Bell patented his ideas for tetrahedral kites, even though he was not successful in creating a kite that could be used as an aerial vehicle. This patent diagram shows how different tetrahedral shapes were put together to form the kites.
HYDROAEROPLANE PATENT (1922)
This patent includes descriptions of different types of hydrofoils. The diagrams show how one of the vehicles was constructed.
AIRPLANE RUDDER PATENT (1913)
In addition to designing airplane ailerons, Bell helped design airplane rudders. This patent illustration shows the rudder at the back end of the plane. Rudders are used to control airplanes during turns.
AIRPLANE AILERON PATENT (1911)
This diagram of an airplane with ailerons shows the top view of a plane. The ailerons are the triangular sections at the tips of the wings. This patent was challenged by the Wright brothers, who claimed it infringed on their airplane design. However, Bell won and was granted the patent.
PHOTOPHONE PATENT (1880)
These photophone patent diagrams show the details of the selenium cell that was used to change the resistance of the current in the photophone. The diagrams also show the basic design of the photophone transmitter.
PHOTOPHONIC RECEIVER PATENT (1881)
Bell's second photophone patent describes how the photophone receiver converts light waves into sound waves.
PHONOGRAPH PATENT (1886)
This phonograph was patented by Bell's cousin Chichester Bell, and scientist Charles Sumner Tainter. The diagram shows the mechanism for playing a flat disc-shaped record, or "phonogram."Alexander was involved in the project, but was not one of the patent holders.
PHONOGRAPH STYLUS PATENT (1886)
This patent was for a new type of phonograph stylus, which allowed sounds to be reproduced more clearly.
TELEPHONE PATENT (1876)
Bell's telephone patent was his most important patent. If he had filed his application just a few days later, the name associated with the invention of the telephone would have been Elisha Gray, who filed a telephone patent at the same time. Bell and Gray contested each other's applications. Finally, on March 3, 1876-Bell's 29th birthday-the Patent Office formally approved his patent.
SOUND TRANSMISSION AND RECORDING PATENT (1886)
This patent diagram shows a device invented by Bell, Chichester Bell, and Charles Sumner Tainter that allowed people to record sounds using light.
TELEPHONE RECEIVER PATENT (1876)
The harmonic telegraph receiver patent included details about the receiver reeds. In this diagram, the reed is the long bar over the top of the two poles.
AUTOGRAPH TELEGRAPH PATENT (1875)
Bell's autograph telegraph is sometimes called the first facsimile, or fax, machine. It could be used to send pictures along a telegraph wire. This diagram shows the multiple transmitters and receivers used in the telegraph.
