Patents
1908 - 1932
A patent is a legal instrument that provides protection to an inventor for intellectual property. Despite only having a grade school education, Louis Chevrolet was credited with 9 U.S. Patents during his amazing career. For reasons unknown, the Frontenac racing engines which were victorious at the Indianapolis 500 did not get patented.
Arthur Chevrolet was also quite talented, and was awarded 3 patents during his lifetime (all relating to internal combustion engines). Had younger brother Gaston survived his 1920 racing accident, it is quite possible that he may have gone on to patent new and exciting automotive technologies. By comparison Henry Ford was credited with over 50 patents, and Elon Musk (the phenomenon behind Tesla Motors) is cited as having 4 U.S. Patents.
6/18/08 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Louis Chevrolet files patent, submits
Petition & Oath of Allegiance
(National Archives)
6/18/08 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Louis Chevrolet files patent for
Speed Changing Mechanism
(National Archives)
1908 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rare photo of Louis Chevrolet's
Speed Changing Mechanism
(Indianapolis Motor Speedway)
6/29/08 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Louis Chevrolet sells patent rights
to group of investors
(RR Auction Catalog)
9/11/11 - Detroit, Michigan
Louis Chevrolet & Etienne Planche
file Petition & Oath for patent
(National Archives)
9/21/11 - Detroit, Michigan
L. Chevrolet & E. Planche file patent for
Motor Suspension Mechanism
(National Archives)
11/04/11 - Detroit, Michigan
Louis Chevrolet & Etienne Planche
file Petition & Oath for patent
(National Archives)
9/21/11 - Detroit, Michigan
L. Chevrolet & E. Planche file patent for
Control Lever for Automobiles
(National Archives)
12/23/12 - Detroit, Michigan
Louis Chevrolet has 1/3 ownership of
de Boischevalier Radiator Patent
(National Archives)
3/13/13 - Jackson, Michigan
Arthur Chevrolet files Petition & Oath
for Piston Ring Patent
(National Archives)
3/21/13 - Jackson, Michigan
Arthur Chevrolet files Patent for
Piston Ring
(National Archives)
7/15/16 - Detroit, Michigan
Louis Chevrolet files Petition & Oath for
Steering Wheel Patent
(National Archives)
7/15/16 - Detroit, Michigan
Louis Chevrolet files Petition & Oath
for Valve Mechanism Patent
(National Archives)
11/08/16 - Detroit, Michigan
Louis Chevrolet files Patent for
Steering Wheel design
(National Archives)
11/08/16 - Detroit, Michigan
Louis Chevrolet files Patent for
Valve Mechanism design
(National Archives)
4/13/17 - Plainfield, New Jersey
Louis Chevrolet files Petition & Oath
for Internal Combustion Engine
(National Archives)
4/13/17 - Plainfield, New Jersey
Louis Chevrolet files Patent
for Internal Combustion Engine
(National Archives)
3/09/21 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Louis Chevrolet files Petition & Oath
for "Frontenac" Motor Head
(National Archives)
3/18/21 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Louis Chevrolet files Patent
for "Frontenac" Motor Head
(National Archives)
1921 - Indianapolis, Indiana
"Frontenac" Cylinder Head for
Model T Ford Engine
(Chevrolet Brothers Mfg Co. Photo)
2/14/28 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Arthur Chevrolet files Petition & Oath
for Overhead Valve Engine
(National Archives)
3/01/28 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Arthur Chevrolet files Patent for
Overhead Valve Engine
(National Archives)
5/25/29 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Louis Chevrolet files Petition & Oath
for Aviation Engine
(National Archives)
6/01/29 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Arthur Chevrolet files Petition & Oath
for "Chevolair" Aviation Engine
(National Archives)
6/03/29 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Arthur Chevrolet files Patent
for "Chevolair" Aviation Engine
(National Archives)
6/24/29 - Indianapolis, Indiana Louis Chevrolet files Patent
for inverted Aviation Engine
(National Archives)
12/14/29 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Louis & Charles Chevrolet file
Petition & Oath for Fuel Pump design
(National Archives)
1/16/30 - Indianapolis, Indiana
Louis & Charles Chevrolet files Patent
for Fuel Pump design
(National Archives)
11/20/30 - Baltimore, Maryland
Louis Chevrolet writes Patent Office,
revokes power of attorney
(National Archives)
11/22/30 - Baltimore, Maryland
Louis Chevrolet writes to Patent Office,
amends description of 1929 engine
(National Archives)
11/22/30 - Baltimore, Maryland
Louis Chevrolet writes Patent Office,
notifies them of change of address
(National Archives)
5/10/32 - Baltimore, Maryland
Louis Chevrolet files Petition & Oath
for Radial Engine Pitnam Arm
(National Archives)
5/16/32 - Baltimore, Maryland
Louis Chevrolet files Patent
for Radial Engine Pitnam Arm
(National Archives)