Best In Black: Essential Items Invented By Black People
Source: Creative Services / iONEDigital
1. Dust Pan
The dustpan was invented by Lloyd P. Ray in 1897. A metal plate with a short wooden handle that allowed sweepers to collect trash without getting their hands dirty,
2. Folding Chair
In 1855 John Cram created an armless chair and the folding chair was patented.
3. Mailbox
The street letter drop mailbox with a hinged door that closed to protect the mail was invented by Philip B. Downing. He patented his new device on October 27,1891.
4. Incandescent Light Bulb
Lewis Howard Latimer was a member of Thomas Edison’s research team, which was called “Edison’s Pioneers.” Latimer improved the newly-invented incandescent light bulb by inventing a carbon filament which he patented in 1881.
5. Ironing Board
In the late 19th century, the ironing board was improved by Sarah Boone. She created a narrower and curved design, making it easier to iron garments. Boone’s design morphed into the modern board that we use today. Boone’s design was patented on April 26, 1892. She is one of the first Black women in U.S. history to receive a patent.
6. Golf Tees
George Grant invented the golf tee and it was patented on December 12, 1899.
7. Lawn Sprinkler
J.W. Smith patented the Lawn sprinkler on May 4, 1897.
8. 3D Movies
In the late ’70s, Valerie Thomas discovered that concave mirrors could create the illusion of 3–dimensional objects and she began experimenting with how to visually transmit the 3D illusion. In 1980, Thomas patented her illusion transmitter which allows us to watch 3-D movies today.
9. Gas Mask
The gas mask was invented by Garrett Morgan. Morgan used his gas mask (patent No. 1,090,936, 1914) to rescue miners who were trapped underground in a noxious mine. Soon after, he was asked to produce gas masks for the US Army.
10. Electric Microphone
Dr. James E. West co-invented a foil electret microphone, which was less expensive to produce than the typically used condenser microphones.
11. 3-Way Traffic Light
Garrett Augustus Morgan, who also developed the gas mask, was the first person to patent a traffic signal. He has many other inventions as well.
12. Refrigerated Trucks
Frederick McKinley Jones created a roof-mounted cooling system to refrigerate goods on trucks. This was major improvemnet during extended transportation in the mid-1930s. He received a patent for his invention in 1940 and co-founded the US Thermo Control Company, later known as Thermo King.
13. Blood Banks
Dr. Drew was an medical doctor and surgeon who started the idea of a blood bank. Drew’s project was the model for the Red Cross’ system of blood banks, of which he became the first director.
14. Masking Tape and Clear Adhesive Tape
Richard G. Drew’s first tape invention was a wide paper tape with adhesive made for painters in 1923. This tape only had adhesive on the edges, not in the middle of the tape. Drew made an improved tape called Scotch (TM) Brand Cellulose Tape in 1930. This tape was a clear, all-purpose adhesive tape that was soon adopted worldwide. The first tape dispenser with a built-in cutting edge was invented in 1932 by John A. Borden, another 3M employee.
Best In Black: Essential Items Invented By Black People was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
