Patents: Ingenious Inventions -- How They Work and How They Came to Be

Ben Ikenson

Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2004 - Social Science - 288 pages

In the novel tradition of Black Dog's How to Stay Alive in the Woods (rubber cover) and How Things Are Made (denim cover), Patents is covered in bubble wrap, one of man's more ingenious creations. It includes dozens of notable patents, from the airplane, brassiere, chain saw, and fire hydrant to the Internet, parachute, plunger, and zipper. The purpose of each device is explained in accessible language, along with background about the inventor, interesting sidebars and history, and an excerpt from the original patent application. The artwork throughout includes photos of original models and patent diagrams created by the inventors themselves, annotated to show exactly how each item works.

About the author

Ben Ikenson is a writer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicenbsp; based in Washington, D.C. He is also a freelance writer. His articles on wildlife conservation have appeared in regional, national, and international magazines, including Américas, Earth Island Journal, Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine, North American Sportsman Magazine, New Mexico Magazine, and American Indian Report.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Patents: Ingenious Inventions -- How They Work and How They Came to Be
• Author: Ben Ikenson
• Edition: illustrated, annotated
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2004
• ISBN: 1579123678, 9781579123673
• Length: 288 pages
• Subjects: Social Science / Popular Culture; Technology & Engineering / Inventions