HEIMLICH MANEUVER

When Henry Judah Heimlich came up with his life-saving procedure in the 1970s, he was at a loss as to what to call it. Eventually, he went with the most obvious solution: naming it after the creator, aka himself. No matter the name, though, the technique is something we should all know how to do and countless lives have been saved because of it.

MASON JAR

John Landis Mason patented this wide-mouthed jar in 1858 after working as a tinsmith. They were unique for their hermetic seal, created by the separate band and lid used in the screw thread design. This allowed the jars to be reused, saving the user money. They were quickly dubbed Mason jars, although many other companies would copy the design over the years. Even today, Mason jars are still popular for canning and other projects.

SAXOPHONE

Adolphe Sax created quite a few horn instruments during his life, but his most famous is the one that bears his name. His dream was to create an instrument with the workings of a woodwind- hence the reed- but with that iconic horn sound. The saxophone changed the face of music forever, even though it took a while to gain popularity. It remained a novelty instrument until the rise of jazz in the 1920s when musicians found it matched the sound of the new genre.

SALISBURY STEAK

This staple of school cafeterias was the creation of James Salisbury, a 19^th-century doctor. Unlike most modern physicians, Salisbury believed that starches and vegetables were the bane of a healthy body. While his views on lean meat were later vindicated, most people agree fruits and veggies are key to a healthy diet. Nevertheless, this mixture of ground meats and gravy has found its way to the hearts (and stomachs) of millions.

GRAHAM CRACKERS

On the opposite end of the diet spectrum was Sylvester Graham and his crackers. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains were the order of the day- without any meats or spices. He developed the graham cracker to help combat the blandness of this diet, or perhaps to enforce it. Graham also believed eating plainly would promote a morally pure lifestyle. Of course, most now associate the cracker with summer cookouts and beach bonfires thanks to that classic dessert- s’mores. Adding in the other indulgences the Graham cracker appears in, it’s safe to assume Graham’s goal has long been forgotten.

JACUZZI

The Jacuzzi is notable for not being named after one person, but a septet. Immigrants from Italy, the Jacuzzi brothers developed a hydrotherapy pump to use in the bath. Not only did it soothe the arthritis of a relative but caught on among the general public. The whirlpool bath as we know it came from a third-generation Jacuzzi in 1968.

SILHOUETTE

This is one instance where having your name immortalized is not a good thing. Etienne de Silhouette was a strict French finance minister. He made drastic cuts to the upper class during the Seven Years’ War. His name was used to describe anything cheaply made and soon became synonymous with the simple portraits.

BOWLER HAT

We have William Bowler to thank for this classic felt hat, which he designed in 1850. However, we should also give credit to the Earl of Leicester’s younger brother, Edward Coke, for commissioning him in the first place. According to legend, Coke asked Bowler to craft a hat that would protect him from low-hanging branches during horseback riding. So much for wearing a helmet.

BRAILLE

Louis Braille is responsible for the eponymous written language, now most famously used for blind people. However, he originally devised the language after studying up on cryptography- namely, the code of pressed dots Captain Charles Barbier had created to help his men communicate in the dark.

FERRIS WHEEL

Names play a huge role in the history and legacy of the famous ride. George W. G. Ferris (of Pittsburgh!) intended for it to be the spotlight of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, measuring in at 264 feet. Ferris wanted it to rival the creation of Gustave Eiffel for the World’s Exhibition in 1889, the Eiffel Tower. It fell a little short, as the Tower reaches 1,063 feet at its tip. But while the Eiffel Tower would remain a landmark of France, the Ferris Wheel has been duplicated worldwide as a popular amusement park attraction. (It later went on to be the name of Matthew Broderick’s character in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.)

The post Inventions Named After People appeared first on Inventionland.

MICROWAVE OVEN

One day in 1945, an employee of the Raytheon Corporation named Percy Spencer was experimenting with a magnetron vacuum tube. When he noticed the candy bar in his pocket starting to melt, he tested some popcorn with the device. When it began to pop, he knew he found something huge. Raytheon began selling the Radarange in 1947, and it flopped commercially. A cheaper, smaller version came out in 1967 to much better reception and now over 95% of homes in the United States have a microwave.

