Though CVT has recently received level of popularity, with new innovations giving better efficiency, the design has existed for hundreds of years. Leonardo da Vinci built the main cvt transmission in 1490, even though it was produced in 1886 by Daimler and Benz. Wasn't formally patented right up until now. https://gearboxcvt17272.mybuzzblog.com/13895005/5-essential-elements-for-gearbox-cvt