Main Library - Business, Law and Government Services

[Patents] [Trademarks] [Copyrights] [Students/Young Inventors]

Students/Young Inventors

Kids Page (USPTO) - Fun and interesting patent and invention information for kids. Also provides links to other U.S. government websites for kids.

African-American Invention Express - African-American inventors and inventions with special emphasis on women and railroad patents. Information on Dr. George Washington Carver is also available.

African-American Inventors Database (from the Great Lakes Patent and Trademark Center - Detroit PTDL) - A searchable database of African-American inventors. Users may search by name or keyword.

Collegiate Inventors Competition - A national competition administrated by the National Inventors Hall of Fame for college students designed to encourage activity in science, engineering, mathematics, technology, and creative invention and stimulate problem-solving abilities.

The Faces of Science - Profiled here are African American men and women who have contributed to the advancement of science and engineering.

Greatest Inventions - The Evolution of Man through History - This site covers a number of popular inventions through history from the 15th to the 20th century. Inventions include a variety of items - from aspirin, blue jeans and the electric battery, to Legos, the refrigerator and the zipper. Users can cearch by timeline, inventor or invention.

The Invention Dimension (The Lemelson-MIT Awards Program) - Several awards programs all designed "to inspire a new generation of American scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs by celebrating, through awards and educational activities, living role models in these fields."

Inventure Place, National Inventors Hall of Fame - National Inventors Hall of Fame: programs and activities, searching for information on the inventors in the hall of fame, and information on Camp Invention.

Patently Absurd! Weird & Wacky Patents - Provides an assortment of weird inventions, including international patents.

Thomas A. Edison Papers - Information about the life of Thomas Edison, his patents, companies, etc.

Totally Absurd Inventions - An entertaining site for "absurd" patents. Provides a different view of actual patents, including an "Absurd of the Week".

U.S. Trademark History Timeline - A website from the Houston PTDL giving an historical look at trademarks in U.S. history. The timeline also includes a look at the use of identifying marks from prehistoric times to the modern age.

Wacky Patent of the Month - Another entertaining site "devoted to recognizing selected inventors and their remarkable and unconventional patented inventions."

Weird and Wonderful Patents - Yet another site featuring interesting patents in a variety of fields.

Please send your questions and comments about these sites and suggestions for other sites to refdesk5@browardlibrary.org.