Patents In Wyoming
Patents in Wyoming2004 REPORT1
The Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that fosters innovation, leadership and a lifetime of learning, supports this directory.The Wyoming State Library is ADA conscientious.2PATENT AND TRADEMARK DEPOSITORY LIBRARYUNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
contentsTable of ContentsIntroduction .7Historic Wyoming Patents .8Assignment .16Subject of Wyoming Inventions .19Inventors .21U.S. Patents Issued to Foreign CitizensLiving in Wyoming .293
ImagesCover:Page 7:Page 16:Page 20:Page 21:Page 23:Page 24:Page 25:Page 26:44Riding Spur with Retaining Lip, Patent No. 6,192,663, Jerry Gatlin of Jackson, WY and Trigg Marquiss of Gillette, WY, February 27, 2001.Saddle, Patent No. 1,069,822, Herman A. Sievert, Fort D.A. Russell, WY, August 12, 1913.Miner’s Lamp, Patent No. 894,587, Alfred Brile, Encampment, WY, July 28, 1908.Automatic Pistol, Patent No. 1,518,602, John Pedersen, Jackson, WY, December 9, 1924.Trackage for Ceiling Type of Doors with Door-Openers, Patent No. 1,378,123, Elmer Lovejoy, Laramie, WY, May 17, 1921.Cartridge Belt, Patent No. 67,898, Anson Mills, Fort Bridger, Utah Territory, August 20, 1867.Car Brake, Patent No. 81,414, S.W.Y. Schimonsky, Cheyenne, Dakota Territory, August 25, 1868.Friction Wrench, Patent No. 440,473, James N. Farlow, Lander, WY, November 11, 1890.Design for a Bit, Patent No. D49,949, William F. Cody, Cody, WY, November 28, 1916.
introductionIntroductionWYOMING INVENTORS DATABASEhttp://cowgirl.state.wy.us/inventors/The Wyoming Inventors Database (WID) indexes all United States patents issuedto inventors within the present-day boundaries of Wyoming. The WID was createdby the Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL) located at the WyomingState Library.All surviving U.S. patents are available as a scanned image on the U.S. Patentand Trademark Office website (http://www.uspto.gov) or at a PTDL. Unfortunately,thepre -1976 U.S. patents are only searchable by patent number or classificationnumber. Retrieving pre -1976 patents without these numbers can require adifficult print search. This is one reason why the Wyoming PTDL created adatabase of patents issued to Wyomingites.The data in this report were compiled from the Wyoming Inventors Database as of 12/31/2003.5
historicHistoricWyomingPatentsThe oldest Wyoming patent was issued to Anson Mills, a Captain of the Eighteenth Infantryand Brevet Lt. Colonel of the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Bridger, Utah Territory, now locatedin Uinta County, Wyoming. Patent number 67,898 for an “Improvement in Cartridge-Belts” wasissued on August 20, 1867.The second oldest Wyoming patent is patent number 81,414. S.W.Y. Schimonsky of Cheyenne,Dakota Territory, patented an Improved Car-Brake on August 25, 1868.The first patent issued to a resident of the Territory of Wyoming was patent number 101,711.George C. Choate of Wyoming Station, Albany County, in the Territory of Wyoming, patented anImprovement in Shovel-Handles on April 12, 1870.The first patent issued to a resident of the State of Wyoming was patent number 440,473.James N. Farlow of Lander, Wyoming, patented a new and improved Friction-Wrench onNovember 11, 1890.The first Wyoming woman to receive a patent was Myrtle M. Wallin of Rock Springs. Shereceived patent number 664,597 for a Work-Holder on December 25, 1900.William F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody received patent number D49,949 on November 28, 1916. Thisdesign patent for a Bit was discovered while creating the Wyoming Inventors Database.Total Patents 4259Total Wyoming Cities with Patents 285Total Wyoming Inventors 32646
CitiesTop 10 Wyoming Cities, 1867-2003:1. Casper2. Cheyenne3. Laramie4. Sheridan5. Jackson6. Riverton7. Cody8. Rock Springs9. Green River10. Gillette625 inventors553 inventors474 inventors271 inventors213 inventors212 inventors149 inventors144 inventors141 inventors111 inventors[ 511 total patents ][ 522 total patents ][ 382 total patents ][ 243 total patents ][ 187 total patents ][ 174 total patents ][ 132 total patents ][ 124 total patents ][ 105 total patents ][ 96 total patents ]Top Wyoming Cities by LaramieEvanstonRock CreekFort LaramieComo Station1880-1889LaramieEvanstonCheyenneFort D. A. RussellFort LaramieLanderPine insSheridanRock 29433820191694503837247
CasperCheyenneRock asperLaramieJacksonSheridanRock CheyenneGreen RiverLaramieCodySheridanRivertonWorlandRock LaramieGreen RiverCodyRock nderGreen ksonGilletteGreen RiverRivertonCodyRock 61060605647232119181312121948349484436353130
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assignmentPatentAssignment14The assignee is the organization or person to whom the inventor transferred thelegal rights to the patent. The assignee is generally - but not always - the inventor’semployer.Patents issued without an assignee are considered the work of an independentinventor. The percentage of patents issued without the support of a businessor organization has decreased over time as inventions become more complex.However, Wyoming continues to be a state where a significant portion of the patentsare still issued to independent inventors. This can be an indicator of the businessclimate in Wyoming, including a lack of industrial or technology-based businesses, ora reflection of the independence of its citizens.