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS

While you should always wash your hands before eating, there are cases where a bathroom break would change the course of history. For example, if chemist Constantin Fahlberg had washed his hands before dinner in 1879, he would’ve cleaned all the coal tar off his skin. Then he would’ve never tasted how sweet his food was due to the saccharin from the tar. (This is the exception, though- please practice good health and grooming habits.)

POTATO CHIPS

George Crum was the Gordon Ramsay of his day, easily angered but resourceful. When a customer complained that their French fries were too thick and soggy, Crum angrily sliced potatoes as thin as he could, fried them, and served with salt. The customer loved them. That day in 1853, the world’s favorite snack food, the potato chip, was born…entirely out of rage and spite.

IMPLANTABLE PACEMAKER

The idea of a pacemaker wasn’t new before 1956, but few could think of a practical way to insert one into the human body. Wilson Greatbatch, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at the University of Buffalo, wasn’t looking to create an artificial heartbeat. He just needed a resistor to build a heart rhythm recorder. The resistor was the wrong size, and when installed, made the circuit produce intermittent electrical pulses. It reminded him of a heartbeat and he began experimenting further and eventually the implantable pacemaker evolved.

POPSICLES

Eleven-year-old Frank Epperson wanted to try some soda pop, the latest beverage craze, in 1905. Instead of spending his money, though, he’d experiment and make his own at home. He mixed powder and water and nearly hit the jackpot- until he left the concoction on the porch overnight. The mixture froze overnight, stirring stick stuck inside… the perfect handle for the new frozen confection he just created.

RADIOACTIVITY

Chalk this one up to both Mother Nature and Henri Becquerel. The chemist was trying to make fluorescent materials produce X-rays through sunlight in 1896. Unfortunately, it was a week of clouds and overcast, forcing him to leave the supplies in his drawer. When the sun finally came out, he opened the drawer to find the uranium rock he was using imprinted in a nearby photographic plate- all without any exposure to light.

SLINKY

Navy engineer Richard James wanted to use springs to keep sensitive instruments steady during World War II. When he dropped one of the springs, it righted itself and landed upright…much to James’ amusement. It caught on among other members of the Navy and children alike, thus creating what might be the simplest toy in existence.

STAINLESS STEEL

Metallurgist Harry Bearly was hired by a 20^th-century arms manufacturer to create a gun barrel that was rust-resistant. He did so but conducted a few experiments on his own on the side. When the metal held up against corrosives like lemon juice, he saw the potential for food-grade silverware, and the elimination of nightly washing, polishing and putting away of the silverware was currently used. Stainless steel appliances, however, were still a bit beyond his imagination.

The post The Best Accidental Inventions appeared first on Inventionland.

COUSINS MAINE LOBSTER

During season 4, Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis introduced their food truck, a high-end concept offering lobster shipped from their home state of Maine. Now living in California, the cousins wanted to bring some of the food they grew up with to the West Coast. Barbara Corcoran made a deal: 15% of their company in exchange for $55,000. Not long after the episode premiered, they hit $700,000 in sales and made $8 million in 2016.

SCRUB DADDY

Perhaps the most well-known Shark Tank product, the Scrub Daddy is a reusable sponge that is firm in cold water and soft in hot water. Aaron Krause invented it in 2012, and in October appeared on the show. Lori Greiner invested $20,000 for a 20% equity, a bid that soon paid off. Since then, Scrub Daddy has made over $100 million in sales, making it by and large the most successful pitch in the show’s history.

BUGGYBEDS

Previously a security analyst, Maria Curcio began hunting down a new kind of bugs: bedbugs. She created the BuggyBed, a glue trap to catch the insects before they infested your furniture. Along with Veronica Perlongo, they appeared on Shark Tank to see if any would take the bait. In the end, all five sharks invested, and BuggyBeds are now available in 23 countries globally.

