Unusual Inventions - The flat bottomed paper bag
by Startacus Admin
Perhaps at the time this was an invention not unusual because of its' design, but because this great idea was conceived, designed and tested by a Woman - the indignity! Or so it was at the time to some...
The story goes that Margaret E Khight, an inventor from an early age, (we are talking the mid 19th Century by the way) was working in a Paper Bag plant in Massachusetts. Frustrated that items placed in the paper bags never sat flat, she went about inventing a machine that could create a flat bottomed paper bag - the machine would do the work of folding and sticking the bag into place.
So, especially in the States, we have Margaret to thank for the flat bottomed paper bags you get given to pack your items in Supermarkets! However what is unusual about this invention, is that she had to go to court to prove that the invention was hers in the first place.
Charles Annan, a visitor to the factory where Margaret was testing her prototype, stole the concept of her machine and patented the design, initially taking credit for the invention. However Margaret, as costly as it was, took Annan to court. Annan argued that Margaret could not have designed the machine, after all she could not have understood the complexities involved - as she was a woman!
Thankfully, via witnesses, diary entries and complex drawings - Margaret was able to prove her case and the patent was overturned.
Startacus loves this story - and it's a lesson to us all. Don’t be held back by dogma, or expectations - great ideas, inventions and inventors don’t follow rules, they make them!
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Aiming to improve workflow and increase business productivity, Oroson is an SaaS platform that allows you and your team to manage all your content together, in one handy online place.
Time is ticking to apply to Rising Stars, Tech Nation's new competition to find the UK’s most ambitious early-stage tech startups.
The SaaS startup that helps you "create the buzz you need, for less"...
Why it is important for business leaders to review their inclusivity strategies and how this can benefit their business as a whole.
Applied - The recruitment platform that will help you hire fairer, faster, and retain hires for longer...
Branswer - The lowdown on the startup that will help you write content on brand, every time...
Using satellite imagery, combined with machine learning techniques, AgTech startup CropSafe are on a mission to accurately detect and predict impending diseases within farmers crops.
Hike is an SEO platform built for startups that allows you to optimise your site and content and aimed at saving 75% on annual SEO costs.
The Festival of Female Entrepreneurs, now in its seventh year, is aimed at supporting women to build and grow sustainable businesses.
UK Chancellor Philip Hammond chose his Conservative Party Conference speech to suggest that he wouldn’t wait for an international consensus on digital services taxation.
Published on: 10th August 2012
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Oroson aims to be the content hub to rule them all 18th Oct 2018 Aiming to improve workflow and increase business productivity, Oroson is an SaaS platform that allows you and your team to manage all your content together, in one handy online place.
- Is your startup a rising star? 18th Oct 2018 Time is ticking to apply to Rising Stars, Tech Nation's new competition to find the UK’s most ambitious early-stage tech startups.
- Innovative Electrical Clip hangs on to win INVENT Awards 2018 12th Oct 2018 The INVENT Awards 2018 from Connect at Catalyst Inc, took place in Belfast’s Waterfront, during which Gray’s Clip was announced as the overall competition winner.
- Vegan food business The Brook tastes crowdfunding success 11th Oct 2018 Vegan food business The Brook funds 130% in their first three days of their equity crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs, with the funds raised to go towards launching a new home delivery service.