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Top 10 States by Percentage of Individually Owned Patents, 1997-2001:1. Alaska2. Hawaii3. Puerto Rico4. Nevada5. Wyoming6. Montana7. North Dakota8. Louisiana9. South Dakota10. District of .7%45.5%Thirty-one states have a quarter or less of their patents issued without an assignee.Top 10 Assignees for Wyoming Patents, 1867 – 2003:1.Standard Oil Company2.General Electric Company3.Brunton Company3.FMC Corporation5.University of Wyoming6.Marathon Oil Company6.Atlantic Richfield Company8.Foresight Industries9.Western Research Institute10.Woodworker’s Supply Inc.16Number of Patents49362726231515141312
inventionsSubject ofWyomingInventionsU.S. patents are classified according to the U.S. Patent Classification System (USPC).Invention subjects, or technologies, are in large classes which are further subdivided intosubclasses. There are more than 450 classes with more than 150,000 subclasses in theUSPC.Each class/subclass number has a title and definition of the inventions that fall within thatcategory. A patent can have numerous classifications but only one Main Classification.Classification numbers are the only recommended patent subject search method due to thevagueness and uncontrolled vocabulary of patents.17
Rank of the Main Classification on Wyoming Patents, 1975 – 2003Rank123456789101112131415161718192018Main 206137175Number of Patentswith that Class4136353425242322222122201919191818181717Class TitleLand VehiclesWellsChemistry of Inorganic CompoundsTypewriting MachinesMeasuring and TestingJewelry, Symbolic Insignia, and Ornaments (design)Fuel and Related CompositionsGames, Toys, and Sports Goods (design)Static Structures (e.g., buildings)FirearmsChemistry: Molecular Biology and MicrobiologyFishing, Trapping, and Vermin DestroyingCosmetic Products and Toilet Articles (design)SupportsGames using Tangible ProjectileOptics: Measuring and TestingGeometrical InstrumentsSpecial Receptacle or PackageFluid HandlingBoring or Penetrating the Earth
inventorsWyomingInventorsPatents with the Highest Numbers of Inventors, 5843144D424708D435303Number of Inventors10101099888Top 6 Wyoming Inventors:John D. Pedersen – JacksonRobert F. Deike – CheyenneFrank D. Werner – JacksonJohn Frederick Ackerman – CheyenneChang Yul Cha – LaramieJoan D. Sheridan – CheyenneYear1998199920032001200219982000200068 patents32 patents26 patents24 patents20 patents20 patents19
Brief Inventor ProfilesJohn D. PedersenJackson, 69 patentsGunmaker John D. Pedersen of Jackson, Wyoming is the most prolific inventor in the Wyoming Inventors Database. Between1909 and 1944, he received 68 patents under the name John D. Pedersen and an additional patent under the name JohnDouglas Pedersen.A Danish immigrant who worked for RemingtonArms, Pedersen patents played a part inRemington’s Model 51 semiautomatic pistol, Model12 Slide Action Rifle, Model 14, Model 14 ½, Model25, Model 141, and Model 17.These 69 are not the only patents Pedersenreceived. He also received patents while livingoutside Wyoming. His most famous invention,however, was not patented. The “Pedersen Device”was a top-secret device intended for use in WorldWar I but was completed after the war ended. Thethousands of Pedersen Devices created but not used were destroyedafter the war making any existing devices valuable collectors’ items.Hatch, Alden. Remington Arms in American History. Rinehart & Co., New York, 1956.Madaus, Howard and Simeon Stoddard, comp. The Guns of Remington: Historic Firearms Spanning Two Centuries.Dayton, KY, Biplane, 1997.Walter, John. The Greenhill Dictionary of Guns and Gunmakers. Greenhill Books, London, 2001.20
Elmer LovejoyLaramie, 3 patentsElmer Lovejoy of Laramie, Wyoming (1872-1960)was a bicycling enthusiast who established abicycle repair shop and founded the LaramieBicycle Club. His business expanded to becomeLovejoy Novelty Works which later becamean auto repair shop. Lovejoy designed andbuilt Wyoming’s first automobile in 1895. Histhree patents relate to automatic door openers.Unfortunately, Lovejoy was unable to pay thefees to patent his “steering knuckle.” He sold therights to his invention for much less then it waslater worth.American Heritage Center. “Elmer Lovejoy: LaramieInventor,” Heritage Highlights, Summer 2002, p.2. mer Lovejoy Collection, Papers 1891-1945, Acc. #176,American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming,Laramie.21
