Great Maritime Inventions, 1833-1950

By Mario Theriault

Great Maritime Inventions 1833-1950 is a delightful look at how innovative Maritime ideas changed the world. Between 1833 and 1950, over 3,300 patents were granted to residents of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI. From the scuba tank to the variable pitch propeller to two-piece long underwear, Great Maritime Inventions profiles the best of the best. Included are inventions that are considered to be great advances in science, those that have substantially changed the course of development of technology, or those that have enjoyed a lasting success that can still be remembered or observed to this day.

All of the inventions described in the book were completely novel in their day. Each patent is first in its classification, or else its claims are so broad that the intellectual property protection it gave covered every possible precursor. Before a patent was granted, an applicant had to declare that their invention was entirely new. Each application then underwent a thorough examination by expert examiners at the patent office. Each of the patents in Great Maritime Inventions were found to represent knowledge newly available to the public, and to be an important step forward in engineering or in developing consumer products that enhance our lives. Not all inventions were spectacular. In fact, many of these inventions never made it into the history books. It is only after fifty years or more that we realize the influence that every one of these inventions has had on our society. Each invention, large or small, was an important link in the chain of evolution of science and useful arts and has improved the way we live today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Goose Lane Editions
• Release date: Sep 30, 2011
• ISBN: 9780864925695

Mario Theriault

Mario Theriault is passionate about patents. A professional patent agent from Fredericton, New Brunswick, he is a graduate of the Université de Moncton and has more than 20 years of engineering experience in electric power distribution, pulp & paper, metal working, machine design and quality systems. In 1995 he became a registered patent agent and currently runs Mario D. Theriault and Company, his own firm.

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GREAT MARITIME INVENTIONS

1833-1950

GREAT

MARITIME

INVENTIONS

1833-1950

Mario Theriault

Copyright © Techniplans Inc., 2001.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any requests for photocopying of any part of this book should be directed in writing to the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency.

Edited by Rhona Sawlor.

Book design by Julie Scriver.

Printed in Canada by Transcontinental Printing.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

Theriault, Mario, 1951-

Great Maritime inventions, 1833-1950

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 0-86492-324-4

1. Inventions — Maritime Provinces — History.

2. Patents — Maritime Provinces — History.

I. Title.

T227.M37T48 2001    608.7715    C2001-901729-4

Published with the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing Industry Development Program, and the New Brunswick Culture and Sports Secretariat.

Goose Lane Editions

Suite 330, 500 Beaverbrook Court

Fredericton, New Brunswick

CANADA E3B 5X4

www.gooselane.com

To all my client inventors, who have inspired me to write this book,

and most of all to my wife Norma,

whose support and encouragement made all things easy.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A note of appreciation is extended to the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, to the Public Archives and Records Office of Prince Edward Island, to the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office in Hull, and to the United States Patent and Trademark Office in Washington, DC. A special thank you is extended to Carole Choinière of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and to Palmer C. DeMeo of Palmer Patent Consultants in Woodbridge, Virginia, for their valuable assistance in identifying these memorable inventions and locating the related patent documents. Thank you again to Mr. DeMeo for having researched and explained the US patent law in force during the period covered by this book. Thank you to Rhona Sawlor for having elegantly edited this book. Thank you to Cheryl Hulberg for her assistance in typing the manuscript. Thank you also to Yoland Mallet of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office for having rejuvenated a copy of the Canadian patent for the Acme Club Skate.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CONSUMER GOODS: FOOD

Ice Cream Soda

Confectionery Marker

Key-Opening Cans

Tea and Coffee Pot

Fish Oil Products

Fruit and Flake Cereal

Sardine Cans

Frozen Marinated Fish

CONSUMER GOODS: CONVENIENCES

Clothes Washer with Wringer Rolls

Clip-On Skates

Cold Water Soap

Ironing Board

Electric Telephony

Combined Hot and Cold Water Faucets

Vortex-Flushing Toilet Bowl

Adjustable Underwear Combination

Winter Cap with Foldable Elastic Ear and Head Band

Toothbrush with Replaceable Bristles

Gum Rubber Shoes

Replaceable Pool Cue Tip

Crossword Game

ENGINEERING: FARMING & INDUSTRY

Fishway

Scuba Tank

Compound Steam Engine

Kerosene

Potato Digger

Rubber-Lined Pulleys

Hay Carrier

Vane Pump

Roller Bearing

Connecting Link

Pulp Press and Wood Pulp in Sheets

Cultivating and Hilling Machine

ENGINEERING: TRANSPORTATION

Boat Propeller

Odometer

Snow Blower

Track Clearer (Miller’s Flanger)

Separable Baggage Check

Cycle Runner

Wood and Canvas Canoe

Rein Connector (Quick-Release Buckle)

Airplane Position Indicator

Stabilizing Bar for Vehicle Suspension System

Automobile Backup Light

Dump Box for Truck

Variable Pitch Propeller

Partitioned Concrete Sidewalk

Tempering of Steel Rails

Red Pavement

ENGINEERING: CONSTRUCTION

Strain Gauges

Rotary Ventilator

Inserted Saw Tooth

Thermal Windowpane

Pipeless Furnace

Weatherstrip

APPENDIX

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

The patent for the Acme Club Skate, granted to John Forbes of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on February 17, 1872. Courtesy of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.

INTRODUCTION

Letters Patent are granted to applicants for bringing into use