![pjimage (8)](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2016/05/pjimage-8-640x237.jpg)
The first Patent Act of the U.S. Congress was passed on April 10th, 1790, titled “An Act to promote the progress of useful Arts” Drawings of inventions have been required from applicants for U.S. patents since the first U.S. patent statute was enacted.
Below, you can see some patent drawings that we still use and some patent drawings, that… well… we don’t
A Hat To Prevent Drowning
![A Hat To Prevent Drowing. Taken on October 14, 1840](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/A-Hat-To-Prevent-Drowing.-Taken-on-October-14-1840-929x1024.jpg)
Aquatic Toy
![Patent drawing by A.W. Hart. 06 december, 1870](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Aquatic-Toy-06-december-1870-691x1024.jpg)
Artificial Arm
![Patent by John Condell, Taken on July 11, 1865](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Artifical-Arm.-Taken-on-July-11-1865.jpg)
Edison’s Kinetoscope
![T.A. Edison's "Kinetoscope" Patent drawing](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Drawing-for-a-Kinetographic-Camera-08.31.1897-720x1024.jpg)
![Taken on November 11, 1837](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Drawing-of-a-life-Boat.-Taken-on-November-11-1837-1024x821.jpg)
Patents were systematically granted in Venice as of 1450, where they issued a decree by which new and inventive devices had to be communicated to the Republic in order to obtain legal protection against potential infringers. The period of protection was 10 years. These were mostly in the field of glass making. As Venetians emigrated, they sought similar patent protection in their new homes. This led to the diffusion of patent systems to other countries.
Creeping Baby Doll
![Creeping Baby Doll Patent Drawing by R.J. Clay March 14, 1871](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Drawing-of-Creeping-Baby-Doll.-Taken-on-March-14-1871-689x1024.jpg)
Drawing of Diving Dress
![Drawing of Diving Dress, 12 24 1810, U.S National Archives](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Drawing-of-Diving-Dress-12-24-1810-U.S-National-Archives-1024x844.jpg)
Drawing of Fan Moved by Mechanism
![Drawing of Fan Moved by Mechanism, 11 27 1830](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Drawing-of-Fan-Moved-by-Mechanism-11-27-1830-1024x837.jpg)
Improvement in Hoop Skirts
![Improvement in Hoop Skirts by T.B. De Forest](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Drawing-of-Improvements-in-Hoop-Skirts.jpg)
Patent Drawing by T.B. De Forest.
Elisha Otis’s Elevator Patent Drawing,
![Landscape](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Elisha-Otiss-Elevator-Patent-Drawing-01-15-1861-1024x692.jpg)
Battery Gun
![Battery Gun patent drawing by R.J. Gatling Taken on May 9, 1865](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Gattling-Gun.-Taken-on-May-9-1865-793x1024.jpg)
Flying machine
![Flying machine patent drawing by W.F. Quinby 10/5/1869](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Patent-Drawing-for-a-Flying-Machine-10.-05.1869-1024x687.jpg)
Patent drawing by W.F. Quinby 10/5/1869
Drawing of Rocking Chair and Fan
![05231_2003_003.tif](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Rocking-Chair-and-a-Fan.-Taken-on-August-7-1847-1024x667.jpg)
Drawing of Submarine Telescope,
![Utility Patent Number 43,465 Patent # 43465 Submarine Telescope Sarah P. Mather Record Group 241 Records of the Patent and Trademark Office ReDiscovery # 16648 16648_2008_001](https://www.thevintagenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/65/2015/11/Submarine-Telescope.Taken-on-July-5-1864.jpg)
The English patent system evolved from its early medieval origins into the first modern patent system that recognised intellectual property in order to stimulate invention; this was the crucial legal foundation upon which the Industrial Revolution could emerge and flourish. By the 16th century, the English Crown would habitually abuse the granting of letters patent for monopolies.
The modern French patent system was created during the Revolution in 1791. Patents were granted without examination since inventor’s right was considered as a natural one. Patent costs were very high (from 500 to 1,500 francs). Importation patents protected new devices coming from foreign countries. The patent law was revised in 1844 – patent costs were lowered and importation patents were abolished.
All photos: U.S National Archives