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build / Make an invention
A patent gives the inventor the right to exclude others from making, using, or selling their invention for a certain time period. In exchange, the public (society) gets to learn the information in the patent to improve upon the invention or to create their own The inventor has to provide enough details in their patent for a person with ordinary skill in the subject matter to make the invention. Challenge yourself to recreate the inventions in these expired patents. Can you think of new uses for these inventions or of ways to improve upon them? (Requires Adobe Reader®) The patents utilized in the "Build an Invention" activities are for illustrative and educational purposes only and do not constitute or imply endorsement by the U.S. Government, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or any other federal agency.