Inventions and Innovations

Flying Shuttle

Mar 10, 1733

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blflyingshuttle.htm John Kay invented the Flying Shuttle, which was an improvement to looms. The flying shuttle was made up of a bobbin which the crossways yarn would be woven onto. The shuttle was pushed from one side to the other by hand. A leaver threw the shuttle and only required one man to operate.

Bifocals

Mar 10, 1760

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/bifocals.htm Bifocals were invented by Benjamin franklin in 1760. These glasses consisted of concave and convex glass. They help people see far away and close up, while reading.

Carbonated Water

Mar 10, 1767

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonated_water Carbonated Water was invented by Joseph Priestley when he discovered how to infuse water with carbon dioxide. Carbonated water is used for beverages, mostly as a dilutent for alcohol. It became popular because people could drink alcohol without having such harsh effects.

Hot Air Balloon

Mar 10, 1783

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/haballoon.htm The hot air balloon was invented by Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier. The hot air balloon was used as decorations, in China or for human transportation in the U.S. The military then used it in 1794 during the battle of Fleurus.

Rollercoaster

Mar 14, 1784

http://www.bobholland.com/amusementparks/coasterhistory.html The first rollercoaster was built in 1784 in St. Petersburg.The idea came from ice slides people would slide on in Russia. Roller coasters were a great amusement and were found in amusement parks.

Morphine

Mar 10, 1804

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morphine Morphine was discovered in 1804 by Friedrich Sertuner. It was first distributed in 1817 and first sold by Merck in 1827. Morphine is an alkaloid found in the opium plant. It is used to relieve severe pain.

Stethoscope

Mar 3, 1816

http://www.antiquemed.com/monaural_stethoscope.htm Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laennec, a French physician invented the stethoscope when examining a woman. The stethoscope made it easier to hear a persons heartbeat which was much louder and clearer. It was also a less awkward way because the original way was to place ones ear on the patients chest.

Braille Writing System

Mar 14, 1829

http://kids.superindian.com/DisplayPostDetailprovider=6036.htm Braille was invented by Louis Braille in 1829. Braille is an alphabet for blind people. They can identify letters and words by touching a series of rasied dots.

Rubber Band

Mar 17, 1845

http://www.versteegde.nl/Bambustic/RubberBands/ The rubber band was invented in 1845 by Stephen Perry. Perry worked at Messers Perry Co which was a rubber manufacturing company. He invented the rubber band to hold papers and envelopes together.

Safety PIn

Apr 10, 1849

http://inventors.about.com/od/hstartinventors/a/safety_pin.htm Walter Hunt inventedthe safety pin in 1849. He was twisting a piece of wire and trying to think of something that would pay off his debt. The safety pin is made from one piece of wire which is coiled to a spring on one end and a separate clasp and point at the other. He claimed he designed it this way to keep fingers from being injured, hence "safety pin".

Dynamite

Mar 14, 1867

http://inventors.about.com/od/dstartinventions/a/Alfred_Nobel.htm Alfred Nobel was patented for his dynamite in 1867. He invented dynamite because he needed a way to blast rock at his construction job.

Microphone

Mar 14, 1876

http://inventors.about.com/od/mstartinventions/a/microphone.htm The first microphone was invented in 1876 by Emile Berliner. This microphone was used as a phone voice transmitter. This is like the speakers we have in our phones today. It allowed people to hear you from a telephone.

Refrigerator

Mar 14, 1877

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/refrigerator.htm The first refrigerator was invented in 1877 by Carl von Linde. Refrigerators are electrical appliances used to store food at certain tempratures to destroy bacteria.

Stapler

Feb 18, 1879

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stapler The first successful stapler was pateneted in 1879 by George Mcgill. Staplers were used to drive a piece of metal (staple) into a stack of papers to securely fasten them. The first stapler was 2 and a half pounds and only held one 1/2 inch staple at a time.

Metal detector

Mar 14, 1881

http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/Metal_Detector.htm The first metal detector was invented in 1881 by Alexander Graham Bell. He invented it because of a failed attempt to catch an assasin. Metal detectors detect any sort of metal that passes through it based on electromagnetivity.

Fountain Pen

Mar 10, 1884

http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa100897.htm The fountain pen was patented in 1884 by Lewis Waterman. This was the first practical fountain pen. It consisted of three parts: the nib, which is what touches the paper, thefeed that holds the nib and controls ink flow, and the round barrel, the part you grip while writing.

Paper Clip

Mar 10, 1899

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/paperclip.htm The Paper Clip was invented in 1899 by William D. Middlebrook. It is a simple and easy way to hold papers together without damaging them. Middlebrook also made a machine to make the paper clip. It is a wonder why the paper clip wasn't invented before because of how simple its design is.

Vacuum Cleaner

Aug 30, 1908

http://inventors.about.com/od/uvstartinventions/a/Vacuum-Cleaners.htm The first handheld vacuum cleaner was invented in 1908 by James Spangler. His machine was the first portable, and electric vacuum cleaner. It consisted of a cloth filter bag and cleaning attachments.

Ballpoint Pen

Mar 14, 1935

http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/ballpen.htm The Ballpoint pen was invented in 1935 by Ladislas Biro. Ballpoint pens made it easier to write for an extended period of time without having to refill the ink, like in a fountain pen.

Remote Control

Mar 14, 1952

http://library.thinkquest.org/25304/ihistory.html The first Remote control was invented in 1952. They weren't very popular because there weren't very many channels to choose from. The remote control made it easier for people to change the channel. The first one was called "Lazy Bones" because you didnt have to get up to change the channel.