Tag Archives: patents

June 16, 1980

Posted on June 16, 2019 by Joel Byers

On June 16, 1980, the US Supreme Court ruled that new forms of life created in labs could be patented. The specific case brought before the US Supreme Court involved a genetically-engineered bacterium that was capable of breaking down crude oil, something no naturally occurring bacteria could do. This has paved the way for future, … Continue reading →

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April 8, 1766

Posted on April 8, 2019 by Joel Byers

On April 8, 1766, the first fire escape was supposedly patented. There is a rudimentary drawing that showed a wicker basket attached to a rope and pulley system that would allow people to lower themselves to the ground from a second, third, or fourth floor window. There is not an identifiable inventor for this contraption. … Continue reading →

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June 13, 2013

Posted on June 13, 2016 by Joel Byers

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com! in 2013 the US Supreme Court invalidated gene patents held by Myraid Genetics when it ruled that isolated human genes are not patentable. This did two things to protect the human race. First, it prevented any company, corporation or individual from patenting or copyrighting any part of the human genome … Continue reading →

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March 31, 1896

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Joel Byers

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com in 1896, Whitcomb L. Judsen of Chicago, Illinois was issued a US patent (No. 557,207) for a hookless fastener based on a slider. His original idea was designed to allow shoes to be fastened instead of tied with shoe laces. The prototype worked so well, that Mr. Judsen branched out … Continue reading →

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February 20, 1872

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Joel Byers

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com! in 1872, Silas Noble and J.P. Cooley patented the toothpick manufacturing machine. Before their patent each toothpick had to be hand carved. Instead of carrying a piece of wood in their pockets, many people would just use their knives and cut a sliver off the table wherever they were eating. … Continue reading →

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January 22, 1874

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Joel Byers

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com! in 1874 a patent was issued to Samuel W. Francis for the spork. On this day in 2023, Chim-Chim the Smoking Chimpanzee and his fellow Sporkist, Joel Byers, petitioned Congress to name January 22 as National Spork Day. It was denied by all the Spoon and Fork Separatists who believed … Continue reading →

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January 13, 1854

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Joel Byers

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com! in 1854, Anthony Faas of Philadephia, PA was granted the first US patent for the accordion. Mr. Faas made improvements to the keyboard and enhanced the sound, thereby making it easier to play and gave it a richer, fuller sound. Alas, he could do nothing for the accordion players themselves. … Continue reading →

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October 9, 1855

Posted on October 9, 2014 by Joel Byers

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com in 1855 Joshua C. Stoddard received a patent for his calliope. One of the fundamental features of all calliopes that were built using Mr. Stoddard’s patent was that all the manufactured horses and other animals had to have a minimal EA Poe Creepiness factor of 8.3 with the ability to … Continue reading →

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September 7, 1880

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Joel Byers

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com in 1880, George Ligowsky of Cincinnati was granted a patent for his device that threw clay pigeons for trapshooters. His original idea was one based upon a trebuchet and the illustration that was sent with his original patent showed the device throwing small piglets into the air as riflemen shot … Continue reading →

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July 13th, 1835

Posted on July 13, 2014 by Joel Byers

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com! in 1835 John Ruggles received patent #1 from the U.S. Patent Office for a traction wheel device used in locomotive steam engines. Before Mr. Ruggles received Patent #1, all of the 9,957 previous patents were not numbered as at the time of the US Patent Act of 1790, no one … Continue reading →

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