LOLLACUP

Hanna and Mark Lim were worried about the dishes they were using for their children and if they were truly safe. They developed a BPA and phthalate-free alternative, the Lollacup, with a flexible straw. Both Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec went for a 40% equity at $100,000. In 2018, the Lollacup has expanded into Lollaland, with bowls, plates, baby bottles, play mats, and even pacifiers.

COPA DI VINO

Copa di Vino is unique in that it failed on the show itself, despite appearing twice. James Martin came up with the idea of a “wine by the glass” single-serve product during a train trip, available in multiple premium varieties. Despite not catching on with the sharks both times, Copa di Vino went from $500,000 in sales prior to their pitch to $14 million in 2015. Sometimes, just a little press is enough of a boost.

WICKED GOOD CUPCAKES

The team: mother and daughter Tracey Noonan and Dani Vilage. The pitch: gourmet cupcakes in a jar, shipped nationwide. The result? Kevin O’Leary agreed to invest for $75,000 in royalties and $1 per cupcake sold until he broke even, then 50 cents for each additional cupcake. He made his investment back and then some: the pair had $8 million in sales by 2016.

GROOVEBOOK

Julia Whiteman lost thousands of family photos from her phone, inspiring her husband Brian to think of a way to preserve them. His idea was Groovebook, a monthly service that would print smartphone pictures in a book. Both Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary agreed to fund Whiteman for $150,000 on Shark Tank, in exchange for 80% licensing profits. 50,000 new subscribers joined after the episode aired, and the company was acquired by Shutterfly in 2014 for $14.5 million.

BOMBAS

Randy Goldberg and David Heath wanted to accomplish two goals: make a better sock and help their community. The concept they came up with were Bombas, socks with a blister tab and extra cushioning. Daymond John backed them, loving both their product and their intention to donate a pair to homeless shelters for each pair bought. In 2017, the company made $50 million.

HONORABLE MENTION: INVENTIONLAND INSTITUTE REGIONAL COMPETITION

Sure it hasn’t made it to prime time yet, but every semester our very own Inventionland Institute hosts a regional competition where students present their inventions in a Shark Tank-like setting. Check out the highlights from the 2018 Regional Competition:

The post Most Successful “Shark Tank” Pitches appeared first on Inventionland.

SUNGLASSES

Throughout the 1300s and 1400s, Chinese judges would wear quartz lenses tinged with smoke to hide their expressions in court- the need to keep impartial, after all. Vision-correcting glasses were introduced to China not long after but were still tinted for the same reasons. However, it wasn’t until the 1930s that tinted glasses were used specifically to protect against the sun.

WHITE-OUT

Nesmith Graham was a typist by profession, albeit not an exceptional one. She began mixing water-based paints in her blender at home, and using a fine brush, was able to fix her mistakes in seconds. Other typists at her work began making requests for the mixture, which she called “Mistake Out.” It ultimately cost her her job, but she was happy to use her free time to work on the product and patent it in 1958.

FLASHLIGHT

Conrad Hubert was an inventor who specialized in novelty electronics. While most of his devices never caught on, he did experiment with lighted stick pins and illuminated flower pots. Eventually, he had a bright idea: a lightbulb and a reflector inside a paper tube. Easy to hold and use, Hubert patented his flashlight (or “torch,” in the UK) in 1902. While other designs exist, this tubular shape is still the most popular worldwide.

DUCT TAPE

If you’ve ever misspelled it as “duck tape,” don’t worry. This was the original nickname for the adhesive back during WWII, due to its waterproof properties. The color was standard army green until the war ended, and the tape became a common household item. It was changed to silver and renamed “duct tape” due to the frequency it was used to, well, repair air ducts.

CAN OPENERS

Even though canned food was first introduced in 1810, it wasn’t until 1850 that Ezra Warner gave the world the can opener. Previously, people used hammers and chisels to get their food out of cans, but Warner’s alternative wasn’t much better. Her version used a bayonet to hold the can while a sickle was moved around. Not exactly safe for the fingers. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way.

T-SHIRTS

Up until 1904, men wore almost exclusively button-down shirts. While stylish, this did cause problems as the buttons were prone to popping off. However, that year was when the Copper Underwear Company began advertising their line of shirts that could be pulled over the head. It heavily appealed to bachelors who didn’t have a wife to sew for them, and the US Navy began issuing them to sailors. The name “T-shirt,” though? Still an enigma.

