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.