If you think that patents are only obtained by experienced inventors working in sophisticated research labs, think again! Lots of creative and innovative ideas are thought up by kids. Since there is no age requirement for inventing, there is also no age requirement for obtaining patents. Here are some patents that were obtained by kid inventors for their quirky and imaginative inventions.
At the age of eleven, Austin Meggitt invented the “Glove and Battie Caddie,” which later became the subject of U.S. Patent 6,029,874. The “Glove and Battie Caddie” sprung out of a realization that it was difficult for kids to carry both a bat and a glove when biking to baseball practice. To solve this problem, Austin invented a carrier that mounts to the handlebars of a bicycle to which a bat and glove can be secured, allowing bike riders to carry these objects safely without losing control of the bicycle — a clever solution to a real-life problem.
U.S. Patent 7,374,228 was granted to Spencer Whale for a toy vehicle. At eight years old, Spencer invented a series of hospital-related products that aim to make a child’s stay in the hospital more enjoyable. Among his products are toy vehicles that have IV poles attached, allowing young patients undergoing IV treatments to ride around the hospital while dragging their IV poles with them. The vehicles can be powered manually or with an engine. Riding around in a toy vehicle would surely be more fun for a kid than sitting in a wheelchair!
At the age of fourteen, Chandler Macocha invented the “Wheelchair Backpack Helper.” Just as the name suggests, this is a device for securing a backpack to a wheelchair. U.S. Patent 7,344,055 was later granted for this invention. The device allows the backpack to be moved between the back and a side of the wheelchair, where the backpack can be more easily accessed by a person seated in the front.
These examples demonstrate that patents are not outside the reach of children inventors. If you would like to encourage a child to pursue his or her inventive tendencies, there are plenty of ways to promote creative thinking. For example, many summer camps are available that promote creative problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Or, more simply, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has a Kids web page (http://www.uspto.gov/go/kids/) that offers a variety of online activities aimed at introducing children to the world of inventions and patents and at stimulating their innovative intellect.
Emma Start and Andréanne Auger, Montreal
Our articles and newsletters are informational only, and do not constitute legal or professional advice. To obtain such advice, please communicate with our offices directly.