Below is a list of Edison patents. Thomas Edison was an inventor who accumulated 2,332Edison's Foreign Patents (add 3,500 U.S. total patents) patents worldwide for his inventions. 1,093 of Edison's patents were in the United States, but other patents were approved in countries around the globe.
Introduction Edison is credited for contributing to various inventions, including the phonograph, the kinetoscope, the dictaphone, the electric lamp (in particular the incandescent light bulb), and the autographic printer. He also greatly improved the telephone by inventing the carbon microphone. Most of these inventions were not completely original but improvements of earlier inventions. However, one of Edison's major innovations was the first industrial research and development lab, which was built in Menlo Park and West Orange.
Throughout the 20th century, Edison was the world's most prolific inventor. At the beginning of the century, he held 736 U.S. patents. His final count was 1,093 U.S. patents, including 1084 utility patents (patents for inventions) and 9 artistic design patents. It was not until June 17, 2003, that he was passed by Japanese inventor Shunpei Yamazaki.Shunpei Yamazaki's 1085th U.S. Utility Patent Yamazaki was subsequently passed by Australian inventor Kia Silverbrook on February 26, 2008.The patent where Silverbrook passes Yamazaki
American patents
First hundred patents
The first hundred patents mainly deal with the telegraph system. John Kruesi was the shop manager beginning in 1872. Kruesi built models, instruments, and apparatus for Edison's work. John Ott worked with Edison throughout his career. Ott was Edison's main model and instrument maker. Charles Batchelor was a superintendent for Edison toward the end of this series of patents.
patent number – name of patent (external links to patent images in TIFF format)
– Electrographic Vote-Recorder : Edison's first patent. Permitted a "yes" or "no" vote via one of two switches. Washington congressmen were not interested in the device and the invention was unsuccessful. (1869) – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraph Apparatus – Automatic Electrical for Telegraph Apparatus – Printing-Telegraph Apparatus – Electro-Motor Escapements – Printing-Telegraph Instruments – Governors for Electro-Motors – Printing-Telegraph Apparatus – Printing-Telegraph Apparatus – Telegraphic Transmitting Instruments – Relay Magnets – Electro-Magnets for Telegraph Instruments – Machinery for Perforating Paper for Telegraph Purposes – Telegraph Apparatus (1872) – Printing-Telegraphs – Telegraph Apparatus – Telegraphic Recording Instruments – Type-Wheels for Printing-Telegraphs – Type-Wheels for Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraph Instruments – Electro-Magnets – Rheotomes or Circuit-Directors – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraph Instruments – Printing-Telegraph Instruments – Transmitters and Circuits for Printing-Telegraphs – Unison-Stops for Printing-Telegraphs – Paper for Chemical Telegraphs etc. – Apparatus for Perforating Paper for Telegraphic Use – Electrical Printing-Machines – Type-Writing Machines – Printing-Telegraph Instruments (1873) – Automatic Telegraph Instruments – Electro-Magnetic Adjusters – Circuits for Chemical Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Printing-Telegraphs – Circuits for Printing-Telegraphs – Circuits for Automatic or Chemical Telegraphs – Circuits for Automatic Telegraphs – Chemical Telegraphs – Perforators for Automatic Telegraphs – Circuits for Automatic Telegraphs – Relay-Magnets – Electrical Regulators for Transmitting-Instruments – Galvanic Batteries – Telegraph-Signal Boxes – Electric Telegraphs – Perforators for Automatic Telegraphy – Chemical Telegraphs – Circuits for Chemical Telegraphs – Duplex Telegraphs – Telegraph-Relays – Receiving Instruments for Chemical Telegraphs – Chemical or Automatic Telegraphs – Automatic Telegraphy and Perforators Therefor – District Telegraph Signal-Boxes – Duplex Chemical Telegraphs – Telegraph Apparatus – Solutions for Chemical Telegraph-Paper – Solutions for Chemical Telegraph-Paper – Solutions for Chemical Telegraph-Paper – Adjustable Electro-Magnets for Relays, etc. – Solutions for Chemical Telegraph-Paper – Duplex Telegraphs – Chemical Telegraphy – Chemical Telegraphy – Chemical Telegraphy – Printing-Telegraphs – Transmitters and Receivers for Automatic Telegraphs – Automatic Telegraphs – Duplex Telegraphs – Solutions for Chemical Telegraphs – Solutions for Chemical Telegraphs – Recording-Points for Chemical Telegraphs – Electric-Signalling Instruments – Telegraph Apparatus – Automatic Roman-Character Telegraphs – Automatic Telegraphy
Second hundred (101 to 200) In the second hundred patents, Edison continues his work with the telegraph. He also starts to patent electrical distribution and the light.
