Invention of the Dishwasher: Inventing
Cochran patented her dishwasher three times. A patent is a form of protection. It lasts for 14 to 20 years, and after that, can be made or sold by anyone, unless a change is made to the product and it is patented again. For something to be patented, it must be unique, usable, useful, and uncommon, and most importantly, clever, like the dishwasher (Casey, 22, 71).
|
"Inventions are the result of many changes and decisions and creative thoughts” (Casey, 47-48). "A patent gives the inventor, and only the inventor, the right to prevent others from making, using, and selling an invention for a period of time” (Casey, 66). |
“We still live in a world in which a significant fraction of people, including women, believe that a woman belongs – and wants to belong – exclusively in the home.” (Dr. Rosalyn Yalow, Nobel Prize winner in 1977)
Patents have been around since 1809. As recently as the 1970’s, only 1.5% of USA patents were under the name of a woman. About a decade later it raised to 3.5%, and after two, 9.25% of them were from women (Casey, 72). Even though most other women did not invent, Josephine Cochran did, and she kept improving her invention.
|
“Although women have invented since the beginning of time, it seems as if full recognition of their role has been painfully slow” (MacDonald, 3). “Because while it’s difficult for most people to name a woman inventor, that isn't for any lack of women inventors. It's for a lack of press” (Vare and Ptacek, 1). |