Tesla invented the alternating current (AC) induction motor in 1888.Tesla licensed the technology to the Westinghouse company, and after further development, the technology was used in spectacular fashion to power the World's Columbian Exposition at the World's Fair of 1893 in Chicago.

"I admired the works of artists, but to my mind, they were only shadows and semblances. The inventor, I thought, gives to the world creations which are palpable, which live and work." -Nikola Tesla

U.S. Patent No. 72X

Eli Whitney took advantage of the recently developed United States patent system by inventing the cotton gin in 1794. His invention caused cotton yields to skyrocket. Unfortunately, he was troubled by many legal battles from knockoff inventions. 

"I have always believed that I should have had no difficulty in causing my rights to be respected." -Eli Whitney

U.S. Patent No. 3,351,836

In 1963, Robert Kearns invented intermittent windshield wipers, which became standard on most automobiles. Kearns won judgments for patent infringement against Ford and Chrysler worth tens of millions of dollars, and even acted as his own attorney during the cases.

"I didn't get a contract to build [the wipers]. That's all I ever wanted." -Robert Kearns