Hayden Schmidt of Emmaus, Pa., the winner of the 2017 Inventors Lab Most Patentable Invention Award, has received two U.S. Patents.
The first patent was awarded for his invention of a circuit breaker tagging system and the second for the software required to conduct the tagging.
Hayden participated in the Science Center’s Inventors Lab program at the age of 12 in the 2016-17 school year.
He drew on personal experience helping his father work around the house and looked for a solution to the problem of identifying electrical circuit breakers and the circuits they control.
Hayden created a new system using field communication tags that are embedded in plastic holders attached to the back sides of switch and outlet cover plates. These tags store information electronically and directly on the circuit that needs to be identified.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Hayden,” said Dr. Frank Schweighardt, former Da Vinci Science Center Trustee and founder of the Inventors Lab program. “Earning a U.S. Patent, let alone two, takes a tremendous amount of creativity and dedication. It truly is an extraordinary accomplishment.”
Hayden was also featured in The Morning Call.
Photo by April Gamiz.
For two and a half years, Hayden worked with patent attorney, James R. McDaniel, Esq., who donated his time and services, to file the necessary applications. Both patents were approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office at the first review. Hayden is currently working with his brother, as co-inventor, on a third patent for the software required for added uses of the circuit identifier system with a home or office electrical outlet.
In recognition of his achievements, the Science Center presented Hayden with its Young Inventor Award at the 20th Anniversary Hall of Fame Awards Gala in April 2019.
As of Sept. 2019, more than 240 students had developed ideas in the program,with eight showcase winners who have submitted provisional and full U.S. patent applications. Hayden is the fifth student to have earned a full patent.
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