Burs in a dog’s coat led to what invention?
Could a bur stuck in a dog’s coat lead to one of the greatest practical inventions of all time? Read to the end and you’ll find out what George de Mestral invented.
We share four golden retrievers. They spend a lot of time outside–even in the winter–while we’re working away at our desks in our climate-controlled office. They have a huge yard and some nice woods to frolick in and frolick they do! As a result of being outside so much, their coats are extremely thick and fluffy and healthy by the end of winter.
The downside is that when the first 50 degree days hit as we near April, the dogs–Romeo, Juliet, Max, and Annie–all start shedding.
Now, when we say ’shedding,’ we’re fairly certain you’re not picturing the kind of shedding we’re talking about.
We’re talking about clouds of hair flying through the air, sometimes getting caught in neighbors’ trees.
We’re talking about clumped knots of undercoat mixed in with mud that would qualify our goldens as ‘rastafaris.’
We’re talking about–no joking–a garbage can full of hair we brush out of them throughout the next couple of weeks. Fun.
It was during a brush-out just this weekend that we ran into a clump of burs in Max’s coat that were really quite amazing. They literally wouldn’t let go, even with the most expert brushing technique. And it reminded us of one of the greatest practical inventions of all time.
Back in the late 1940s, a Swiss man went for a summer hike with his dog at his side. At day’s end, they returned home covered with burs. (Sounds familiar!)
The man pondered this incredible creation of nature–how the seeds were encased in prickly pods so that they’d grab and stick to whatever animal passed by. He happened to have a microscope and examined one up close. What he saw were tiny hooks that were designed for sticking to any fur or hair they came in contact with.
That’s when you might say George had his "eureka!" moment. George de Mestral went on to invent what we know today to be ‘Velcro,’ the name a combination of ‘velour’ and ‘crochet.’
After years of effort, in 1955 George’s idea was patented, and the inventor went on to create Velcro Industries, which sold over sixty million yards of Velcro per year.
Just goes to show, your ‘big idea’ might be right around the corner–or just maybe, right in your back yard.
March 29th, 2005 at 8:20 am
Sometimes it’s a matter of using a familiar product in a new way. Those of us who have horses that live in or around woods, or trail ride have the same problem with burs. How to get them out when your horse’s tail looks like a matted broom? Baby oil. The burs can’t stick when you put that on. Each one slides right out. Now if someone wants to package that for the horse industry have at it because it works. Many times it may not be the inventing that needs to be done, just the finding of a new application. Like Silly Putty. It was not meant to be a child’s toy, but don’t tell that to the kids or James Wright and Peter Hodgson.
(http://web.mit.edu/invent/iow/sillyputty.html
and
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blsillyputty.htm)
April 6th, 2005 at 12:34 am
Wednesday, April 06, 2005 Since velcro was created many other products came about and some were awarded US patents. One product created and awarded a US patent was/is POLAR BALL and is owned by Steve Allgeier. POLAR BALL is a glove & ball combo to help develop catching/motor skills with the Youth and the physically challenged by using the hook & loop system. Why the name POLAR BALL? Because the PBfootball sticks to the PBglove like dry ice. For more info you can go to http://www.polarball.com POLAR BALL also is a Registered TradeMark owned by Steve Allgeier.
April 6th, 2005 at 8:17 pm
hey, steve!!!
love your product. how about coming on StartupNation radio to be featured?!
went to the site. congratulations. you’re doing great work!
-the Sloan bros
June 17th, 2005 at 2:30 pm
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Relating to a new use for baby oil, I have an idea
similar to this with a particular ointment and horses.
1. Would I need a copyright?
2. Just repackaging with a new name through a
distributer?
3. A product that has been around for centuries
now has a new use. Do I have to protect myself
with just a copyright?
Thank you.
With kind regards, Kim Longo
June 17th, 2005 at 3:18 pm
kim,
a copyright is not the right kind of coverage for an invention. what you’re after is a patent. what you need to find out is if your product mixture can be modified in any way so that ‘what it is’ combined with ‘what it does’ can possible be protectable.
our best advice, though, is to ‘go with the pros’–the professionals, that is. contact a good patent attorney to inquire about steps you can/should take.
wishing you luck! also, you should check out the ‘Market Your Invention’ area of our website, which has lots of helpful articles on protecting your ideas and making the most of them commercially!
-Sloan bros
January 3rd, 2006 at 11:49 am
I have a new use for velcro which is not already on their extensive website. How to you suggest i go about producing and marketing it?
Contact velcro and sell them the idea?
Many thanks. Great website!