Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From home furnishing to the culinary arts, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of July:
- 1885: On July 14, Sarah Goode became the first Black American woman to receive a patent for her invention of a folding cabinet bed. Thanks to its convenient space-saving design, Goode’s invention has stood the test of time, with the global market for wall beds estimated to be worth $2.5 billion in 2020. And more than 135 years after its invention, this piece of furniture continues to develop new appeal – such as helping create space for home offices post-Covid.
- 1897: On July 13, Guglielmo Marconi received a patent for the wireless telegraph, the first instance of radio transmission technology. This technology helped establish the broadcast radio industry, which in 2022 brought in over $23 billion in the United States. and reached more than eight in 10 Americans per week. More broadly, it paved the way for wireless telecommunications – an industry that was estimated to be worth a massive $2.1 trillion in 2023.
- 1932: On July 12, Otto Rohwedder received a patent for a machine for slicing a loaf of bread, which has since become the proverbial measuring stick for all new innovations with the phrase “greatest thing since sliced bread!” Today, the U.S. bread industry generates nearly $24 billion in annual revenue.