Ornamental and functional designs are protected by patents, as explained at Get Design Patent Help. They also cover artistic creations.
Even though patenting can be a complex and expensive process, it can be simplified with a little help and knowledge. Whether you need a utility or design patent is the first step.
Utility patents cover inventions that have some practical application. It is likely that you would want a utility patent on your invention if it was, for instance, a new and improved method for making ice cream. Meanwhile, if your idea relates only to the appearance of something like jewelry, clothing, furniture, etc., then you might consider filing a design patent instead.
Next, decide on scope of protection. Even if you think one type of patent may apply to your product, in reality something else would protect you better for your situation.
A utility patent application must include drawings of how your product works. The only diagrams required when filing a design patent (https://www.ravenmann.co.uk/get-design-patent-help/) are those that depict the appearance of the product or its package.
However, even with design patents, there may be some situations where it would not hurt to include additional drawings showing how your product works and/or what features make it unique.
e.g. If your invention is an electronic device with a few buttons, it could be useful to include a drawing that makes sure no one can figure out what each button does. This could help prevent competitors from using your invention as prior art against you.
Who was issued the first patent?
It was in 1790 that the first invention in the United States was awarded patent registration. The patent was issued to Samuel Hopkins for a process of making potash for use in fertilizer.
In the United States, there are many types of intellectual property protection suited to different products and works of art. Whereas patents are for unique mechanisms and product designs, copyright protects original works such as books or movies from being copied by others. This includes the text itself but also images in a book or movie. Copyright law does not protect an artist’s ideas, only how the artist expresses them.
The actual invention is the only thing protected by a utility patent. There is no coverage for how exactly the item was built, the materials that were used, or what other aspects were involved in its construction.
For more information on design patents, a helpful resource is https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=29.735201.