An inventor is a person who creates new inventions, typically technical devices such as mechanical, electrical or software devices or methods. Although some inventors may also be scientists, most of them are engineers in fact as they base their work on the discoveries of other scientists, experimenting with practical applications and combinations of those discoveries, and with improvements and combinations of existing devices, to create new useful devices.

Inventorship is a key determination in establishing patent rights. The system of patents was established to encourage inventors by granting limited-term, limited monopoly on inventions determined to be sufficiently novel, non-obvious, and useful. In the U.S. the intellectual property clause of the Constitution permits (but does not mandate) laws to be passed establishing patent and other intellectual property rights.

The capacity to invent can be developed. See TRIZ, the theory of inventive problem-solving.

Etymology

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The word "inventor" comes form the latin verb invenire, invent-, to find. ^**

Inventors clubs

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Inventors clubs provide a support infrastructure for inventors, especially useful for lone inventors who otherwise may not have anyone impartial they can freely talk to about their inventions.

There are probably thousands of such clubs around the world (see also national associations or local UK clubs on WRTI Clubs, the web site of the Wessex Round Table of Inventors).

See also

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• List of inventors
• List of engineers
• List of scientists
• History of Science and Technology
• Inventor's notebook
• Inventorship
• Autodesk Inventor for the 3D modeling CAD application
• Inventor's Day

External links

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• A collection of patents for pioneering electrical engineering technologies, including some by the inventors listed above
• Inventors Assistance League (Non-profit organization operating since 1963)
• Associations of inventors
  • European Inventor's Day (German) (Tag der Erfinder) (Germany)
  • Association of Hungarian Inventors (MAFE) (Hungary)
  • The Swedish Inventors' Association (Sweden)
  • Wessex Round Table of Inventors (WRTI) (United Kingdom)
  • Inventors Association of St. Louis (IASL) (United States)
  • Young Inventors International (Non-profit organization helping inventors and innovators under the age of 35)
  • American Inventor Spot Articles and advice related to inventing and the creative process
  • East London Inventors Club (ELIC) (United Kingdom)

Inventors | Patent law

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