Centenary patent 2014: Judson, Sundback and the zip fastener

The year 2014 is the centenary of the filing of a key US patent in the development of the modern zip fastener. The named inventor for this patent was Gideon Sundback, who had successfully improved the original designs of Whitcomb Judson. In addition to his breakthrough invention, Sundback was responsible for many additional patents during his long working life with the Hookless Fastener Company. Some of his inventions were patented outside of the US as well, but despite retaining foreign rights to himself, he did not make a great fortune from inventing. His last patent was granted posthumously, in 1959.