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How patent drawings became dull: a brief history

How patent drawings became dull: a brief history

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Wired has taken a look at how patent drawings have changed over the past 200 years.

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Patent history
Patent history

Wired's Alexandra Chang has taken a look at how patent drawings have changed over the past 200 years, from an 1810 patent for a "Diving Dress" all the way up to a recent patent application for a Google Glass anti-theft mechanism. Through a detailed look at 18 separate applications, Chang laments the loss of style, care, and detail in modern-day applications, dreaming of a day when mustaches will make their return to patent drawings.