Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
Gideon Sundback (24 April 1880 – 21 June 1954) was a Swedish-American electrical engineer, who is most commonly associated with his work in the development of the zipper.
Life and Career
Gideon Sundback was born on 24 April 1880, in Småland, Sweden. He emigrated to the United States in 1903 and settled in Meadville, Pennsylvania. He was an engineer and inventor known for his contributions to the textile and fastener industries.
Sundback began his career working for the Universal Fastener Company, where he focused on improving the design of fasteners. In 1913, he invented the modern zipper, which was initially called the “hookless fastener” and later patented as the “Separable Fastener” in 1917. Sundback’s zipper used interlocking teeth that could be easily opened and closed by a slider, revolutionizing the way garments and other items were fastened.
Gideon Sundback passed away on 21 June 1954, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, at the age of 74.
Award and Legacy
Sundback’s invention of the modern zipper revolutionized the textile and fashion industries, making it easier and more efficient to fasten garments and other items. His invention has been widely used in various applications, including clothing, accessories, luggage, automotive upholstery, and more. For his contributions to the field of fastening technology, Sundback received several awards and recognition during his lifetime, including the Gold Medal of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences in 1951.
Sundback’s legacy lives on, as the zipper remains one of the most widely used fastening systems in the world today. His invention has greatly impacted modern fashion, design, and manufacturing, and continues to be a fundamental part of our daily lives. Sundback’s work as an engineer and inventor has left a lasting impact on the world, and he is remembered as a pioneering figure in the field of fastening technology.
On 24 April 2012, Google celebrated Gideon Sundback’s 132nd Birthday with a doodle.