Patterns for Success: A Lesson in Usable Design from U.S. Patent Records    

This article investigates the design history of certain published artifacts—women's household sewing patterns—as that history is recorded in U.S. Patent Records. When a patented item is a published artifact, the U.S. Patent Record may contain valuable information on the author's perception of users and analysis of solutions for usability problems. This case illustrates the evolution toward a single standard despite early proprietary design solutions.

Durack, Katherine T. Technical Communication Online (1997). Articles>Intellectual Property>Patents>History