– Duplex Telegraphs (1876) – Duplex Telegraphs – Duplex Telegraphs – Autographic Printing – Duplex Telegraphs – Acoustic Telegraph – Electro-Harmonic Multiplex Telegraphs – Acoustic Electric Telegraphs – Telegraphic Alarm and Signal Apparatus – Automatic Telegraphs – Automatic Telegraphs – Stencil-Pens – Telephonic Telegraphs – Telephonic Telegraphs – Telephonic or Electro-Harmonic Telegraphs – Synchronous Movements for Electric Telegraphs – Phonograph or Speaking Machines : The first phonograph, a device for recording and replaying sound. Edison demonstrated the device for the first time on November 29, 1878. The device recorded on a phonograph cylinder using up-down (vertical) motion of the stylus. Edison's patent specified that the audio recording was embossed. – Acoustic Telegraphs – Automatic-Telegraph Perforator and Transmitter – Speaking-Machines – Speaking-Telegraphs – Speaking-Telegraphs – Speaking-Telegraphs – Speaking-Telephones – Telephone Call-Signal – Telephones or Speaking-Telegraphs – Circuits for Acoustic or Telephonic Telegraphs – Perforating Pens – Pneumatic Stencil-Pens – Duplex Telegraphs – Duplex Telegraphs – Speaking-Telephones – Quadruplex-Telegraph Repeaters – Vocal Engines (better known as the Phonomotor) – Automatic Telegraphs – Electric Lights – Thermal Regulators for Electric Lights – Sextuplex Telegraphs – Duplex Telegraphs – Magneto-Electric Machines – Apparatus for Electric Lights – Electric Lighting Apparatus – Dynamo-Electric Machine – Electric Lights – Telephones – Carbon-Telephones – Magneto-Electric Machines : Edison main dynamo. The device's nickname was the "long-legged Mary-Ann". This device has large bipolar magnets and is highly inefficient. – Electric Lamp : Edison's incandescent light bulb invention. The original spiral carbon-filament is shown and repeatedly referred to. First practical commercially viable electric lamp. This device replaced the flame lamp, gas lamp, kerosene-oil lamp, and wax candle. – Electric-Lighting Apparatus – Autographic Stencils for Printing – Safety-Conductor for Electric Lights – Electric Light – Electric Light – Electric Light – Phonograph – Magnetic Ore-Separator – Brake for Electro-Magnetic Motors – Method of Manufacturing Electric Lamps – Addressing-Machine – Electro-Chemical Receiving-Telephone – Acoustic Telegraph – Electric Light – Magneto Signal Apparatus – Manufacture of Carbons for Incandescent Electric Lamps – System of Electric Lighting – Treating Carbons for Electric Lamps – Incandescing Electric Lamp – Electric Lamp – Method of Forming Enlarged Ends on Carbon Filaments – System of Electric Lighting – Electric Lamp – Relay for Telegraphs – Testing Electric-Light Carbons – Electric Lamp – Regulating the Generation of Electric Currents – Electric Lamp – Webermeter – Incandescent Electric Lamp – Incandescent Electric Lamp – Magneto or Dynamo Electric Machine – Electric Lighting – Manufacturing Carbons for Electric Lamps – Electric Meter – Manufacture of Carbons for Electric Lamps – Manufacturing Carbons for Electric Lights – Electric Lamp – Electric Lamp – Fixture and Attachment for Electric Lamps – Current-Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – System of Electric Lighting – Carbonizer – Fitting and Fixture for Electric Lamps – Apparatus for Producing High Vacuums – Apparatus for Treating Carbons for Electric Lamps – Apparatus for Treating Carbons for Electric Lamps – Manufacture of Incandescent Electric Lamps – Electric Motor – Electro-Magnetic Brake – Preserving Fruit – Magnetic Separator
201 to 300
The next series of patents Edison received was mainly for the electrical distribution of power and the electric light. In 1883, Edward H. Johnson, a business associate of Edison, persuaded Frank J. Sprague to work for Edison. One of Sprague's significant contributions to the Edison Laboratory was the introduction of mathematical methods.
– Vacuum Apparatus (1881) – Governor for Electric Engines – Utilizing Electricity as a Motive Power – Depositing Cell for Plating the Connections of Electric Lamps, & c. – Apparatus for Treating Carbons for Electric Lamps – Webermeter – Vacuum-Pump – Dynamo-Electric Machine – Electric Light – Electric Lamp – Carbon for Electric Lamps – Electro-Magnetic Motor – System of Electric Lighting – Electric Lamp – Manufacture of Electric Lamps – Electric Meter – Electric Lamp – Electrical Governor – Incandescent Electric Lamp – Electric Lamp and the Manufacture Thereof – Magneto or Dynamo Electric Machine – System of Electric Lighting – Underground Conductors – Electric Chandelier – Electric Lamp and Socket or Holder – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – Regulator for Magneto or Dynamo Electric Machines – Webermeter – Webermeter – Electrical Drop-Light – Telephone – Telephone – Magnetic Ore-Separator – Electro-Magnetic Railway – Dynamo or Magneto Electric Machine – Regulator for Dynamo or Magneto Electric Machines – Electric Lamp – Regulator for Dynamo or Magneto Electric Machines – Electric Chandelier – Electric-Arc Light – Manufacture of Carbons for Electric Lamps – Dynamo-Electric Machine – Straightening Carbons of Electric Incandescent Lamps – Electrical Distribution System – Magneto or Dynamo Electric Machine – Mold for Carbonizing Incandescents – Process of Making Incandescents – Dynamo Magneto Electric Machine – Vacuum Apparatus – Dynamo or Magneto Electric Machine – Commutator for Dynamo or Magneto Electric Machines – Magneto or Dynamo Electric Machine – Electric Lamp – Electric Distribution and Translation System – Magneto-Electric Machine – System of Conductors for the Distribution of Electricity – Dynamo or Magneto Electric Machine – Dynamo or Magneto Electric Machine – Dynamo or Magneto Electric Machine – Dynamo or Magneto Electric Machine – Manufacture of Incandescing Electric Lamps – Incandescent Electric Lamp – Incandescent Electric Lamp – Incandescent Electric Lamp – Incandescent Electric Lamp – Incandescing Electric Lamp – Incandescent Electric Lamp – Incandescent Electric Lamp – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines – Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines