|
National
Inventors Hall of Fame 2006 Inductees
Washington, D.C.
(February 8, 2006)—Continuing its commitment to honor invention
and innovation, the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation has
recognized the next group of world-class inventors who will be
inducted into its ranks. This
year’s class includes a diverse sampling, such as Robert Gore,
who gave us the material that’s now known by the GORE-TEX®
brand name; Vinton Cerf and Robert Kahn, who are often referred to
as the “fathers of the Internet;” and Julio Palmaz, who
revolutionized cardiac care with his intravascular stent.
The 2006 group
includes eight living inventors who represent accomplishments that
have bettered our quality of life. From advancing digital imaging
to better ways of administering medicine, and from modernizing the
printing process to enabling the widespread use of the Internet,
the work of each inventor has had an impact on all of our lives.
The 2006 class of
inductees:
LIVING
·
Willard Boyle, George Smith: Charge-coupled device
·
Vinton Cerf, Robert Kahn: Internet Protocol
·
Robert Gore: ePTFE,
known by the GORE-TEX® brand name
·
Ali Javan: Helium-neon
laser
·
Robert Langer, Jr.: Controlled
drug delivery
·
Julio Palmaz: Intravascular
stent
POSTHUMOUS
RECOGNITION
·
Herman Affel, Lloyd Espenschied:
Coaxial cable
·
Gregory Pincus: Oral
contraceptive pill
·
Richard Hoe: Rotary
printing press
·
Benjamin Holt: Caterpillar
track-type tractor
·
Dale Kleist, Games Slayter, John Thomas:
Fiberglass
·
William Upjohn: Dissolvable
pill
·
Granville Woods: Railroad
telegraph
·
Karl Bosch, Fritz Haber: Ammonia production process
·
Elihu Thomson: Arc
lighting
Every year, the
National Inventors Hall of Fame honors through induction the
individuals whose work has changed society and improved the way we
live. Their vision,
hard work and creative drive have led to powerful new tools that
shape the future while celebrating invention.
The 2006 class will be inducted this year during the annual
ceremonies held on May 5-6 in Akron, Ohio.
“This
year’s group of inventors has influenced the way we live our
lives day to day, “ said Fred Allen, head of the Selection
Committee for the National Inventors Hall of Fame. “It’s an
honor to nationally recognize their valuable achievements and
contributions, as they truly exemplify innovation.”
This year’s
inductees are an accomplished group:
Herman
Affel (1893-1972), Lloyd Espenschied
(1889-1986)
Coaxial cable
While
at AT&T Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1929, Affel and
Espenschied invented coaxial cable. The cable advanced long
distance telephone service, making it possible to carry thousands
of simultaneous phone calls on long distance circuits.
Karl
Bosch (1884-1940), Fritz Haber (1868-1934) Ammonia production process
The
Haber-Bosch process has remained unchanged since the early 1900s,
and is used today to manufacture thousands of tons of ammonia used
worldwide in the production of fertilizer.
Willard
Boyle (1924- ), George Smith (1930-)Charge-coupled device
The
charge-coupled device (CCD) was key to advancing digital imaging
technology, and can be found in most imaging devices including
digital cameras, scanners and satellite surveillance.
Vinton
Cerf (1943- ), Robert Kahn (1938- ) Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
Cerf
and Kahn created the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) that allows the
widespread use of the Internet. Cerf and Kahn are often referred
to as the “fathers of the Internet.”
Robert
Gore (1937- )ePTFE
Gore
invented a new form of polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) widely
known by the GORE-TEX® brand
name. Valued by outdoor enthusiasts, GORE-TEX®
materials also have applications in medical, industrial,
electrical and textile products.
Richard
Hoe (1812-1886) Rotary printing press
Hoe’s
advanced printing press technology allowed for the development of
the first mass media, and revolutionized newspaper printing.
Benjamin
Holt (1849-1920) Track-type tractor
Holt
ushered in the modern era of mechanized farming with his
invention, the first track-type tractor known as the
“Caterpillar.” The tractor went on to be applied not just to
agriculture, but also earthmoving and military operations.
Ali
Javan (1926- ) Helium-neon laser
The
helium-neon laser is the most useful, practical and profitable
type of laser in use today. It made holography practical, is used
in UPC code checkout scanners and is critical for a wide range of
construction, medical and monitoring technologies.
Robert
Langer (1948- ) Controlled Drug Delivery
Langer
revolutionized biomedical technology through the development of a
controlled drug delivery system. He also pioneered a variety of
remotely controlled drug delivery systems that vary the amount of
drug released through electric impulse, ultrasound and magnetic
fields.
Julio
Palmaz (1945- ) Intravascular Stent
The
Palmaz® Stent was the first commercially successful intravascular
stent. It has revolutionized cardiac care, with more than a
million people undergoing coronary artery stenting annually to
repair clogged arteries.
Gregory
Pincus (1903-1967) Oral contraceptive pill
By
creating the first practical oral contraceptive, the birth control
pill, in the 1950s, Gregory Pincus brought privacy and convenience
to women worldwide.
Games
Slayter (1896-1964), Dale Kleist (1909-1998), John Thomas
(1907-1991) Fiberglass
In
the 1930s, the trio developed the method for mass production of
affordable fiberglass, the basis for Owens-Corning Fiberglas®
Corporation. Today, Owens Corning is a $5 billion global leader,
manufacturing not just glass fiber insulation, but also glass
fiber impregnated laminates used in sports cars, boats and
bathroom fixtures.
Elihu
Thomson (1853-1937) Arc lighting
Thomson
was an integral contributor to the development of electricity as a
power and light source during the turn of the 20th century.
William Upjohn (1853-1932)
Dissolvable pill
In 1880, Upjohn began developing a pill that dissolved easily in the
stomach. In 1884 he invented a machine to mass-produce these pills
with a regulated dosage.
Granville
Woods (1856-1910) Railroad
telegraph
A
prolific inventor, Woods developed the railroad telegraph, a
device that transmitted messages between moving trains. Prior to
its creation, moving trains were unable to communicate with each
other or with rail stations.
Inventors may be
nominated by anyone for induction into the Hall of Fame, but they
must hold a U.S. patent to be considered.
The nominee’s invention must have contributed to the
welfare of society and have promoted the progress of science and
the useful arts. All
nominations are reviewed by the Selection Committee, comprised of
representatives from national science and technology
organizations.
The
not-for-profit National Inventors Hall of Fame is the premier
organization in America dedicated to honoring and fostering
creativity and invention. Each year a new class of inventors is inducted into the Hall
of Fame in recognition of their patented inventions that make
human, social and economic progress possible.
Founded in 1973 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and
the National Council of Intellectual Property Law Association, the
Hall’s permanent home is Akron, Ohio, where the inventors in the
Hall are honored and from where it administers its national
programs, including Camp Invention®, Club Invention®,
Invent Now®, and the Collegiate Inventors Competition®.
Herman
A. Affel
Karl Bosch
Willard S.
Boyle
Vinton G. Cerf
Lloyd
Espenschied
Robert W. Gore
Fritz Haber
Richard M. Hoe
Benjamin Holt
Ali Javan
Robert E. Kahn
Dale Kleist
Robert S.
Langer, Jr.
Julio C.
Palmaz
Gregory G.
Pincus
Russell
Games Slayter
George E.
Smith
John H. Thomas
Elihu
Thomson
William Erastus
Upjohn
Granville
T. Woods
|
