A patentable invention must be new, non-obvious, & this, like the "arts" the constitution encourages
[DOC] [TLE] General information concerning patents - United States Patent and ... [PAR] Patent Laws; What Can Be Patented; Novelty And Non-Obviousness, Conditions 
For ... By protecting intellectual endeavors and encouraging technological ... of 
science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the 
...