List of celebrity inventors

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{{Globalize|article|USA|2name=the United States|date=January 2015}}

The following is a list of celebrity inventors and their patents. (For the purposes of this article, an inventor is a person who has been granted a patent.) After Google released a patent search {{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com|title=Google Patent Search}} online in December 2006, a website called Ironic Sans,{{cite web|url=http://www.ironicsans.com/2007/01/celebrity_patents.html|title=Celebrity Patents|year=2007|accessdate=2007-01-04}} made the public aware of a number of celebrity patents found through the new patent search engine.

Additional lists of inventors can be found at List of inventors. See also :Category:Inventors.

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A

  • George Antheil, {{US Patent|2,292,387}} — with co-inventor Hedy Lamarr, used a code (stored on punched paper tape) to synchronize random frequencies later known as frequency hopping spread spectrum radio for jam-proof remote control of torpedoes. This work led to their posthumous induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://invent.org/inductee-detail/?IID=501|title=Spotlight – National Inventors Hall of Fame|publisher=invent.org|access-date=May 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501105813/http://invent.org/inductee-detail/?IID=501|archive-date=May 1, 2015|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}

B

  • Marlon Brando, {{US patent|6812392}} — Drumhead tensioning device and method.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6812392|title=Drumhead tensioning device and method}} An invention which makes it possible to tune a drum.
  • Gary Burghoff, {{US patent|5235774}} — Enhanced fish attractor device.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US5235774|title=Enhanced fish attractor device}} A way of luring fish up closer, to attract them, so they are easier to fish.

C

  • Harry Connick, Jr., {{us patent|6348648}} — System and method for coordinating music display among players in an orchestra.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6348648|title=System and method for coordinating music display among players in an orchestra}} An electronic system, a device with a screen, used to show the sheet music for the musicians, for example in an orchestra, while they are playing, instead of the more commonly used paper. Connick uses this system when performing with his big band.{{cite web|url=http://www.macobserver.com/article/2002/03/07.6.shtml|title=Harry Connick Jr. Uses Macs At Heart Of New Music Patent}}
  • Jamie Lee Curtis, {{us patent|4753647}} — Infant garment.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4753647|title=Infant garment}} A disposable baby diaper with pockets containing one or more removable clean-up wipers.

D

  • Walt Disney
  • {{us patent|2201689}} — Art of animation.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US2201689|title=Art of animation}} A device/method that allows the animator to, for example, make a more realistic looking shadow for a moving character in an animation.
  • {{us patent|2942516}} — Panoramic motion picture presentation arrangement (co-invented with Ub Iwerks).{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US2942516|title=Google Patents: Panoramic Motion Picture Arrangement}} A method of presenting a continuous motion picture on a circular screen, also known as Circle-Vision 360°.

F

  • Charles Fleischer, {{us patent|4219959}} — Toy egg.{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US4219959|title=Toy egg - Charles J. Fleischer}} A toy adapted for pulling, stretching, and bouncing which includes two intertwined helically cut shells.

G

  • Uri Geller,{{cite web|url=http://blog.ipfactor.co.il/2007/05/12/uri-geller-counter-sued-for-copyright-abuse/|work=The IP Factor|title=Uri Geller Counter-sued for Copyright Abuse}} {{us patent|5726383}} — Telephone radiation shield (co-inventor). A radiation shield for cellular phones.
  • Enver Gjokaj,{{cite web|url=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/8121471|title=Focusing system for motion picture camera|access-date=2023-09-12|archive-date=2012-12-14|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121214080715/http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN/8121471|url-status=bot: unknown}} {{us patent|8121471}} — Focusing system for motion picture camera.

H

  • Harry Houdini, {{us patent|1370316}} — Diver's suit.[https://patents.google.com/patent/US1370316 Google Patents] A new type of diving suit that is easier to put on and take off, and is able to better handle water pressure.
  • Howard Hughes, — Steel bra.
  • Jamie Hyneman, {{us patent|6458008}} — Remote control device with gyroscopic stabilization and directional control.

J

  • Michael Jackson, {{us patent|5255452}} — Method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion (co-inventor).
  • Penn Jillette, {{us patent|5920923}} — Hydro-therapeutic stimulator. A spa designed to stimulate a female user with water jets.
  • John Arthur ("Jack") Johnson, {{us patent|1413121}} — Wrench. An adjustable wrench designed to be taken apart for easy cleaning.

