List of Edison patents


Below is a list of Edison patents. Thomas Edison was an inventor who accumulated 2,332 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, 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 and 9 artistic design patents. It was not until June 17, 2003, that he was passed by Japanese inventor Shunpei Yamazaki. Yamazaki was subsequently passed by Australian inventor Kia Silverbrook on February 26, 2008.

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
  1. ' – 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.
  2. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  3. ' – Printing-Telegraph Apparatus
  4. ' – Automatic Electrical for Telegraph Apparatus
  5. ' – Printing-Telegraph Apparatus
  6. ' – Electro-Motor Escapements
  7. ' – Printing-Telegraph Instruments
  8. ' – Governors for Electro-Motors
  9. ' – Printing-Telegraph Apparatus
  10. ' – Printing-Telegraph Apparatus
  11. ' – Telegraphic Transmitting Instruments
  12. ' – Relay Magnets
  13. ' – Electro-Magnets for Telegraph Instruments
  14. ' – Machinery for Perforating Paper for Telegraph Purposes
  15. ' – Telegraph Apparatus
  16. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  17. ' – Telegraph Apparatus
  18. ' – Telegraphic Recording Instruments
  19. ' – Type-Wheels for Printing-Telegraphs
  20. ' – Type-Wheels for Printing-Telegraphs
  21. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  22. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  23. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  24. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  25. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  26. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  27. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  28. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  29. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  30. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  31. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  32. ' – Printing-Telegraph Instruments
  33. ' – Electro-Magnets
  34. ' – Rheotomes or Circuit-Directors
  35. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  36. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  37. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  38. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  39. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  40. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  41. ' – Printing-Telegraph Instruments
  42. ' – Printing-Telegraph Instruments
  43. ' – Transmitters and Circuits for Printing-Telegraphs
  44. ' – Unison-Stops for Printing-Telegraphs
  45. ' – Paper for Chemical Telegraphs etc.
  46. ' – Apparatus for Perforating Paper for Telegraphic Use
  47. ' – Electrical Printing-Machines
  48. ' – Type-Writing Machines
  49. ' – Printing-Telegraph Instruments
  50. ' – Automatic Telegraph Instruments
  51. ' – Electro-Magnetic Adjusters
  52. ' – Circuits for Chemical Telegraphs
  53. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  54. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  55. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  56. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  57. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  58. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  59. ' – Circuits for Printing-Telegraphs
  60. ' – Circuits for Automatic or Chemical Telegraphs
  61. ' – Circuits for Automatic Telegraphs
  62. ' – Chemical Telegraphs
  63. ' – Perforators for Automatic Telegraphs
  64. ' – Circuits for Automatic Telegraphs
  65. ' – Relay-Magnets
  66. ' – Electrical Regulators for Transmitting-Instruments
  67. ' – Galvanic Batteries
  68. ' – Telegraph-Signal Boxes
  69. ' – Electric Telegraphs
  70. ' – Perforators for Automatic Telegraphy
  71. ' – Chemical Telegraphs
  72. ' – Circuits for Chemical Telegraphs
  73. ' – Duplex Telegraphs
  74. ' – Telegraph-Relays
  75. ' – Receiving Instruments for Chemical Telegraphs
  76. ' – Chemical or Automatic Telegraphs
  77. ' – Automatic Telegraphy and Perforators Therefor
  78. ' – District Telegraph Signal-Boxes
  79. ' – Duplex Chemical Telegraphs
  80. ' – Telegraph Apparatus
  81. ' – Solutions for Chemical Telegraph-Paper
  82. ' – Solutions for Chemical Telegraph-Paper
  83. ' – Solutions for Chemical Telegraph-Paper
  84. ' – Adjustable Electro-Magnets for Relays, etc.
  85. ' – Solutions for Chemical Telegraph-Paper
  86. ' – Duplex Telegraphs
  87. ' – Chemical Telegraphy
  88. ' – Chemical Telegraphy
  89. ' – Chemical Telegraphy
  90. ' – Printing-Telegraphs
  91. ' – Transmitters and Receivers for Automatic Telegraphs
  92. ' – Automatic Telegraphs
  93. ' – Duplex Telegraphs
  94. ' – Solutions for Chemical Telegraphs
  95. ' – Solutions for Chemical Telegraphs
  96. ' – Recording-Points for Chemical Telegraphs
  97. ' – Electric-Signalling Instruments
  98. ' – Telegraph Apparatus
  99. ' – Automatic Roman-Character Telegraphs
  100. ' – 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.
Image:Pat196747.png|thumb|222px|right|, Stencil-Pens. Later adapted to be a Tattoo machine.
Image:PhonographPatentEdison1880.jpg|thumb|right|222px|Patent drawing for Edison's phonograph, 18 May 1880.
