Famous Inventors

While the majority of the population continues to maintain the status quo, a very small minority work to change it. Throughout history, there have been only a handful of famous inventors -- and each one of them has had a significant impact on the way we live our lives today. From the first telephone, to the very harnessing of electricity, these men are truly the pioneers of society. In honor of their handwork and dedication, here's a short list of history's most famous inventors. 

Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison is best known for the invention of the first every phonograph. The phonograph allowed users of the telephones to leave each other messages, by physically engraving these messages on a tin foil cylinder with the help of a stylus. Edison went on to do a great many things in the fields of electricity, audio and film devices, light bulbs and more.

Eli Whitney

Eli Whitney played a significant role in the industrial revolution, and specifically the expedition of agricultural gathering. He is most famous for the invention of the cotton gin in 1794; the cotton gin quickly separated hulls, seeds and other contaminants found in cotton. Unfortunately for Eli, he made almost no money from his invention due to poorly-worded patent laws that were in effect when his invention was constructed. However, Eli didn't just stop at the cotton gin and also created a way to manufacture muskets with interchangeable parts -- by this time, patent laws had been reconstructed and he deservedly made quite a bit of money. 

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is one of the most prolific inventors in our history, churning out inventions his entire life. Not only did he invent the lightning rod, giving us the ability to harness the awesome power of lightning, he also created the iron furnace stove, the odometer and bifocal glasses! A scientist, publisher and a statesman, Benjamin went on to contribute a great wealth of knowledge to his fellow humans throughout his lifetime. 

Alexander Graham Bell

Undoubtedly one of the most famous inventors in all of human history, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone at the young age of just 29, and just a year letter started the Bell Telephone Company. Despite the immense riches that he received through his invention and company, he continued to relentlessly pursue new ideas purely for the sake of intellectual curiosity. From this curiosity stemmed the "photophone", the first device ever conceived with the ability to transmit sound on beams of light. Graham called this the "greatest invention he had ever created, better than the telephone", and is still used today as the basis of laser and fiber optic technology.


While usually eccentric, sensitive, and occasionally overbearing, inventors are none-the-less an integral part of society. While they may not fit in with everybody else, they usually prefer it that way, tending to their projects without the everyday distractions of life. While we tend to take much of our modern day technology for granted, we truly owe our respects to these great men.

The 2012 Davison-Developed Fall Pugz Line Hits Stores!

Showcased at the front of aisles at two local Petco stores in Pittsburgh are Davison-developed dog products.  The aisles contain dog leashes, beds, coats, leg warmers, harnesses and boots.  In front of the aisles feature Pugz’s signature faux suede and fleece combination.  The visual appeal of these endcaps is sure to capture the attention of Petco customers shopping anywhere near the dog designs.

An ecstatic CEO George Davison made an appearance at the store to check out the products on the shelves. He calls the Petco Pugz endcaps a defining moment in company history and compares the excitement of seeing all of these Pugz products in one space to the excitement of “stepping to the plate and hitting a grand slam.” 

“When you allow yourself to dream, you are opening yourself up for a lot of pain if stuff doesn’t work out, which I’m used to. Because of the continual effort at absorbing risks and overcoming challenges this is what can happen if you believe. If you don’t believe and have enough character, the dreams aren’t possible,” says Davison.

Pugz boots keep small dogs’ little paws from freezing in cold weather.  These boots will keep the dog’s paws warm so that they can walk and play outside even on the coldest days.  The boots are made with faux leather and faux wool which will also keep paws dry. 

Pugz has leg warmers to go along with the boots that help to keep a dog’s legs warm.  To finish off the outdoor apparel, dog-owners can also purchase a Pugz Harness, which according to Davison, is a better solution to the collar.  The harness reduces stress and strain when dogs tend to pull during walks. 

The Fall Pugz collection also features the Box Bed, which allows a pet to snuggle into comfortable luxury.  The bed has a sturdy, cushioned base and the sides create a comfortable atmosphere for your pet to snuggle up, get comfortable and relax.  For mobility, the bed is lightweight and can be machine washed. 

