What's the engineering story behind products like the SuperSoaker, Weber Genesis grills, the Zup wakeboard and DisneyLand's amazing fireworks?
Everything we use, eat, drink, and play with on the Fourth of July was invented by someone. We're celebrating these creative thinkers and tinkerers and their inventions by connecting the intellectual property (patents and trademarks) with products that make Independence Day so special with friends and family.
From Lonnie Johnson and Paul Brown, to pyrotechnic pioneers and three brothers dismayed with barbecue hygiene, the IP of the Fourth of July will help you appreciate the holiday a little more.
“There are maybe three inventions I have that I rank as my top inventions that I'm most proud of. The robot I built in high school, the memory-protected circuitry for the Galileo and the Super Soaker.” - Lonnie Johnson
“We had 10 people go with us, and all 10 stood up, and it was cool to see the look of triumph and fun all wrapped up in one instant.” - Customer review on Overtons.com
“The Psycho's best trick, though, is the Z.E.N. back zip closure, which uses an internal layer that pulls over the head to channel away any water that manages to get inside the super-short zipper and Double Super Seal neck. Drain holes along the bottom of the Barrier 2 let the water drain out of the suit, so it never actually gets to your skin, where it can suck away heat.” - Backcountry.com
“...the inventions disclosed herein relate to frame assemblies for gas barbecue grills which incorporate structures for preventing a consumer from storing replacement fuel tanks on the grill, in order to minimize fire and tipping hazards.”