Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From water sports to fire safety, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of October:
- 1967: On October 31, Ermal Fraze received a patent for the beverage can pull tab. Today, U.S. manufacturers produce approximately 142 billion cans annually for food, beverages, and other products. More than 46 billion aluminum beverage cans were recycled in the United States in 2023 alone.
- 1925: On October 27, Fred Waller received a patent for water skis designed to carry a rider behind a motorboat. His invention improved on the existing single-board aquaplane, giving riders greater control and making the activity more accessible. In 2023, roughly 3.1 million Americans went water skiing.
- 1914: On October 13, Garrett Morgan received a patent for his “safety hood,” a breathing device that shielded wearers from smoke and toxic fumes. Morgan famously used the device to rescue workers trapped in a gas-filled tunnel beneath Lake Erie in 1916. His invention became a forerunner of the modern gas mask and firefighter respirator, which today protects more than 1 million firefighters nationwide.