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Back to the Beach: How Sunscreen, Surfboards and Water Wings Were Invented
Now that summer's in full swing, many 9-to-5ers are ready to ditch the office and head to the beach for a week of fun in the sun. As a prelude to your summer getaway, InventHelp® presents several inventions that make a day at the beach more enjoyable.
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from the July 2006 issue of InventHelp's free newsletter for inventors |
Invention of Sunscreen
While it's tempting to bask in the sun like a French fry under a heat lamp, it's not the best idea – sunburn significantly increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
The ancient Greeks used olive oil as a form of sunscreen, which (unfortunately for them) would have exacerbated the sun's harmful effects. In fact, it was not until the 1940s that an effective sunscreen was invented.
During
World War II, many soldiers suffered from serious sunburn, which inspired
a pharmacist named Benjamin Greene to invent a solution. Greene concocted a
sticky, red substance that he called "red vet pet" (red veterinary
petrolatum), a new product so thick that it worked mainly by physically blocking
the sun's rays. Greene tried the invention on his own scant hairline and found it
to be reasonably effective.
Modern sunscreens have come a long way since then. Formulas of sunscreen designed specifically for athletes, swimmers and children have been invented, and various SPF (Sun Protection Factor) levels are available.
How Surfboards Were Invented
For the more athletically inclined, nothing beats surfing when it comes to enjoying the ocean waves. And don't worry – it's not necessary to grow your hair long or call everyone "dude" to enjoy surfing.
Surfboards were invented by the Hawaiians for riding breaking waves to the beach. Originally made of wood or balsa, the first surfboards were extremely heavy and measured up to 15 feet in length.
The design of the surfboard improved dramatically in 1932, when American Tom Blake invented a board that used redwood sheets to create a long, narrow board much lighter in weight relative to the solid redwood boards of the time.
Another great improvement came with the advent of fins to improve directional stability. Australian Simon Anderson invented the most common surfboard fins used today. Called a "thruster," the arrangement consists of three fins, one at the tail of the board and two slightly forward toward the nose of the board, which helps to provide more maneuverability.
Today's surfboards, made from coated polyurethane or polystyrene, are light, strong and buoyant. Inventors are adventurous folks by nature, so if you find yourself inspired to hit the waves, may InventHelp® politely suggest taking a safety lesson first?
Water Wings
For those of you who don't have a beach trip planned this year, hitting the pools may be the next best thing. As children, many of us in swimming lessons (a.k.a. "Pollywogs 101") wore Water Wings, inflatable floatation devices that fit around the arm and prevent the wearer from going underwater. Invented by Bernard Markwitz, Water Wings came about when Markwitz's three-year-old daughter nearly drowned.
Markwitz's invention is still hugely popular in families with youngsters. His invention may have been helped along by the work of Ben Franklin, who invented the first swim fins.
Franklin was an avid swimmer who often did laps in the Thames River when he lived in London. Wanting to increase his speed in the water, he invented "fins," shaped like lily pads, that he wore in his hands to attain greater speed with each stroke. Driven by his desire to help others learn to swim, Franklin also invented wooden floatation devices to encourage people to adopt one of his favorite pastimes.
Summer will be gone before you know it, so we at InventHelp® hope you take the time to enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts. We appreciate the innovative spirit of inventors like Benjamin Greene, Bernard Markwitz and Simon Anderson, whose ideas let us enjoy the sun and water with safety in mind. As you hit the pools or the beach this year, keep an open mind – you never know when the next great summer invention idea will come!
Back to Articles for Inventors | Back to July 2006 Newsletter
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