General Knowledge
Real or Fake Invention Quiz
Some of these patented inventions are real. Others we made up. Can you tell?
Some of these patented inventions are real. Others we made up. Can you tell?
The US Patent Office has granted over 11 million patents since 1790 — and some of them are genuinely unbelievable. From a toilet snorkel (US Patent 4,320,756) to an anti-eating face mask, real inventions can sound more absurd than anything we could make up. This quiz puts your instincts to the test across 50 questions mixing real patents with convincing fakes.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll discover the wild world of real patents — from baby cages hung out of London apartment windows to motorized ice cream cones — and learn to spot the telltale signs that separate a genuine invention from a too-good-to-be-true fake. Along the way, you'll pick up fun facts about patent history, prolific inventors, and gadgets that actually made it to market.
Some of the strangest real patents include a toilet snorkel for breathing fresh air during a fire (US Patent 4,320,756), a baby cage designed to hang outside apartment windows (1937), an automated pet-petting machine (US Patent 5,443,036), and anti-flatulence charcoal-lined underwear by Shreddies.
Yes. In 1937, wire baby cages were distributed in London so that apartment-dwelling families could give their infants fresh air and sunlight by suspending them from window ledges. The practice was recommended by childcare books of the era.
Japanese inventor Shunpei Yamazaki holds the record with over 11,000 patents worldwide, primarily in semiconductor and display technology. He has been the world's most prolific patent holder for many years running.
Last updated: April 2026