Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From movies to mass transit, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of March:
- 1895: On March 26, Charles Jenkins received a patent for an early film projector he called the “Phantoscope.” Jenkins’ device prefigured the modern cinema and television industries, which, as of 2024, supported74 million jobs and over 122,000 businesses in the United States. In 2025, more than three-quarters of Americans were estimated to have seen a movie in the theater.
- 1892: On March 15, Jesse Reno received a patent for the first escalator. Reno’s invention has become a ubiquitous technology that increases convenience and accessibility in office buildings, shopping centers, and transit stations nationwide. Today, there are over 56,000 escalators in North America, and in the United States alone, they carry over 105 billion passengers each year.
- 1872: On March 5, George Westinghouse received a patent for an improved steam air-brake, launching a significant leap in railroad safety. The brake spurred the development of longer and faster trains, fueling economic growth in the American heartland throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Westinghouse’s company — known today as Wabtec — remains a major train manufacturer in the United States and employs over 12,000 Americans.