February 10, 2003
#03-07

Invention Takes Flight

Invention Takes Flight.New USPTO Museum Exhibit Opens to Celebrate the Centennial of Aviation

The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will unveil its newest periodic exhibit, “Invention Takes Flight,” at an opening reception on Tuesday, February 11, 2003, at 5:30 p.m. The exhibit opens to the public on February 12.

No invention has inspired more awe than the flying machine. Throughout the century since Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first successful flight at Kitty Hawk in 1903, inventors have built new, better and faster flying machines, reaching loftier and loftier heights. “Invention Takes Flight” examines not only the role aviation and aerospace inventions have played in sparking the imagination of the entire world, but also in creating whole new industries that provide jobs for millions of Americans. The museum exhibit highlights a 100-year timeline featuring significant patents and trademarks and accompanying artifacts that have earned a place in aviation history.

Established in 1995, the Patent and Trademark Museum strives to educate the public about the patent and trademark registration systems and the important role intellectual property protection plays in our nation's social and economic health. The museum also features a permanent exhibit that explains what intellectual property is and how it is protected.