African American Inventors - Fredrick M. Jones, The Cool Factor

We can thank Mr. Fredrick M. Jones for many of his inventions, including the ticket dispensing machine, starter generators, thermostat controls and the list goes on. 

However the invention we'd like to focus on is the air condition unit he patented for vehicles to safely transport perishable food. This brilliant concept that America's food industry still thrives off of was designed in 1935 and was later patented on July 12, 1950. His invention made transporting perishable foods possible and later became a $3 million dollar business, known as Thermo King Corporation by 1949. 

We don't think it's necessary to explain the importance of a portable air conditioning unit, but just in case you are not aware, here is why Jones' invention was a golden idea. In addition to transporting perishable food in America, Jones' idea made it possible to preserve blood, food and medicine during the war at hospitals. His invention not only saved our tummies, but it actually saves lives. What's more important than that?

Moral of the story, one simple idea that is is created based on the need of consumers could expand into a million dollar business or more importantly it can save lives.

African American Inventors: ' The Elevator' - Alexander Miles

Can you imagine, if elevators did not have doors? me neither, I'm pretty sure someone would have eventually come up with the idea but I'm glad Alexander Miles improved the method of the opening and closing of elevator doors into an automatic mechanism that closed access to the shaft. Before his October 11, 1887 patent, people were forgetting to close the shaft which increased many accidents. In addition, he improved the closing of the opening to the elevator shaft when an elevator was not on that floor. 

African American Inventors: Mail box - Paul L. Downing

Isn't it great that in order to get our mail, all we have to do is walk a few steps to our mailbox and just pick it up? Well, we can thank inventor Paul L. Downing for his contribution to the mailbox. 

Downing patented his metal box design as the "Street Letter Box" in October 27, 1891, today we can say his designs fathered the many modern mailboxes we have today. 

He is also noted to be the inventor of the electrical switch for railroads which operators used to control the timing of trains. His design paved the way for what we now use in light switches in the home. 

African American Inventors: The Lantern - Michael C. Harvey

Many may not be aware of it, but we are here to shed light to how many inventions that make your day to day life much were in fact invented by African and/or African American inventors. 

Take for instance the lantern, at some point this was the only means of light.  In 1884 Michael C. Harvey, he improved a type of lantern that could be turned on and off. We owe much thanks to Harvey for our lamps that we can so easily roll over and turn off before heading to be.

 The original lantern is now on display at the Black History Museum. He received patent No. 303844 on August 19, 1884 in St. Louis, Missouri for the invention of an improvement in wick-raisers.

It is pretty cool to know that from the time we wake up, to the time we go back to sleep at night, something that you have used has been invented by a African American inventor.