Professor Demchick's Blackboard

Dr. Demchick has been a college and university faculty member for many years. On these Blackboard Pages he does a little teaching. These pages are intended as general, introductory information. Compromises were made between including details in these pages and keeping the pages readable for a general audience. These pages are not intended as legal or other professional advice.

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WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE PATENT MODELS?

I grew up believing that patent applicants needed to submit models of their invention to the patent office. Some children grow up with misinformation about how babies get made or how toys get under Christmas trees. So I guess I was no worse off than most.

During approximately the first century of the United States patent system, applicants did need to submit working models. However, that has not been true for over a century now. The model requirement is not really needed, because the patent application is required to contain all the information needed to understand the invention without resorting to the model.

In truly rare circumstances, the patent office asks for a physical exhibit. For example, if I claimed to have a device that produces huge amount of energy fueled only by normal water and air, they might ask me to show them.

Removing the model requirement eliminated a major burden on the inventor. It also eliminated a major burden on the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The handling and storage of all of those models was no minor problem.

Information about the old models (many of which still exist) is available at the website of the Rothschild Petersen Patent Model Museum.

It makes sense that the models are no longer required. Still…they were quite cool.