Question from Jenny:
I heard Coca-Cola originally got its name because they used to put cocaine in it. Is that really true?
Interesting question, Jenny!
Coca-Cola was in fact named for its two medicinal ingredients: extract of the coca leaves and kola nuts. The original formula included five ounces of coca leaf per gallon of syrup. At one time, Coca-Cola contained approximately nine milligrams of cocaine per glass. Continue reading “Ask The Invention Geek – Cocaine in Coca Cola?”
Webster’s dictionary defines serendipity as the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for. Accidental discoveries have happened in all fields and disciplines. Some great advancements in medicine have been the product of serendipity. Nitrous oxide as an anesthetic, rubber gloves to control infections and insulin are among these discoveries:
Nitrous Oxide as an Anesthetic
In 1798, Humphry Davy took a position at the Pneumatic Institution which was investigating the use of gases in the prevention and cure of diseases. At the Institution, Davy discovered that nitrous oxide could be inhaled by people. Davy did various tests of the gas on himself and his friends. A chamber was even built for the inhalation of the gas. Through these tests he discovered that inhalation brought about an altered state of intoxication. He also realized that the even if the inhaler was semi-conscious the sensation of pain was considerably dulled by the gas. His initial recommendation to use the gas for surgery was ignored. It was forty-fives years later that nitrous oxide was finally used as an anesthetic by dentists. Continue reading “Serendipity – The Discovery of Nitrous Oxide as an Anesthetic, Rubber Gloves, and Diabetes Control”
There are many stories of who invented the ice cream cone. Many people say that the ice cream cone was invented July 23, 1904 at the St. Louis World Fair. But who at the fair invented the cone? There were more than fifty ice cream vendors and over a dozen waffle stands with many claims of invention.
The most commonly accepted story is that Ernest Hamwi produced the first cone. Arnold Fornachou, an ice cream vendor at the fair ran out of paper bowls in which to server his ice cream. Hamwi was selling zalabi, a waffle-like pastry at a neighboring cart. He came to the aid of Fornachou by rolling his waffles into a cone to hold the ice cream. After the fair, Hamwi partnered with J. P. Heckle to open the Cornucopia Waffle Company. Continue reading “Who Invented The Ice Cream Cone?”
In 1928, the Fremont Canning Company was looking for a face to represent its new baby food campaign. Owner Frank Gerber decided to sponsor a nationwide competition to find the face that would appear on the new packaging. Paintings and drawings were submitted from all over the country. The entries included everything from intricate oil paintings to simple sketches.
Dorothy Hope Smith’s unfinished charcoal sketch was among the entries. She had offered to finish the sketch if it was chosen. The judges fell in love with the five month old Ann Turner in her submission. The drawing of her tousled hair, bright eyes and round lips was the winner. The judges did not even want Smith to finish the drawing. Smith received three hundred dollars in prize money. Continue reading “Is Your Baby a Gerber Baby? Gerber Baby Trademark”
Richard H. Hollingshead, Jr. is credited with the invention of the Drive-in Movie Theatre. Hollingshead’s position as the sales manager for Whiz Auto Products Company was not very interesting and he set out to challenge himself. While studying American culture, Richard discovered that while Americans would never give up going to the movies it was often a hassle for parents. Going to the movies was not a family activity. Children went to matinees while adults dressed up and went to evening shows. A babysitter was needed for the children and dad had to dress up after a day of work. Continue reading “Popcorn Never Tasted So Good – The Invention of the Drive-in Movie Theatre”
In 1905, an eleven-year old boy mixed some soda water powder and water. The boy, Frank Epperson, forgot the mixture on the back porch with the stirring stick still in the container. Overnight the temperature dropped below freezing turning the mixture to ice. Epperson took the frozen soda water to school to show his friends.
Eighteen years later, in 1923, Epperson remembered his frozen concoction. He started a business producing with what he called Epsicles in seven different fruit flavors. He designed a machine to produce the frozen confection. Epperson’s children referred to the frozen treats as Pop’s ‘sicle. Epperson eventually changed the name from Epsicles to Popsicles.
Continue reading “A Frozen Treat on a Stick – The Invention of Popsicles”
Patent Cube Award
www.patentcubes.com is where you can learn more and buy Patent Cubes.
We have had a lot of clients and potential clients showing interest and asking good questions about our patent cubes in the last few months. So I would like to address some of those questions:
Question 1: What is the size of the Patent Cube?
Answer 1: Each cube is 4” x 4” x 4” and weighs approximately 7 pounds.
Question 2: What is the cube made from?
Answer 2: The cube is solid hand-polished black granite.
Question 3: Why granite and not marble?
Answer 3: We use granite for the Patent Cube because it is much stronger material and engraves beautifully.
Question 4: How is the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) seal medallion made?
Answer 4: The USPTO seal medallion is die struck and plated with 24kt gold to which creates a 2 dimensional seal which is then color filled to enhance the beautiful american eagle.
Continue reading “Patent Cube Questions and Answers”
We have just introduced the Patent Cube to the world. This beauty is a 4” x 4” x 4” solid granite hand-polished cube which features a medallion of the United States Patent and Trademark Office seal die struck and plated with 24kt gold. The sides of the cube can be engraved with your name, patent details or even a company logo. We can engrave practically anything on the sides of the cube in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility…just ask. Continue reading “The Patent Cube…”
In 1971, Carolyn Davidson was studying graphic design at Portland State University. Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, was teaching accounting classes at the school while starting his business then known as Blue Ribbon Sports. Davidson began doing freelance work for Knight’s small company.
Knight approached her to design a logo that could be used on the side of shoes. He wanted something that suggested movement. In June 1971, Davidson presented a number of options to Knight and other executives at Blue Ribbon Sports. The company had a presentation quickly approaching and shoeboxes waiting to be printed so they had to have a logo promptly. The group selected the logo now known as the Swoosh. Knight told Davidson at the time “I don’t love it but it will grow on me”. Continue reading “What Famous Logo Was Designed For Only $35?”
Margaret Knight is credited with over 90 different inventions and she received 26 patents in her lifetime. Her patents included textile and shoe-making machinery, domestic devices, and an automobile engine. She received her first patent at the age of 30 but was inventing her entire life.
Ms. Knight’s first invention was at the age of 12, two years after her father passed away. Her brothers began working in a textile mill to support the family, by the time she was 12, she had joined them. When working, Ms. Knight witnessed an accident where a snagged thread caused a spindle to fly off of a machine and injure some of her fellow workers. This experience led to her inventing a stop-motion device that could stop machinery used in textile mills and prevent injury. Continue reading “Famous Women Inventors: Margaret Knight – Inventing Since the Age of 12”