Davison attributes the success of Pugz and other Davison products to the Davison methodology, which George Davison has been constructing and shaping for over 20 years.

“We have to have really good soils to grow our seeds,” says Davison.  “This is the combination of Inventionland and our methodology to have not only one, but all of those hit the shelf.”

The 2012 Fall Pugz line is now available in Petco and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

The typical project is not licensed, sold in stores or profitable.

Most Technologically Advanced Tool Inventions

Heading into the 21^st Century, tool inventors are becoming more innovative thanks to the demands of the market. New tools are replacing old standbys, delivering on promises of lighter weight, easier operation, and compact design aesthetics. The need to build not only cheaply but also quickly has inspired inventors to develop tools and methods that were previously unimaginable, and the DIY ethic of 21^st Century civilization has highlighted the need for tools that solve problems. Some of these inventions are the result of applying existing technologies to new problems, and some are entirely new ideas.

3D Printing Construction is an exciting new possibility in the world of construction. In a recent presentation, Dr. Behrokh Khoshnevis, a University of Southern California engineering professor, showed a prototype 3D printer that he said may one day construct buildings in 20 hours. The printer extrudes a special composite fiber concrete to build a six-foot wall in layers. The accompanying computer animation showed what the entire process would most likely look like, complete with full scale walls, plumbing, and electrical wiring built into the plans. The professor explained that he first developed the idea while repairing cracks in his house after the 1994 Northridge earthquake; he wondered why there wasn’t yet a better, easier way to manage construction. Using his experience in rapid prototyping technologies, Dr. Khoshnevis’s first machines were capable of building small clay structures, with a CAD program dictating the design. Over time, he developed the technology from building small clay structures; he worked with a company to develop a special form of concrete that would support itself through the construction process, instead of requiring molds. The process also allows for what he calls contour crafting. He predicts industry-wide use of the technology by 2020, at a cost of a few hundred thousand dollars per machine, and by 2025, Dr. Khoshnevis believes that contour crafting will be nearly ubiquitous.

For those builders interested in improvements on the old-fashioned approaches, several new tools have recently been introduced; for example the Paslode TetraGrip Subfloor Fastening System. The product is a pneumatic coil nailing system—the nail features a barbed, threaded shaft which twists as it’s driven. The product essentially functions as a floor screw, but is installed as easily as a nail. The proprietary pneumatic nailer holds a coil of 120 fasteners.

Another important new innovation for building enthusiasts and professionals is the Bosch GTS1031 10 inch Worksite Table Saw. The distinction that this product carries is that it has a lightweight construction with a steel roll cage which not only allows it to survive harsh conditions at job sites, but also enables easy carrying of the table saw by hand, a first for the product type. The compact saw provides all of the features the user needs, but without bulk and weight.

These inventions and many more demonstrate that tool technology is becoming more and more important in the 21^st Century. Tool inventors should keep in mind that buyers are looking for tools that solve problems, such as making building and repairing quicker and easier, or taking care of issues such as limiting expenses. As more and more individuals become interested in DIY projects, making building and repair tools more consumer-friendly is another approach that inventors are taking. 

Successful Car Tire Inventions

Since the wheel has been invented, it has been used in many of our motor vehicles throughout history. Wheels enable automobile users to propel a car in a direction, as well as control the angle in which it turns. One of the most successful car tire inventions was treads. Treads have allowed tires to remain stable on various different terrains automobile users may travel on. Treads help the tires to remain on the road and in control by generating a force we call friction. Friction allows our tires to grip onto the road and maintain control and safely turn our motor vehicles without sliding or slipping. Treads have been designed to utilize what common roads are made of as well, which is asphalt. Asphalt is a rough road and contains tiny bumps, which makes it easier for treads to grip onto the road. Treads have been improved over the years, making it so gripping the road is easier. Treads now form a zig-zag shape, which is designed to create more friction on the road in order to grip it properly. Treads have continued to make roads a safe place for all drivers to use, and have prevented numerous accidents over the years. However there are some flaws with treads, but they can be easily prevented through regular maintenance. Over time, treads will wear out due to the force of friction on them. Treads are made of rubber, making it susceptible to wear and tear on the road. This makes it important to replace them every few years. Replacing your tires every few years will prevent any injury on the roadway. Even though tires can be quite expensive, it does not amount to the cost that would result from a vehicular collision.