Image:Light bulb.png|thumb|right|222px|
  1. ' – Duplex Telegraphs
  2. ' – Duplex Telegraphs
  3. ' – Duplex Telegraphs
  4. ' – Autographic Printing
  5. ' – Duplex Telegraphs
  6. ' – Acoustic Telegraph
  7. ' – Electro-Harmonic Multiplex Telegraphs
  8. ' – Acoustic Electric Telegraphs
  9. ' – Telegraphic Alarm and Signal Apparatus
  10. ' – Automatic Telegraphs
  11. ' – Automatic Telegraphs
  12. ' – Stencil-Pens
  13. ' – Telephonic Telegraphs
  14. ' – Telephonic Telegraphs
  15. ' – Telephonic or Electro-Harmonic Telegraphs
  16. ' – Synchronous Movements for Electric Telegraphs
  17. ' – 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 motion of the stylus. Edison's patent specified that the audio recording was embossed.
  18. ' – Acoustic Telegraphs
  19. ' – Automatic-Telegraph Perforator and Transmitter
  20. ' – Speaking-Machines
  21. ' – Speaking-Telegraphs
  22. ' – Speaking-Telegraphs
  23. ' – Speaking-Telegraphs
  24. ' – Speaking-Telephones
  25. ' – Telephone Call-Signal
  26. ' – Telephones or Speaking-Telegraphs
  27. ' – Circuits for Acoustic or Telephonic Telegraphs
  28. ' – Perforating Pens
  29. ' – Pneumatic Stencil-Pens
  30. ' – Duplex Telegraphs
  31. ' – Duplex Telegraphs
  32. ' – Speaking-Telephones
  33. ' – Quadruplex-Telegraph Repeaters
  34. ' – Vocal Engines
  35. ' – Automatic Telegraphs
  36. ' – Electric Lights
  37. ' – Thermal Regulators for Electric Lights
  38. ' – Sextuplex Telegraphs
  39. ' – Duplex Telegraphs
  40. ' – Magneto-Electric Machines
  41. ' – Apparatus for Electric Lights
  42. ' – Electric Lighting Apparatus
  43. ' – Dynamo-Electric Machine
  44. ' – Electric Lights
  45. ' – Telephones
  46. ' – Carbon-Telephones
  47. ' – 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.
  48. ' – 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.
  49. ' – Electric-Lighting Apparatus
  50. ' – Autographic Stencils for Printing
  51. ' – Safety-Conductor for Electric Lights
  52. ' – Electric Light
  53. ' – Electric Light
  54. ' – Electric Light
  55. ' – Phonograph
  56. ' – Magnetic Ore-Separator
  57. ' – Brake for Electro-Magnetic Motors
  58. ' – Method of Manufacturing Electric Lamps
  59. ' – Addressing-Machine
  60. ' – Electro-Chemical Receiving-Telephone
  61. ' – Acoustic Telegraph
  62. ' – Electric Light
  63. ' – Magneto Signal Apparatus
  64. ' – Manufacture of Carbons for Incandescent Electric Lamps
  65. ' – System of Electric Lighting
  66. ' – Treating Carbons for Electric Lamps
  67. ' – Incandescing Electric Lamp
  68. ' – Electric Lamp
  69. ' – Method of Forming Enlarged Ends on Carbon Filaments
  70. ' – System of Electric Lighting
  71. ' – Electric Lamp
  72. ' – Relay for Telegraphs
  73. ' – Testing Electric-Light Carbons
  74. ' – Electric Lamp
  75. ' – Regulating the Generation of Electric Currents
  76. ' – Electric Lamp
  77. ' – Webermeter
  78. ' – Incandescent Electric Lamp
  79. ' – Incandescent Electric Lamp
  80. ' – Magneto or Dynamo Electric Machine
  81. ' – Electric Lighting
  82. ' – Manufacturing Carbons for Electric Lamps
  83. ' – Electric Meter
  84. ' – Manufacture of Carbons for Electric Lamps
  85. ' – Manufacturing Carbons for Electric Lights
  86. ' – Electric Lamp
  87. ' – Electric Lamp
  88. ' – Fixture and Attachment for Electric Lamps
  89. ' – Current-Regulator for Dynamo-Electric Machines
  90. ' – System of Electric Lighting
  91. ' – Carbonizer
  92. ' – Fitting and Fixture for Electric Lamps
  93. ' – Apparatus for Producing High Vacuums
  94. ' – Apparatus for Treating Carbons for Electric Lamps
  95. ' – Apparatus for Treating Carbons for Electric Lamps
  96. ' – Manufacture of Incandescent Electric Lamps
  97. ' – Electric Motor
  98. ' – Electro-Magnetic Brake
  99. ' – Preserving Fruit
  100. ' – Magnetic Separator