K

  • Danny Kaye, {{us patent|D166807}} — Blowout toy or the like (co-inventor)

L

  • Hedy Lamarr, {{U.S. Patent|2,292,387}} — with co-inventor George Antheil, frequency hopping spread spectrum radio for jam-proof remote control of torpedoes. This work led to their induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.
  • Abraham Lincoln, {{us patent|6469}} — [method for] Buoying vessels over shoals.
  • George Lucas
  • {{us patent|D264109}} — Toy action figure (co-inventor, with Ralph McQuarrie, Joe Johnston). The ornamental design for a Boba Fett toy action figure.
  • {{us patent|D265108}} — Toy figure (co-inventor, with McQuarrie, Phil Tippett). The ornamental design for a tauntaun toy figure.
  • {{us patent|D265109}} — Toy figure (co-inventor, with Stuart Freeborn, McQuarrie). The ornamental design for a toy figure.
  • {{us patent|D265330}} — Toy figure (co-inventor, with McQuarrie, Johnston). The ornamental design for a droid toy figure.
  • {{us patent|D265331}} — Toy figure (co-inventor, with McQuarrie). The ornamental design for an IG-88 toy figure.
  • {{us patent|D265332}} — Toy figure (co-inventor, with McQuarrie, Johnston). The ornamental design for a snowtrooper toy figure.
  • {{us patent|D265668}} — Toy space vehicle (co-inventor, with Johnston). The ornamental design for a twin-pod cloud car toy.
  • {{us patent|D265754}} — Toy figure (co-inventor, with McQuarrie, Johnston, Freeborn). The ornamental design for a Yoda toy figure.
  • {{us patent|D266685}} — Toy figure (co-inventor, with Freeborn and McQuarrie). The ornamental design for a Greedo toy figure.
  • {{us patent|D266777}} — Toy vehicle (co-inventor, with Johnston). The ornamental design for an AT-AT toy.
  • {{us patent|D267025}} — Toy space vehicle (co-inventor, with McQuarrie and Johnston). The ornamental design for a snowspeeder toy.

M

  • Zeppo Marx, {{us patent|3473526}} — Cardiac pulse rate monitor (co-inventor)
  • Steve McQueen, {{us patent|bnA7AAAAEBAJ}} — Bucket seat shell

N

P

  • Prince, {{us patent|D349127}} — Portable electronic keyboard musical instrument. The ornamental design for a portable electronic keyboard musical instrument.

S

T

  • Mark Twain
  • {{us patent|121992}} — Improvement in adjustable and detachable straps for garments.
  • {{us patent|140245}} — Improvement in scrap-books.
  • {{us patent|324535}} — Game apparatus.

V

W

  • Lawrence Welk, {{us patent|D170898}} — Ash tray.
  • Paul Winchell{{cite magazine | date = 1973-03-12 | title = Winchell's Heart | magazine = Time}}
  • {{us patent|3042086}} — Device for filling blood containers.
  • {{us patent|3063235}} — Warning indicator for interrupted power supply for freezers.
  • {{us patent|3063563}} — Tandem sifter for flour and other products.
  • {{us patent|3071113}} — Retractable fountain pen.
  • {{us patent|3077177}} — Warning indicators for interrupted power supply of freezers.
  • {{us patent|3079160}} — Guideway selector for multi-track records.
  • {{us patent|3079486}} — Electrical heater for a container.
  • {{us patent|3097366}} — Artificial heart.
  • {{us patent|3110424}} — Pouring expediter for sugar, salt and the like.
  • {{us patent|3110501}} — Laminated disc pad phonograph records.
  • {{us patent|3120192}} — Hand pump for transferring liquids.
  • {{us patent|3128477}} — Non-bulging garter fastener.
  • {{us patent|3129001}} — Inverted novelty mask.
  • {{us patent|3133140}} — Lens cover.
  • {{us patent|3809463}} — Animation cells [sic] and technique.
  • {{us patent|D216371}} — Jewelry pendant or similar article. A design combining the Star of David with the Christian cross.

See also

References

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