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By Bridget Retzloff, Heidi Gauder

When you think about famous Dayton inventors, one often recalls the Wright brothers, Charles Kettering, Ermal Fraze, and perhaps Hans von Ohain.

For a city its size, Dayton has a remarkable legacy of patents and inventions. You might also notice that all of these well-known inventors are men — white men at that. 

The history of U.S. innovation, as told through patented inventions, is a lopsided story, as more patents have been awarded to people who are white, male and wealthier than other parts of the population — namely women, people of color and lower-income individuals.

Part of the disparity stems from the data collection practices in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as patent applications do not require demographic information. Even so, a 2020 report from the USPTO notes that patents with at least one woman inventor account for only 22% of patents issued.

People of color have long faced barr