Rims for car tires have been another successful and popular invention due to usefulness as well as a cosmetic aspect. Rims have been admired throughout automotive history mainly because of their usefulness in helping the wheels function properly. The rims of a car help the wheel keep its integrity and keep the rubber treads in place. Rims are also designed to help stabilize the wheel and give it strength when driving. Rims are often made out of aluminum, a cheap yet strong metal. Over the years rims have been perfected in order to protect the wheels and keep them stable, as well as being resistant from rust. Rims are often made of an alloy, which is two metals combined which is often used to prevent a metal from rusting. However, there have been design flaws within the structure of a rim. While it does fit inside the tire perfectly, rims are often prone to falling off of the vehicle suddenly and resulting in damage to your or other drivers cars. Rims have also been a popular cosmetic choice among motor vehicle users. Rims are able to be customized in many sizes, as well as different colors. A popular modification choice for rims is chrome. Chrome makes the rims of a car shine brightly because chrome is a highly reflective surface.

Another popular and successful car tire invention is the spinning rim attachment. A spinning rim attachment rotates as the car moves, and when the car comes to a stop, the rims continue to rotate. This creates the illusion that the car is still traveling, and can be a very interesting sight for the driver and other drivers on the road. Over the years, the wheel has continued to improve and the future holds many more modifications that can help improve the look and safety of the wheel.

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Successful Car Technology Inventions

Inventors that are interested in making cars better should stay motivated. There are so many things that can be done to improve driving for people on the road. It is true that the car has come a long way, but there is still much work to be done. This is why aspiring inventors should be motivated by some of the inventions listed below.

There was a certain movie about the inventor of the windshield wipers with an intermittent pause between wiping. This inventor sued Ford for stealing his idea and won many years later. This invention was the springboard for other things that would come several decades later.

During that time frame this was a big concept. Today there seems to a little tweaks all over the place for inventors. Some people would argue that the pollution is the biggest issue that needs to be resolved. There have been inventors that have designed cars that run on other things like vegetable oil. It's a great idea, but it isn't really practical in these early stages.

There have also been some great successful car technology inventions that have actually gone much further than anyone would ever believe. The electric car is a car design modification that still has the power to save consumers lots of money. It was not really practical back when it was initially introduced. What this meant to inventors was that many changes had to be made in the original design. They did not give up just because the prototype had reached the full limitations. The car designers were ready to stick it out. They wanted to keep working until they found something better.

This has been one of the most wonderful things about the electric car. Hybrids came into the picture and developers continued making cars with other little technology features. The electric cars would eventually become some of the best cars on the road.

Other things would come along and prove to be equally successful in the world of car technology. Today many people are falling in love with features like rear view backup cameras. The other thing that is also very popular among users is the GPS navigation systems. Some of the cars have this technology embedded into the dashboard.

Some innovations are huge. Others come onto the scene quietly. The fact that people can hook up the phone to the auxiliary port and play songs from the smartphone is big. Many teenagers may take this type of stuff for grained. After all, most of it was invented before they were born.

It may seem like some of the inventions have been around forever, but there are some things that are just surfacing within the last decade. Some cars are designed to tell drivers exactly how many miles they can cover before running out of gas. This is extremely helpful for people that don't pay attention to the gas gauge.

There seems to be some standard concepts that are founds in cars. There are still others, however, that have access to the higher scale technology inventions. This is often reserved for the luxury cars like the BMW and the Lexus models.

Anyone that has put some time into checking out a luxury car knows one thing. There are always some features in these cars that other people just aren't privy to. There are some vehicles, for example, that have memory seats and buttons that turn on seat warmers. Some of these same cars may also have automatic sensor driven windshield wipers. Many people don't even know that some of this technology exists. Aspiring inventors have to research car technology in order to be successful. 

 Do you have an idea for an invention?