Family invention traditions in Russia

Abstract

The article’s relevance is determined by the need to preserve the intellectual, historical and cultural heritage contained in domestic patent documents. Creative ideas often belong to authors of inventions, utility models, designs and other intellectual property objects. The article is aimed to show the family’s important role in creating new technical solutions and in forming creative approaches to inventive activity. Arrays of documents of the State Patent Collection of the XIX–XX centuries were analyzed, and inventions authors’ family ties were investigated. Based on the results of intellectual activities of members of selected families, creative achievements were systemized according to “fathers-children”, “brothers”, “spouses”, “uncles-nephews” patterns; whole “dynasties” were identifi ed. Continuity between generations is important for cultural heritage preservation and allows us to trace the development of technical thought through the prism of family invention.