John Holland's Design for an Early Submarine Boat
This 1906 patent by John P. Holland describes an early design for a submarine, a vessel capable of traveling underwater, laying the groundwork for modern naval technology.
Original patent title: “Submarine boat.”
This 1906 patent by John P. Holland describes an early design for a submarine, a vessel capable of traveling underwater, laying the groundwork for modern naval technology. Granted to Individual in 1906, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
While specific claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → details are unavailable for this patent, titled 'Submarine boat,' it describes the fundamental components and operation of an early submersible vessel. John P. Holland's designs typically included a hull capable of withstanding water pressure, ballast tanks for diving and surfacing, and a propulsion system for underwater travel. Such a submarine would submerge by filling its ballast tanks with water, then surface by expelling the water using compressed air. It would also feature control surfaces, like hydroplanes, to manage depth and direction while submerged.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover submarines propelled by nuclear reactors or advanced air-independent propulsion systems.
- Does not cover surface-only naval vessels like battleships or destroyers.
- Does not cover remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) or autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) without human crews.
- Does not cover diving bells or other stationary underwater habitats.
- Does not cover submersibles designed exclusively for deep-sea exploration without military capabilities.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → likely resided in combining various essential systems—such as internal combustion engines for surface propulsion, electric motors for submerged travel, and a reliable ballast system for controlled diving and surfacing—into a cohesive and functional submarine design.
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
Holland VI submarine
USS Holland (SS-1)
Early Royal Navy Holland-class submarines
Early Imperial Japanese Navy Holland-type submarines
Why it matters
The bigger picture
John P. Holland is widely recognized as the father of the modern submarine. His designs were among the first practical and militarily viable submersibles, leading to the adoption of submarines by the United States Navy and other navies worldwide. This patent represents a foundational step in the development of a completely new class of naval vessel.
Filed
September 24, 1904
Granted
March 20, 1906
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Modern naval shipbuilding companies like General Dynamics Electric Boat, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Naval Group, and BAE Systems continue to build advanced submarines. While the core principles of buoyancy and propulsion remain, these companies integrate cutting-edge technologies for stealth, weaponry, and endurance.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the emergence of the submarine as a viable military asset, fundamentally changing naval warfare strategies. It enabled the development of a new defense industry focused on underwater vessels, leading to significant investment by global navies and the creation of specialized shipbuilding capabilities. The foundational concepts from Holland's work directly influenced subsequent generations of submarine design.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
While specific claim details are unavailable for this patent, titled 'Submarine boat,' it describes the fundamental components and operation of an early submersible vessel. John P. Holland's designs typically included a hull capable of withstanding water pressure, ballast tanks for diving and surfacing, and a propulsion system for underwater travel. Such a submarine would submerge by filling its ballast tanks with water, then surface by expelling the water using compressed air. It would also feature control surfaces, like hydroplanes, to manage depth and direction while submerged.
The clever bit
The novelty likely resided in combining various essential systems—such as internal combustion engines for surface propulsion, electric motors for submerged travel, and a reliable ballast system for controlled diving and surfacing—into a cohesive and functional submarine design.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover submarines propelled by nuclear reactors or advanced air-independent propulsion systems.
- Does not cover surface-only naval vessels like battleships or destroyers.
- Does not cover remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) or autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) without human crews.
- Does not cover diving bells or other stationary underwater habitats.
- Does not cover submersibles designed exclusively for deep-sea exploration without military capabilities.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
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
$1K – $4K
Midpoint $3K · expired or expiring · industry ×0.9
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
Holland, J. P. (1906). John Holland's Design for an Early Submarine Boat (U.S. Patent No. 815,350). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/815350/holland-submarine
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John Holland's Design for an Early Submarine Boat cover?
This 1906 patent by John P. Holland describes an early design for a submarine, a vessel capable of traveling underwater, laying the groundwork for modern naval technology.
Who owns patent US 815350?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1906.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What problem does this patent solve?
John P. Holland is widely recognized as the father of the modern submarine. His designs were among the first practical and militarily viable submersibles, leading to the adoption of submarines by the United States Navy and other navies worldwide. This patent represents a foundational step in the development of a completely new class of naval vessel.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover submarines propelled by nuclear reactors or advanced air-independent propulsion systems.
Same assignee
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