这里收集了一些二十世纪初历史上的专利,展示有想法的发明家怎样预测人类飞行及猴子们将来有一天可以骑行赛狗。
Above: A 1889 patent by Reuben Spalding to allow a person to fly via the aid of a balloon and bird-like wings. It is not known whether a full scale version was ever made (I wonder why?)
The imaginative designs, from the US Patent and Trademark office, show elaborate blueprints submitted between 1871 and 1933.
来自美国专利和商标局充满想象的设计展示了精心设计的蓝图,这些设计是1871年到1933年申请的。
Above: One may think this to be an artist's impression for a Tim Burton-esque Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz but it is in fact the 1880 patent of a metal diving suit designed by Stephen M. Tasker. It was intended to withstand the pressure of diving underwater.
The patents cater for every strain of 20th century society, from a self-tipping hat for the discerning gent to a harness support for a greyhound-riding monkey
这些发明是为了满足20世纪社会各方面的需求,从给多礼挑剔的绅士设计自动翻落致敬的帽子到为骑行赛狗的猴子设计的马具。
Above: Artwork of a harness and support designed by Renfro Rennie that allows a monkey to ride 'jockey style' on the back of a greyhound. Monkey jockeys were used for a brief period in America and Australia during the 1930s.
The pre-cautious inventors designed many death-cheating structures, including a fire-escape device which had a parachute attached to the head and rubber-soled shoes for smooth landings.
这名谨慎的发明者设计了很多可逃脱死亡的作品,包括一个避火设备,就是在头部上安装一个降落伞,而脚上穿的是橡胶鞋底的鞋子,用来平稳着陆。