Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From car safety to clean energy, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of July:
- 1962: On July 10, Nils Bohlen received a patent for the modern seat belt, comprising both a chest and waist strap. As of 2017, seat belts save nearly 15,000 lives annually in the United States. Wearing a seat belt is estimated to reduce the risk of serious car crash-related injuries and deaths by roughly 50%.
- 1940: On July 2, Enrico Fermi and his colleagues received a patent for controlled nuclear reactor technology. Nuclear energy now generates over 780 billion kilowatt-hours annually, making up roughly one-fifth of U.S. electricity since the 1990s. It is also the largest source of clean power in the United States, supplying nearly half of all emission-free electricity.
- 1936: On July 7, Henry Phillips received a patent for the cross-shaped screwdriver now known as the “Phillips head.” Today, the Phillips design remains one of the most commonly used screw drive designs, and is especially well-suited for construction because of its ability to handle higher torque. As of 2023, it also accounts for over a third of the market for self-drilling screws, which in total is estimated to be worth nearly $2 billion globally.