Randolph LewisLaramie, 6 patentsRandy Lewis, a professor of molecular biology at the University of Wyoming, has been researching spider silk proteins.Respider silk are wide-ranging and include the military (e.g. flexible, lightweight bulletproof armor), medicine (artificial tendons),and engineering (suspension bridge cables).Dr. Lewis’ patents relate to the organization and identificationof spider silk proteins and how they can be reproducedsynthetically.“Charlotte’s Patent,” Scientific American, April 2002, p. 138, 140.“Soft as Silk, Strong as Steel,” The Economist Technology Quarterly, March16, 2002, p.10.“Researchers Study Silk-Producing Ability of Spiders to Mimic Process,Produce New Synthetic Materials,” Chronicle of Higher Education,September 25, 1991, p. A8-9, A13.22
Anson MillsFort Bridger, Utah Territory 1 patentAnson Mills, a Captain of the Eighteenth Infantry and Brevet Lt. Colonel of the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Bridger, UtahTerritory received the oldest patent in the Wyoming Inventors Database. Fort Bridger is currently located in Uinta County,Wyoming. Patent number 67,898 for an Improvement in Cartridge-Belts was issued on August 20, 1867.Anson Mills was born August 31, 1834 in Thorntown, Indiana. He attended West Point Military Academy from 1855-1857but resigned due to poor math grades. Too ashamedto go home, he traveled to Texas. He was appointeddistrict surveyor of El Paso and Presidio Counties whichincluded planning the City of El Paso. After beingone of only two people in El Paso who voted againstsecession, he left Texas to join the Union Army in 1861.During more than 35 years of army service he wasposted to 26 different stations, predominately inthe West. At the time he received patent number67,898 he was commanding Fort Bridger. Continuedimprovements to his cartridge belt would makehim wealthy. He retired from the Army a BrigadierGeneral, served on the International BoundaryCommission, advocated women’s suffrage andprohibition. He died in Nov. 5, 1924 and was buriedwith honors in Arlington National Cemetery.Mills, Anson. My Story. 2nd ed. Washington, The Author,1921.23
S. W. Y. SchimonskyCheyenne, Dakota Territory1 patentThe second oldest Wyoming patent was patent number 81,414. S. W. Y. Schimonsky of Cheyenne, Dakota Territory,patented an improved railway car-brake on August 25, 1868.Stanislas (Von) Schimonsky emigrated to the United States in 1848 after graduating from the Polytechnique School inBerlin and serving in the engineering corps of the Prussian Army. He was a surveyor in Nebraska as well as an artist whomade sketches and paintings of early Nebraska. He received his patent while working as an assistant engineer on theTranscontinental Railroad.He worked for 3 years on the Missouri River, Fort Scott, andGulf Railroad and the Leavenworth, Lawrence, and GalvestonRailroad. From 1872-4, Schimonsky was a Professor ofEngineering, Industrial Drawing, and German at the Universityof Kansas. Later as Sarpy County, Nebraska Surveyor hecontinued his artistic interests by sketching drawings on thesurveying maps.United States. Works Progress Administration. Federal Writers’ Project.Nebraska: A Guide to the Cornhusker State. New York, Viking Press, 1939.“Nebraska Census, 1856, Douglas County” in The Nebraska and MidwestGenealogical Record, v. XVII, no. 3-4, July-October 1939. Lincoln, NE:Nebraska Historical Library.“The State University” in Kansas Daily Tribune (Lawrence), October 2, 1872,unnumbered last page.Hyder, Clyde Kenneth. Snow of Kansas: The Life of Francis HuntingtonSnow with Extracts from his Journals and Letters. Lawrence, KS: Universityof Kansas, 1953.Maloney, James O., ed. A History of the School of Engineering at theUniversity of Kansas, 1868-1988. Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas,1989.24