BENDABLE STRAW

During a visit to his brother’s soda shop in 1937, Joseph Friedman noticed his daughter struggling with her milkshake. At the time, straight paper straws were the norm, and not exactly useful for thicker drinks. Friedman used a screw and floss to create a ribbed texture in the straw, one that could be bent over the lid of the glass. He patented it and started his own bendable straw company in 1939.

COAT HANGERS

Albert Parkhouse came into work one day in 1903 wet and cold from the rain. Unfortunately, there was no place to hang his coat, so he bent some wire he used to make lampshades for customers. He looped the wire over a rack and hung his coat up. It caught on among his fellow employees and Parkhouse’s boss patented the creation. Yes, even then, bosses were taking advantage of their employees’ ingenuity.

ESCALATOR

The escalator may seem like nothing more than a staple of malls everywhere now, but in 1891 it was marketed as an attraction. Jesse Reno installed a version of his moving ramp in Coney Island, where more than 75,000 guests enjoyed it over two weeks. Coincidentally, Charles D. Seeberger came up with a “moving staircase,” and both inventions were featured at an exhibition in Paris in 1900.

COMPUTER MOUSE

Ten years before there was a mouse for every computer, the trackball was being used as part of top-secret military research. Donald Englebart, inventor of the mouse, originally had a prototype that sensed head movements to replicate the clicking of the buttons. Needless to say, it didn’t catch on.

The post Funny Invention Stories, Part 2: Everyday Objects appeared first on Inventionland.

COTTON CANDY

In truth, spun sugar was already a popular dessert, having been around since medieval times. However, in 1897, William J. Morrison worked with candy maker John C. Wharton to co-patent an “electric candy machine” to produce the fluffy confection. The twist? Morrison was the former president of the Tennessee State Dental Association and was a dentist for several years. Now that’s a toothache of irony.

SNAPPLE

If you’ve ever wondered where the name “Snapple” came from, it’s a mashup of “snap” and “apple.” Arnold Greenberg, Leonard Marsh, and Hyman Golden were attempting to market a line of carbonated juice drinks. Unfortunately, when the drinks fermented, the lids would explode off the bottles. The formula was tweaked, but the nickname stuck. Guess it was just snappy enough.

NACHOS

Ignacio Anaya was the head waiter at the Mexican restaurant Victory Club during World War II. One day, a group of women stopped in for a meal, but Anaya couldn’t find the cook. Improvising, he threw together tortilla chips, cheese, and jalapenos. The food was christened the nacho after Anaya’s real-life nickname. A very believable, if cheesy, reasoning.

CHEWING GUM

Speaking of Mexico, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna is most famous for his role during the battle for the Alamo. After he was exiled from Mexico, he tried to raise funds for his return by selling chicle as a substitute for rubber. Father-and-son inventors Thomas and Horatio Adams realized they could make the product chewable, and the bubble for the gum industry was blown.

FLAMIN’ HOT CHEETOS

A janitor at the California Frito-Lay plant, Richard Montanez, brought home some bare Cheetos after a mishap at the factory. He covered them with chili powder, a combination which was a hit among friends and family. His supervisors suggested he speak to the company president. To this day, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are the most popular version of the snack. Flame on, Montanez.

SANDWICHES

You’ve probably heard this story already: John Montagu, the fourth Earl of Sandwich, was an avid gambler during his free time. During a poker game, he asked a servant to bring him his meat in between two pieces of toast, so he could eat with one hand and play with the other. His friends began ordering the same combo, nicknaming it after Montagu’s title. Clearly the best thing since sliced bread.

PRETZELS

Because pretzels have been around for centuries, their exact origin is unknown. However, it is widely believed European monks and other members of the clergy are to thank. The design of the pretzel somewhat resembles a child with their arms crossed in prayer. Their German name, brezel, is also thought to be derived from the Latin bracchiola, or “little arms.” No wonder they make such a divine snack. On the other hand…

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

…was not invented in Germany. Indeed, it was created by an American man named Samuel German, an employee of Baker’s Chocolate. Baker’s is famously used in the cake, and the original name of the confection (German’s Chocolate Cake) made the origins more clear. Don’t worry, though- black forest cake is the real deal.

