National Inventors Month
August is National Inventors Month, a time for recognizing the creativity of inventors everywhere.
Started in 1998 by a U.S. professional organization, the month pays tribute to those who “dare to be … creative, and therefore different.”
Several famous inventions were, in fact, patented in August.
On August 2, 1904, inventor Michael Owen received a patent for his “glass shaping machine.”
This brilliant creation can make glass containers automatically, eliminating the need for humans to handle dangerous hot glass.
Another important invention, the diesel engine, was patented on August 9, 1898, and named after its inventor, Rudolf Diesel.
Unlike gasoline engines, the diesel engine does not need spark plugs to operate.
What’s more, the diesel’s greater fuel efficiency makes it the engine of choice for heavy trucks.
Some decades later, on August 20, 1930, U.S. patent number 1,773,980 was given to Philo Farnsworth for his new electronic-scanning display system.
It is better known as the television.