How Georges Claude Invented the Neon Light
A 1915 patent describing the use of neon gas in sealed glass tubes to create bright, colorful light for signs and illumination.
Original patent title: “System of illuminating by luminescent tubes.”
A 1915 patent describing the use of neon gas in sealed glass tubes to create bright, colorful light for signs and illumination. Granted to Individual in 1915 with 3 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details a method for creating electric light by sealing neon gas inside a glass tube with electrodes at each end. When high-voltage electricity flows through the gas, it ionizes the neon, causing it to glow with a characteristic bright red-orange light. The invention specifically addresses the purification of the gas and the design of the electrodes to prevent the gas from being absorbed into the glass walls during operation, which was a major hurdle for early gas-discharge lamps.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the use of gases other than neon for illumination
- Does not cover modern LED-based signage that mimics the look of neon
- Does not cover low-voltage lighting systems
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
Claude solved the 'cleanliness' problem by using liquid air to purify the neon and designing electrodes with a large surface area to prevent the gas from being 'sputtered' or absorbed into the tube walls.
The Patent Drawing
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
Classic neon storefront signs
Artistic neon light sculptures
Historic theater marquees
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This invention birthed the neon sign industry, which became a cultural icon of the 20th century. It enabled the creation of vibrant, durable outdoor advertising that transformed city landscapes globally, particularly in places like Times Square and Las Vegas.
Filed
November 9, 1911
Granted
January 19, 1915
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
While the original neon tube industry has largely been superseded by LED technology, companies specializing in heritage restoration and high-end artistic lighting continue to utilize these fundamental gas-discharge principles.
Market impact
This patent enabled the commercialization of neon lighting, creating a massive new market for outdoor advertising and decorative lighting that lasted for nearly a century. It defined the visual aesthetic of urban nightlife until the advent of more efficient solid-state lighting.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details a method for creating electric light by sealing neon gas inside a glass tube with electrodes at each end. When high-voltage electricity flows through the gas, it ionizes the neon, causing it to glow with a characteristic bright red-orange light. The invention specifically addresses the purification of the gas and the design of the electrodes to prevent the gas from being absorbed into the glass walls during operation, which was a major hurdle for early gas-discharge lamps.
The clever bit
Claude solved the 'cleanliness' problem by using liquid air to purify the neon and designing electrodes with a large surface area to prevent the gas from being 'sputtered' or absorbed into the tube walls.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the use of gases other than neon for illumination
- Does not cover modern LED-based signage that mimics the look of neon
- Does not cover low-voltage lighting systems
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
12/40
Early citations
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
$4K – $13K
Midpoint $8K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.4
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
Claude, G. (1915). How Georges Claude Invented the Neon Light (U.S. Patent No. 1,125,476). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1125476/neon-lighting-claude
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="US1125476"></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 454622 · 1891
Nikola Tesla's Early System for Electric Lighting
US 223898 · 1880
How Thomas Edison Invented the Practical Incandescent Light Bulb
US 1203495 · 1916 · General Electric Co
How William Coolidge Invented the Modern X-Ray Tube
US 4356429 · 1982 · Eastman Kodak Co
How Organic Diodes Make Light Using Special Molecules
More to explore
More in Consumer Electronics
US 7657849 · 2010 · Apple Inc
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
US 7479949 · 2009 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls
US 4528643 · 1985 · FPDC Inc
How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval
US 7469381 · 2008 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Georges Claude Invented the Neon Light cover?
A 1915 patent describing the use of neon gas in sealed glass tubes to create bright, colorful light for signs and illumination.
Who owns patent US 1125476?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1915.
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 1125476 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 3 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This invention birthed the neon sign industry, which became a cultural icon of the 20th century. It enabled the creation of vibrant, durable outdoor advertising that transformed city landscapes globally, particularly in places like Times Square and Las Vegas.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the use of gases other than neon for illumination
Same assignee
More from Individual
Patent monitoring