e.g. It's not that Edison invented a light bulb - he created the first power grid. It's like inventing an internet client, and the internet.
Edison's light bulb was attacked on all fronts in patent court for years, and he beat them all.
He invented the light bulb.
Ironically for Elon Musk, early electric cars mostly used Edison batteries.
"Swan's carbon rod lamp and carbon filament lamp, while functional, were still relatively impractical due to low resistance (needing very expensive thick copper wiring) and short running life."
It also mentions the high current.
As I remarked, Edison's breakthrough was the thin-filament high voltage, low current lamp, which made it practical.
Light bulb and wiring - GE
phonograph - National Phonograph Company
Internet client?