Elwood Haynes' Early Stellite Cobalt-Chromium Alloy
A 1913 patent for a durable, corrosion-resistant metal alloy made primarily of cobalt and chromium, which laid the foundation for modern high-performance tools and medical implants.
Original patent title: “Metal alloy.”
A 1913 patent for a durable, corrosion-resistant metal alloy made primarily of cobalt and chromium, which laid the foundation for modern high-performance tools and medical implants. Granted to Individual in 1913 with 18 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a specific metal alloy composition primarily consisting of cobalt and chromium. By balancing these two elements, the alloy achieves exceptional hardness and resistance to oxidation and chemical corrosion. This combination allows the metal to maintain its structural integrity even under extreme heat, making it ideal for cutting tools and surgical instruments that must remain sharp and sterile.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover alloys lacking the specific cobalt-chromium balance defined in the original filing
- Does not cover modern superalloys that incorporate nickel or tungsten additives not specified in the 1913 claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
- Does not cover manufacturing processes like 3D printing or powder metallurgy used for modern Stellite parts
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
Haynes realized that by removing iron from the alloy, he could create a material that was not only harder than steel but also virtually immune to the rust and tarnish that plagued iron-based tools.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
High-speed industrial cutting tools
Surgical and dental instruments
Valve seats in high-performance combustion engines
Orthopedic implants
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This alloy, known commercially as Stellite, became a cornerstone of industrial manufacturing. It enabled the creation of high-speed cutting tools that could withstand the friction and heat of mass production, significantly increasing the efficiency of early 20th-century factories.
Filed
July 20, 1912
Granted
April 1, 1913
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The legacy of Haynes' work continues through companies like Kennametal and Deloro Stellite, which specialize in cobalt-based alloys for extreme environments. These firms have evolved the original chemistry to meet aerospace and medical standards.
Market impact
This patent helped establish the market for specialized, non-ferrous alloys. It transitioned industry standards away from simple carbon steels toward engineered materials designed for specific, high-stress environments.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a specific metal alloy composition primarily consisting of cobalt and chromium. By balancing these two elements, the alloy achieves exceptional hardness and resistance to oxidation and chemical corrosion. This combination allows the metal to maintain its structural integrity even under extreme heat, making it ideal for cutting tools and surgical instruments that must remain sharp and sterile.
The clever bit
Haynes realized that by removing iron from the alloy, he could create a material that was not only harder than steel but also virtually immune to the rust and tarnish that plagued iron-based tools.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover alloys lacking the specific cobalt-chromium balance defined in the original filing
- Does not cover modern superalloys that incorporate nickel or tungsten additives not specified in the 1913 claims
- Does not cover manufacturing processes like 3D printing or powder metallurgy used for modern Stellite parts
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
26/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$22K – $69K
Midpoint $43K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Haynes, E. (1913). Elwood Haynes' Early Stellite Cobalt-Chromium Alloy (U.S. Patent No. 1,057,423). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1057423/stellite-cobalt-alloy-haynes
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US1057423"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4405829 · 1983
How RSA Public-Key Encryption Keeps Digital Messages Secret
This patent describes the foundational RSA algorithm, a method for securely sending messages where anyone can encrypt a message using a public key, but only the intended recipient can decrypt it using a secret private key.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 4575330 · 1986
How 3D Printers Build Objects Layer by Layer from Liquid
This patent describes the foundational method for 3D printing, where a machine builds a three-dimensional object layer by layer by hardening a liquid material with light or other energy.
UVP Inc
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 400664 · 1889
How Charles Hall Invented Modern Aluminum Production
US 22186 · 1858 · John L. Mason
John Mason's 1858 Patent for the Mason Jar Lid
US 1203495 · 1916 · General Electric Co
How William Coolidge Invented the Modern X-Ray Tube
US 1102653 · 1914
Robert Goddard's Early Design for Liquid-Fueled Rocket Engines
More to explore
More in Materials & Manufacturing
US 4575330 · 1986 · UVP Inc
How 3D Printers Build Objects Layer by Layer from Liquid
US 3953566 · 1976 · WL Gore and Associates Inc
Making Strong, Porous PTFE: The Gore-Tex Process
US 5121329 · 1992 · Stratasys Inc
How Machines Build 3D Objects Layer by Layer from Melting Plastic
US 3691140 · 1972
Sticky, Tiny Plastic Balls Made from Acrylates
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Elwood Haynes' Early Stellite Cobalt-Chromium Alloy cover?
A 1913 patent for a durable, corrosion-resistant metal alloy made primarily of cobalt and chromium, which laid the foundation for modern high-performance tools and medical implants.
Who owns patent US 1057423?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1913.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 1057423 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 18 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This alloy, known commercially as Stellite, became a cornerstone of industrial manufacturing. It enabled the creation of high-speed cutting tools that could withstand the friction and heat of mass production, significantly increasing the efficiency of early 20th-century factories.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover alloys lacking the specific cobalt-chromium balance defined in the original filing
Same assignee
More from Individual
Patent monitoring