Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From cuisine to chores, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of June:
- 1953: On June 9, John H. Kraft received a patent for a new method of manufacturing soft, surface-cured cheese. The invention of processed cheese helped transform the food industry, reducing spoilage and creating opportunities for cheese to be incorporated in other food products. It also helped Kraft’s company, U.S.-based Kraft Foods, grow into the commercial juggernaut it is today, with a market capitalization of over $30 billion and roughly 36,000
- 1951: On June 12, Marion Donovan received a patent for a waterproof cover for cloth diapers. Donovan’s innovation was more comfortable for babies and more practical for parents than existing alternatives like rubber pants, paving the way for the disposable diapers that are common today. Today, the global market for baby diapers is estimated to be worth nearly $80 billion
- 1882: On June 6, Henry Seely received a patent for the first electric clothes iron. In 2023, over 40 million irons were sold worldwide, helping save countless hours of household labor. In 2024, the global market for irons was estimated to be worth nearly $7 billion.