workshop their inventing space, hanging up all their various diagrams and points of research on the wall like a detective who is losing his/her mind trying to catch a criminal. Don’t let your inventing space look like a crime scene. Having all of your various steps all over the place can easily make you feel overwhelmed and disorganized. It may even make you dread going into your workshop–especially when you’re having inventor’s block.

We recommend keeping all of your materials organized and in one space, preferably a drawer that you can shut at the end of a long day. As far as decor, rather than look like a criminal catcher, we recommend making the space inspirational. That can mean something different to everyone, but some suggestions would be hanging up posters with inspirational quotes or photos of people who inspire you. Make your inventing space feel comfortable and inviting and you’ll always look forward to getting in there and working every day.

Organization
It’s never too early or late in the process to get organized. And we don’t just mean keeping your workshop in order (which is also important), but also just categorizing your invention in different ways. From beginning to end, focus not only on building your invention but also on where it’s going to go after it’s created. So, for example, what stores do you think would carry your invention? Would it fit best in a convenience store like Rite Aid or a home improvement store like Home Depot? What aisle would it be under in its prospective store–apparel? electronics? housewares?

It’s important to consider this throughout the process because, if you want your invention to be sold in stores, it’ll have to fit with the other products that they sell. Come up with a few ideas on specific stores you’d want to stock your invention and where you think it’d fit. Then take a trip to that store/aisle, look at all the different products and packaging there. This may help you with your final invention sketch/design or even give you an idea for an added feature.

Your Actual Toolbox
Lastly, you’ll need your actual toolbox, aka the materials and tools you’ll be using throughout the process. Every invention requires different tools and materials. Our biggest recommendation is to play around and see what works best for the functionality of your product. You may think a certain material would be perfect in your sketching stage, but once you begin to actually build your invention you find that it doesn’t work at all. Don’t get discouraged. Research to see what types of materials similar products are using. In addition, think about what price-point you’d want your invention to be when you’re choosing materials.

If you’re trying to create a less expensive version of a product and you build with super expensive materials, you’re doing it wrong.

Make sure your inventing toolbox is constantly stocked with these basics and it’ll be easy to look into the future with excitement and fear. Isn’t that what change should be all about?

There’s no time like the present to start stacking the resources you’ll need while on your inventing journey. First things first, though: you need to know what type of inventor you are. From there, we can help you stay motivated and organized while you continue to push your product idea forward. Learn your inventing type today!

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Apple

There is rarely a person out there in the world today who doesn’t know about this giant tech conglomerate. Everything about the brand is recognizable, from its half-eaten apple logo to the sleek designs of its products and stores. But how did Apple become more than just the name of our favorite fall fruit?

Steve Jobs has discussed how, when starting out, the company had to file a business name statement for official purposes. Several suggestions were made, finally landing on Apple Computer, with the stipulation that it would only become the company name if no one else had any better ideas before the filing deadline. Clearly, no one did and they stuck with Apple Computer.

According to Jobs, he landed on Apple Computer for a fairly simple reason, “Partially because I like Apples a lot and partially because Apple is ahead of Atari in the phonebook and I used to work at Atari.”

Sony

This tech company actually began its journey under an entirely different name. Founded in 1946, it was originally called Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K. (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation). Otherwise referred to as Totsuko. Talk about a mouthful, right? At this point, though, the company was purely established for research purposes. It wasn’t until 1947 that they launched their first product- the power megaphone.

The name change didn’t come until the 1950s. The company had decided to expand on a global scale, but the trademark TTK already belonged to another company. Interestingly enough, the name they went with (spoiler alert, they went with Sony) was an interesting blend of Latin and English slang. They combined the word ‘Sonus’ meaning sound and ‘Sonny’ meaning well-to-do young man, to end up with one of the more recognizable names in the tech world today.

Google

Did you know that this website turned household name was initially called “Backrub?” Yes, you heard us correctly, Google could’ve been called Backrub. We know what you’re probably thinking…Why? Heavens above, why? Well, according to Business Insider, this name was considered because the program analyzed the web’s “backlinks” to understand how important a website was and what other websites it related to. We would’ve guessed it was some sort of strange play on the phrase “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours,” but that’s neither here nor there.

Well… it’s certainly not here anymore. They ended up deciding (rightfully so) that the name wasn’t right so they ended up landing on Google. It was a clever misspelling of the word Googol, a word that represents 10^100 (or a 1 followed by 100 zeros). This was suggested by a graduate student from Stanford named Sean Anderson and meant to convey the enormous amount of data they planned to make available.

Samsung

Some may be surprised to know that, though Samsung is now known largely for its tech products, its beginnings weren’t in the tech industry. Samsung’s first products were actually dried fish, vegetables, noodles, and fruit. Weird, right? Though it was originally founded in 1938, it didn’t set its sights on tech until 1987 when the new CEO and son of the founder, Kun-Hee Lee, took over. This is actually one of the few tech companies that started out with its current name. According to The Next Web, the word Samsung in Korean means “three stars” and was chosen by the founders to represent the virtues of being “big, numerous, and powerful,” like stars in the sky. In fact, between the years 1938 and 1993, the Samsung logo featured different designs of the three stars.

LG

The original LG company, then called Goldstar, was founded in 1958 in the aftermath of the Korean War. It was established with a goal to build tech products. A sister company to Goldstar was established and it was called Lak-Hui (pronounced “Lucky”). Thus, the company then began referring to itself as “Lucky Goldstar”. Later, they began to use the LG initials and tagged the meaning as “Life’s Good” rather than “Lucky Goldstar.” Today, the company merely goes by its initials rather than variations thereupon.

As you can see, naming a product or company doesn’t always have to be as complicated as you think. It doesn’t always have to be some clever play on words or indicative of functionality, as long as it stands out and sounds unique enough to intrigue consumers. Though… maybe not Backrub unique.

When it comes to your invention, do you prefer choosing a practical name a la Steve Jobs or taking the more symbolic approach used by Kun-Hee Lee? Take our interactive quiz to learn more about what kind of inventor you are and what inspires your creative side.

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