James Nelson FarlowLander, 4 patentsThe first patent issued to a resident of the State of Wyoming was patent number440,473. James N. Farlow of Lander, Wyoming, patented a new and improvedFriction-Wrench on November 11, 1890.James Farlow was part of a well-known family in Fremont County. James and hisbrother Edward were born in Adel, Iowa. Edward traveled to Wyoming Territorywith a friend in 1878. Two years later, while visiting his family, Edward returned toWyoming Territory with his brother James.The brothers would later become successful businessmen who served in a numberof political offices. James served on the Lander city council, the school board,and as a Wyoming State Representative. Edward was a justice of the peace,school board member, mayor of Lander, and Wyoming State Representative. Oneof Edward’s sons was Albert “Stub” Farlow, the famed Wyoming cowboy who“inspired” the Wyoming Bucking Horse and Rider trademark.James, who manufactured saddlery, held two patents related to harnesses andhames.“James N. Farlow” in Progressive Men of Wyoming. Chicago: Bowen, 1903.“Edward J. Farlow” in Progressive Men of Wyoming. Chicago: Bowen, 1903.Memoirs of E.J. Farlow, Film H-78, Wyoming State Archives, Cheyenne.25
William F. CodyCody, 1 patentWilliam F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody received patent number D49,949 on November 28, 1916. This design patent for a Bit wasdiscovered while creating the Wyoming Inventors Database.Buffalo Bill Cody was known worldwide for many activities – Army scout, hunter, guide, Wild West showman – but not asan inventor. That changed recently when patentnumber D49,949 was discovered by the WyomingPatent and Trademark Depository Library.In 1913 after accruing massive debts, Buffalo Billwas forced to sell the Wild West Show at auction inDenver. After fulfilling a two-year travel obligationto the purchaser of the Wild West Show, Buffalo Billwas desperate for money and searching for a way torestart his own show.Soon after the bit was patented, he assigned the patent to the North& Judd Manufacturing Company. Unfortunately, Buffalo Bill Cody died on January 10,1917, before he was able to establish a new show.The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody owns 2 examples of this decorative horse bitmodeled after a revolver.Parts reprinted from “PTDL discovers patent owned by Buffalo Bill” in The Outrider: a publication of the Wyoming State Library, vol. 35, no. 2, February2003.26
U.S. Patents Issued to Foreign Citizens Living in Wyoming123456789101112131415161718192021Patent atent TitleRotary Index and acking DeviceSeeding-MachineFalse Bottom for Washtubs and the LikeFly-Swatter Mechanism For Screen-DoorsLawn-Mower SharpenerCamp KitConveyer AttachmentArticle-CarrierCombined Sliding and Swinging Car-DoorClamp Rail-JointCar-Door OperatorFish-HookProcess Of Making Rice Breakfast FoodFountain-PenSled Attachment for AutombilesCar-DoorSmoker’s PipeDate IssuedMay 26, 1891September 12, 1911October 3, 1911October 31, 1911September 17, 1912November 26, 1912November 10, 1914February 16, 1915February 23, 1915July 6, 1915February 22, 1916April 4, 1916April 11, 1916August 15, 1916November 14, 1916March 12, 1918May 14, 1918May 21, 1918May 28, 1918September 3, 1918September 24, 17March 2, 1920August 10, 1920August 31, 1920December 28, 1920February 1, 1921February 8, 1921March 22, 1921May 31, 1921June 7, 1921October 25, 1921January 3, 47215111331525349Roller-SkateNeedle-HolderSalt and Pepper ShakerDesign for a BasketReciprocating SawPlowWreck-Indicating BuoyCoat-Collar FastenerElectric-Switch LockAeroplaneLid Holder and Hand ShieldFor Coffeepots and the LikeLunch PailTypewriter-Carriage-Return MechanismAttachment For Miners’ LampsMotor SleighCover-Lifting DeviceSpring WheelMousetrap40411575171D83640PlowDesign for an Automobile TireMarch 2, 1926March 10, 1931October 31, 1922February 13, 1923June 19, 1923July 24, 1923August 19, 1924October 7, 1924February 3, 1925InventorBenjamin StauntonEdward ConiaSteven TiceJozsef KubinyiMike GolekSoren SorensenRudolph F. KloppThure E. EricsonKarl E. StahlJoseph LajcakAnton WinskiJoseph FallisJoseph WolnyMasaichi TanimineJoseph WolnyArthur D. GilbertHazime FukudaTagiro TanimuraMieli Rohkea JarttiCesidio SeroCarmine A. Sarlo,William F. MoenkeJoseph WisniewskiJohn StankoRagnar AndersonKamekichi MasudaElias S. HomstadMike ZavorPaul BichekGuido F. SchloteGuido F. SchloteNick G. PappasShichigoro KunoCityDouglasMeeteetseRock nneGunnKooiRock SpringsCarneyvilleGrangerCarneyvilleLost CabinArmintoRock SpringsGlencoeCarneyvilleSunrise,SunriseNew AcmeKooiSheridanRock nshipSubject of the Queen of Great BritainCitizen of the Republic of FranceSubject of the King of HungarySubject