On June 4, 1963, U.S. Patent No.: 3,091,888 issued to Robert W. Patch for a "Toy Truck". What makes this patent so special is that Robert was six years old when the patent issued, making him the youngest inventor to obtain a U.S. patent; a distinction he still holds to this day.
At the age of 5, Robert had created a toy truck from shoe boxes, bottle caps and nails. The toy truck was unique because it could be converted between a van truck and a dump truck by manipulating removable rear axles and changing the orientation of the truck body. Young Robert's father, Robert J. Patch, who was a patent attorney, saw that the design was inventive enough to be patented and filed a patent application for the toy truck in June of 1962. Robert W. was so young he had not yet learned how to write, so he signed the papers (oath, etc.) for the patent application with an "X".
Robert W. never made any money from his invention, but he did get a new pair of sneakers from the endeavor. When the patent issued, Robert W. became a bit of a celebrity and was featured in a newspaper article, along with a picture of his toy truck made from "Keds" shoe boxes. The company saw the article and sent Robert W. a pair of sneakers as a "thank you" for the publicity.
Robert W. did not patent any more inventions and went on to build a business in the roofing industry. His father, Robert J., continued working as a patent attorney for many years, until his death in 2013. Robert W.'s younger brother, Andrew still carries on the family's patent tradition, currently being a practicing patent attorney.
At the age of 5, Robert had created a toy truck from shoe boxes, bottle caps and nails. The toy truck was unique because it could be converted between a van truck and a dump truck by manipulating removable rear axles and changing the orientation of the truck body. Young Robert's father, Robert J. Patch, who was a patent attorney, saw that the design was inventive enough to be patented and filed a patent application for the toy truck in June of 1962. Robert W. was so young he had not yet learned how to write, so he signed the papers (oath, etc.) for the patent application with an "X".
Robert W. never made any money from his invention, but he did get a new pair of sneakers from the endeavor. When the patent issued, Robert W. became a bit of a celebrity and was featured in a newspaper article, along with a picture of his toy truck made from "Keds" shoe boxes. The company saw the article and sent Robert W. a pair of sneakers as a "thank you" for the publicity.
Robert W. did not patent any more inventions and went on to build a business in the roofing industry. His father, Robert J., continued working as a patent attorney for many years, until his death in 2013. Robert W.'s younger brother, Andrew still carries on the family's patent tradition, currently being a practicing patent attorney.