In 1963 Robert Kearns invented the intermittent windshield wiper, presented it to Ford Motor Co. and was hired. Ford fired him and took his technology. He sued Ford for patent infringement and after 12 yrs. of litigation, at times without a lawyer, the court awarded Kearns 10.3 M dollars.
inventions
The US House of Representatives recognized…
The US House of Representatives recognized that Alexander Graham Bell was not the original inventor of the telephone, in H. Res 269. They gave that recognition to Antonio Meucci. In 1887, the SCOTUS found the case viable and remanded a trial, but it was dismissed shortly after Meucci’s death.
In the 1870s, an 11 time Mexican President…
In the 1870s, an 11 time Mexican President exiled to Staten Island, partnered with New Jersey inventor to sell gum to fund an army to return to power once more. After he gave up and returned to Mexico, his partner went on to create what we know as chewing gum sticks today.
My Girlfriend in Walk
For those who would like to hold someone’s hand as they walk around, but can’t find anyone human who will oblige, engineers at Gifu University in Japan have invented the “My Girlfriend in Walk”. It’s a robotic hand covered in soft, skin-like gel that will grip your hand. Plus, it emits the scent of a woman’s shampoo, and (through a smartphone app) can simulate the sounds of breathing and rustling clothes.
The inventors hope that it might help people who have been isolated due to the pandemic.
North Koreans are especially proud…
North Koreans are especially proud of Kim Jong Il for his “inventions”. One of them is the Gogigyeopbbang or double breaded meat, which is essentially a hamburger.
Even though Philo Farnsworth…
Even though Philo Farnsworth, the inventor of electronic television, was disappointed by it for most of his life, he changed his mind the day he saw Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon thanks to his invention, telling his wife “this has made it all worthwhile”.
Rat Trap
Jason Alexander Williams didn’t mess around when it came to killing rodents. His ‘animal trap’ (patented in 1882) shot them dead:
My invention relates to an improvement in animal-traps; and it consists in the combination of a suitable frame upon which a revolver or pistol is secured, a treadle which is secured to the front end of this frame, and a suitable spring and levers, by which the firearm is discharged when the animal steps upon the treadle, as will be more fully described hereinafter.
The object of my invention is to provide a means by which animals which burrow in the ground can be destroyed, and which trap will give an alarm each time that it goes off, so that it can be reset.
And his invention didn’t just kill rodents. Williams noted:
This invention may also be used in connection with a door or window, so as to kill any person or thing opening the door or window to which it is attached.
Stephanie Kwolek the inventor…
Stephanie Kwolek the inventor of Kevlar was working on finding a new, lightweight substitute for steel belting in automobile tires, on fears of a looming oil shortage and in anticipation of a market for lighter tires. What resulted was a new fiber five times stronger than steel by weight.
In 1908, German housewife Melitta…
In 1908, German housewife Melitta Bentz was tired of ground coffee leftovers in her coffee cup. As a consequence, she invented the paper coffee filter, founded a company, and became the employer of her own husband, in a time when women weren’t even allowed to vote.
On November 10, 1903, Mary Anderson…
On November 10, 1903, Mary Anderson invented an automatic car window cleaning device controlled from within the car, called the “Windshield Wiper”.