of the King of HungarySubject of the Emperor of Austria-HungarySubject of the King of DenmarkSubject of the German EmpireSubject of the Kingdom of SwedenCitizen of SwedenSubject of the Emperor of Austria-HungarySubject of the Emperor of RussiaSubject of the King of HungarySubject of the Emperor of Austria-HungarySubject of the Emperor of JapanSubject of the Emperor of Austria-HungarySubject of the King of Great BritainSubject of the Emperor of JapanCitizen of JapanSubject of the Czar of RussiaSubject of the King of ItalySubject of the King of Italy,Citizen of the United StatesCitizen of PolandCitizen of PolandCitizen of SwedenCitizen of JapanCitizen of NorwayCitizen of PolandCitizen of Jugo-SlaviaCitizen of GermanyCitizen of GermanyCitizen of GreeceSubject of the Emperor of JapanAnthony RaichFred N. KawamuraGoichi DateJohn KrysiakShichigoro KunoThorvald H. MathesonBunzo Watanabe,Naotaro YamasakiGeorge S. KohutBunnosuke OmotoKemmererLanderSubletFour CornersSubletCasperFrontier,FrontierKooiGreen RiverCitizen of Jugo-SlaviaSubject of the Emperor of JapanCitizen of JapanCitizen of PolandSubject of the Emperor of JapanCitizen of NorwayCitizen of Japan,Citizen of JapanCitizen of PolandSubject of the Emperor of Japan27
WyomingStateLibraryPatent and Trademark Depository Library2301 Capitol AvenueCheyenne, WY 82002307.777.63333/04
A Danish immigrant who worked for Remington Arms, Pedersen patents played a part in Remington’s Model 51 semiautomatic pistol, Model 12 Slide Action Rifle, Model 14, Model 14 ½, Model 25, Model 141, and Model 17. These 69 are not the only patents Pedersen received. He also received patents while living outside Wyoming. His most famous .
Two types of patents were selected: exploited and unexploited patents. A total of 22 patents from its portfolio were selected, of which six patents were licensed to spin-off companies, another 6 patents were licensed to established companies and 10 patents were not exploited. One of the inventors has two patents, thus the actual
The Wyoming Constitution is the foundation of Wyoming’s laws and is our State’s most essential document - preserving our liberty and justice in Wyoming. It was a proclamation of how this newest State, Wyoming, would responsibly protect the values of a rugged frontier when admitted as
Figure 1. Wyoming population growth rate by decade (1970-2020). Since 1990, Wyoming has maintained moderate population growth. Figure 2. Population growth rates for Wyoming and neighboring states (2010-2015). Wyoming had the second-lowest population growth rate relative to neighboring states. The U.S. Average was 3.7%.
suicide deaths per a population of 100,000 people in 2014, compared to the national average of 12.93 (Wyoming Vital Statistics, 2016). Between 2011 and 2015, 705 Wyoming citizens have died by suicide (Wyoming Vital Statistics,
Glen Whipple, Director, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071. Persons seeking admission, employment, or access to programs of the University of Wyoming shall be considered without regard to . Check with your local University of Wyoming Co-operative Extension Service office to make sure you are using the .
Patents did not start receiving numbers until 1836. Early unnumbered patents were retroactively given numbers preceded by an X. They are now called "X patents." A devastating fire at the Patent Office in 1836 destroyed all 9,957 patents issued to that date. Only 2,845 copies were recovered from patent owners, so many X patents cannot be obtained.
o 32 patents were.Lssued to the 57 RC PIs; 16 of these 32 patents were issued to the 9 PIs whose work was judged relevant, at least in part, to the grants made by RC. The remaining patents were judged'notrelateq,to RC grants. (The 9 PIs represent 0.98'1j of the 915 PIs supported by RC.) o 81 of the 130 patents (61%) associated with both NSF
from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer MARK TWAIN In this famous selection from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), written by Mark Twain (born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, 1835–1910), Tom, burdened with the chore to whitewash his Aunt Polly’s fence as punishment for his having played hooky from school, comes up with an ingenious way to get out of his work: He convinces his friends that it’s .
