CLASSIC PATENTS FROM THE PAST

Patents from our past provide a wonderful glimpse of a simpler time.

On a regular basis, we will highlight an older patent

 to illustrate the creativity of our ancestors.

In 1869, Mr John Anderson of Brooklyn, New York developed an improved shield for protecting horses from sunstroke. However, in actual use, Mr. Anderson discovered that the bonnet tended to descend to the horses head, leaving no space for air circulation.

In addition, the original design provided no secure fastening to prevent the bonnet from moving back and forth with the movement of the horse's head.

He found that placement of two straps in the bonnet placed in front of and behind the horses head, provided an improvement to the original bonnet design, and thus was granted a new patent, number 100,000, in 1870.