Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From heart health to household appliances, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of October:
- 1962: On October 9, Wilson Greatbatch received a patent for the first implantable cardiac pacemaker. As of 2015, about 3 million people around the world used pacemakers, with 600,000 more being implanted each year. On average, having a pacemaker more than doubles a heart disease patient’s 10-year survival rate, meaning that the device is constantly saving millions of lives.
- 1921: On October 18, Charles Strite received a patent for the first toaster with a timer and automatic ejection mechanism. Today, these features are ubiquitous and pop-up toasters make up over two-thirds of the overall toaster market. Meanwhile, about nine in 10 S. households own a toaster, as of 2006, and over 17 million were sold in 2018 alone.
- 1855: On October 9, Isaac Singer received a patent for an improved sewing machine, which formed the basis for his company, Singer Corporation. While Singer was not the first person to patent a sewing machine, his improvements made the machine practical and reliable for the first time — showcasing how patents promote competition and innovation. Owing to its innovative design, Singer captured 80% of the worldwide market for sewing machines by 1890 and remains influential today.