# A 1920s Design for a Suspended Monorail Transportation System

> A 1923 patent by May B. Cornwall describing a structural design for a suspended monorail train system intended for efficient passenger or cargo transport.

- **Patent:** US 1469997
- **Original title:** Monorail system
- **Owner:** MAY B CORNWALL
- **Granted:** 1923
- **Status:** Public domain (expired)
- **Times cited:** 7
- **Field:** mechanical, automotive

## What it does

The patent outlines a mechanical configuration for a monorail system where a vehicle is suspended from a single overhead track. It details the interaction between the carriage assembly and the rail to ensure stability while moving along a singular path. The design focuses on the physical support structure required to keep the car balanced and moving smoothly despite the lack of a traditional two-rail foundation.

## What it does NOT cover

- Does not cover modern magnetic levitation (maglev) propulsion systems.
- Does not cover automated switching mechanisms for complex multi-line rail networks.
- Does not cover the electrical power distribution systems used in modern transit.

## The clever bit

The invention focuses on the geometric challenge of maintaining a center of gravity for a suspended load on a single track, a fundamental problem in early transit engineering.

## Real-world examples

1. Early 20th-century suspended rail experiments
2. Theme park monorail systems
3. Historical urban elevated transit concepts

## Why it matters

This patent represents an era of experimentation with alternative transit infrastructure during the early 20th century. It highlights the historical interest in elevated rail solutions to solve urban congestion, long before modern monorails became common in theme parks and specific city transit lines.

## Frequently asked questions

### What does A 1920s Design for a Suspended Monorail Transportation System cover?

A 1923 patent by May B. Cornwall describing a structural design for a suspended monorail train system intended for efficient passenger or cargo transport.

### Who owns patent US 1469997?

MAY B CORNWALL owns this patent, granted in 1923.

### 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 1469997 cited by?

This patent has been cited by 7 later patents that build on its ideas.

### What problem does this patent solve?

This patent represents an era of experimentation with alternative transit infrastructure during the early 20th century. It highlights the historical interest in elevated rail solutions to solve urban congestion, long before modern monorails became common in theme parks and specific city transit lines.

### What does this patent NOT cover?

Does not cover modern magnetic levitation (maglev) propulsion systems.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1469997/iletin-insulin

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US1469997

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._