May 22, 1906  (Transcript of the patent) THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME: Whereas Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright Dayton, Ohio had presented to the Commissioner of Patents a petition praying for the grant of Letters Patent for an alleged new and useful improvement in Flying Machines, a description of which invention is contained in the specification of which a copy is hereunto annexed and made a part hereof, and have complied with the various requirements of Law in such cases made and provided, and Whereas upon due examination made the said Claimants are adjudged to be justly entitled to a patent under the law.

Now therefore these Letters Patent are togrant unto the said Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright, their heirs or assigns for the term of Seventeen years from the twenty-second day of May One Thousand Nine Hundred and Six the exclusive right to make, use and vend the said invention throughout the United States and the territories there of. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Patent Office to be affixed at the City of Washington (on the) twenty-second day of May (in the) year of our Lord one Thousand nine hundred and six and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and thirtieth [Signed] Commissioner of Patents