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Invention Trivia (Cont.)

When did the dishwasher become the labor-saving machine that it is today?
Unfortunately, the first dishwasher, patented in 1850, was not very effective. The invention consisted of a hand-turned wheel that splashed water onto dishes. The first working automatic dishwasher was invented by Josephine Garis Cochran in 1889. Her machine featured a wooden tub that included a wire basket. Dishes were placed inside the basket, and rollers rotated the dishes. Hot, soapy water sprayed into the tub and cleaned the dishes as a handle on the tub was turned. Cochran first displayed her machine at the World's Fair in Chicago in 1893 and sold dishwashers to restaurants and hotels. In the 1960s, her company's affiliation with Kitchen Aid turned her invention into the time-saving, convenience-enhancing appliance it is today.

What is Kevlar?
Kevlar is a synthetic material that is five times stronger than the same weight in steel, and it will not rust or corrode. It was invented by Stephanie Kwolek through her research for the DuPont Company, and it was patented in 1966. Kevlar is used in the production of bulletproof vests, underwater cables, brake linings, space vehicles, boats, parachutes, skis and building materials.

What does PVC stand for?
Polyvinyl chloride, once thought to be worthless, has become the world's second-best-selling plastic. In 1926, Waldo Semon, an employee in the research department at the B.F. Goodrich Company, attempted to dissolve polyvinyl chloride to create an adhesive that could bond rubber to metal. His experiment failed, but he did discover a process that could plasticize polyvinyl chloride. Semon found that when polyvinyl chloride was heated in a solvent at a high boiling point, a flexible, elastic material resulted. He has received 116 U.S. patents.

Who was the first African-American woman to receive a patent?
Sarah Goode, owner of a Chicago furniture store, received a patent on July 14, 1885, making her the first African-American woman to accomplish this feat. She invented a folding cabinet bed to help individuals maximize a small living space. The invention resembled a desk and included compartments for stationery and writing implements.

When was shampoo invented?
Shampoo originated in England in 1877 and was derived from the Hindi word champo, meaning "to massage" or "to knead." Hairdressers were the first to make shampoo by boiling soft soap in soda water, but it did not come into popular use until after World War II.

What invention did the most to increase summertime attendance at the movies?
Air Conditioning. Before theaters had artificially cooled air, picture shows could get rather stuffy in the summertime heat. That is until inventor Willis Carrier conceived the idea for "controlled air" on a balmy night in 1902. The system he came up with was originally used in factories and schools, but it soon became standard at theaters – to the great delight of moviegoers.

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