Inventor
An
inventor is a person who creates new
inventions, typically technical devices such as mechanical, electrical or software devices or methods. Although some inventors may also be
scientists, most of them are
engineers in fact as they base their work on the discoveries of other scientists, experimenting with practical applications and combinations of those discoveries, and with improvements and combinations of existing devices, to create new useful devices.
Inventorship is a key determination in establishing
patent rights. The system of patents was established to encourage inventors by granting limited-term, limited
monopoly on inventions determined to be sufficiently
novel,
non-obvious, and
useful. In the U.S. the
intellectual property clause of the
Constitution permits (but does not mandate) laws to be passed establishing patent and other intellectual property rights.
The capacity to invent can be developed. See
TRIZ, the theory of inventive
problem-solving.
The word "inventor" comes form the
latin verb
invenire,
invent-, to find. [
1][
2]
The term
co-inventor usually refers to one of two or more persons who jointly develop an intellectual property such as a patented device. However, a co-inventor may simply be someone who provides ideas or product development services for another party's idea or invention. The latter may involve hiring a professional product designer or an industrial designer for a service fee. In the event that the plurality of inventors creates a property that may be patented, the United States patent law requires all parties involved in the creation to be equal owners of any patent based on the invention that may be granted. A designer providing service for an inventor must be party to a formal agreement that is drawn up prior to the commencement of work in order to establish compensation terms with the inventor. If the designer's fee is lower than normal or there is no fee charged, the designer may be entitled to a large share of income from the sale or licensing of the patent rights or the commercialization of products based on the patent or developed product. If the designer is paid a normal fee, the designer may opt to take a lesser position in profit taking.
Albert Einstein, recognized as one of the world's most creative thinkers, worked as a Patent Examiner in the Swiss Patent Office. He was co-inventor for several US Patents.
Inventors clubs provide a support infrastructure for inventors, especially useful for lone inventors who otherwise may not have anyone impartial they can freely talk to about their inventions.
There are probably thousands of such clubs around the world (see also national associations or local UK clubs on
WRTI Clubs, the web site of the
Wessex Round Table of Inventors).
*
List of inventors*
List of engineers*
List of scientists*
History of Science and Technology*
Inventor's notebook*
Inventorship*
Autodesk Inventor for the 3D modeling
CAD application*
Inventor's Day*
A collection of patents for pioneering electrical engineering technologies, including some by the inventors listed above*
Inventors Assistance League (Non-profit organization operating since 1963)
* Associations of inventors
**
European Inventor's Day (German) (
Tag der Erfinder) (
Germany)
**
Association of Hungarian Inventors (MAFE) (
Hungary)
**
The Swedish Inventors' Association (
Sweden)
**
Wessex Round Table of Inventors (
WRTI) (
United Kingdom)
**
Inventors Association of St. Louis (IASL) (
United States)
**
Young Inventors International (Non-profit organization helping inventors and innovators under the age of 35)
**
American Inventor Spot Articles and advice related to inventing and the creative process
**
East London Inventors Club (
ELIC) (
United Kingdom)