FANTA

During World War II, Coca-Cola stopped syrup shipments to Germany. This left German CEO Max Keith in a predicament. How was he to prepare soft drinks without the top-secret Coke syrup? Mix whatever ingredients he could find- surplus fruit, leftovers from cheese making, etc.- together, sweeten it, and profit. It quickly caught on not for its flavor, but the lack of alternatives. Eventually, Coke added Fanta to its permanent lineup.

SNICKERS

The candy bar itself doesn’t have a particularly fascinating history in its creation. The combination of peanuts, nougat, and chocolate came naturally to the Mars family. The funny part is the name, shared with their favorite family horse. Some versions of the story suggest it was the youngest daughter who made the suggestion, but this is far from confirmed.

The post Funny Invention Stories, Part 1: Food appeared first on Inventionland.

But what is the maker movement? It’s the technological side of DIY, with an emphasis on creating new hardware and tinkering with the old. There is some overlap with hacker culture, but hackers are more concerned with software rather than physical tech. Everything from robotics and 3D printing to metalworking and arts-and-crafts have their place in the maker movement. As the name implies, it’s about creating something new, rather than depending on the old. It’s about creativity and invention.

Obviously, none of these activities are new. Inventors and creative types have existed since the dawn of humankind. But the maker movement is the first time such a large and dedicated base is devoted to invention and production. Previously, inventors were considered odd and quirky, operating outside of normal trends. Now, they’re everywhere, and seen as visionaries. Revolutionaries, even. It all depends on who you ask.

That said, these modern inventors still face many of the problems their predecessors did–namely, securing funds. Not everybody is able to become an eccentric billionaire with a mansion full of strange devices. This is where Kickstarter comes in. An individual or group comes up with a product, technological or otherwise, and builds a prototype. They’re unable to convince any companies to buy and produce their product. Instead, they turn to Kickstarter, where anybody interested in their idea can invest in making it a reality and gain a few perks along the way.

Kickstarter was founded by Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler in 2009. It was an immediate success, with the New York Times calling it “the people’s NEA.” Reportedly, more than $4 billion in pledges have been made, across more than 250,000 projects. The very first successful Kickstarter was darkpony’s “Drawing for Dollars,” which exceeded its goal of $20 by 75%. Compare this to the most successful project, the Pebble Time smartwatch, which made over 4000% of its funding. Humble beginnings, indeed.

For the most part, it’s a win-win scenario. Inventors can promote their product and offer incentives for higher donations. Interested consumers can pay what they want, often getting an early version of the product in return. The inventors get funding, the consumers get the product. With Kickstarter’s policy of money only going to the host if the project is completely funded, there’s an extra layer of security in case of failure. And failures there have been- most notably, Central Standard Timing, which raised more than a million dollars before being canceled due to mismanagement.

Still, for every bomb, there’s one that manages to succeed. This has opened the door for hundreds, if not thousands of members of the maker movement to bring their creations to life. While this does saturate the market to a degree, it’s also allowed for some amazing advancements in just a few years. For example, coding was once a hobby for only the most dedicated computer nerds, requiring advanced knowledge of multiple programming languages. Now, kids can learn to code their own websites or games using toys or online tools. This, in turn, inspires a new generation of the maker movement.

Kickstarter and similar sites are not exclusive to the maker movement, nor are they the root source of the cause. Rather, the two coexist and work together to improve lives. Quite literally in some cases- a successful Kickstarter might help both the inventor pay their rent and result in a device that helps those with a disability. Yes, the platform has flaws, and the maker movement isn’t devoid of failure either. For every success story you hear, there’s at least a dozen more that have flopped.

The maker movement will only continue to grow over the next decade as new generations with interests in technology and creativity come of age. Some may even be so young as to not remember a time when Kickstarter was commonplace. There’s a new era of self-made millionaires out there, just waiting to be discovered. You just need to find the right link to their page.

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