Patent Room

A child's aero velociped that can be propelled forward by pushing the feet along the ground. 1945. Invented by Joseph F. Jones.

Wings, spinner and a propeller. It's the uber-wind toy. 1924. Invented by Funi Morinaga.

Acoustic device. Purse your lips and blow. 1948. Invented by Hal Horne.

A vehicle ornament. 1935. Invented by Howard F. Yaeger.

A flamboyant design for an automobile hood ornament. 1929. Invented by Bernice D. West.

In 1934 Walter O. Wells and Wilbur Schult produced their first Schult mobile home in Elkhart, Indiana. Today Schult is a builder of manufactured housing. The spacious covered wagon design shown here features a moon roof, dinette and ample storage. 1939. Invented by Walter O. Wells.

An odd car design that looks like a rocket-propelled submarine on wheels. 1954. Invented by Donald G. Weddell.

A combined radiator cap ornament and traffic signal. It's not clear from the patent how this is supposed to work. Perhaps the driver is supposed to signal to pedestrians or other drivers when it is safe to proceed. 1928. Invented by Ray Fisher.

A vehicle for use by merchants, from the designer of the "ice cream car." 1951. Invented by Ellwood O. Compton.

This tank vehicle was designed by Brooks Stevens, whose Milwaukee design firm was also responsible for the Harley-Davidson Hydra-glide motorcycle and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. 1949. Invented by Clifford Brooks Stevens.