Posted on 05/24/2008 1:44:19 PM PDT by pabianice
In 1945, Robert Sherman invented the modern portable, in-window air conditioner (Patent # 2,433,960 granted January 6, 1948). It was subsequently "appropriated" by a large manufacturer who made hundreds of millions of dollars on it. Sherman did not have the resources to fight the big corporation in court (they reportedly promised to "break him" if he tried) and thus never received a dime. He died in 1962. Recognition of his contribution to heating/air conditioning is long overdue.
(Excerpt) Read more at navlog.org ...
The device pictured, while portable, is nothing whatsoever like a “window airconditioner” - it doesn’t sit in the window, for starters, but has a large apparatus “near” the window containing all the mechanicals.
If that’s what he patented, it’s understandable that the “large appliance manufacturer” didn’t feel any obligation to pay him royalties for a true window unit.
We don’t need it yet. We got 2 inches of snow yesterday. brrrrrr lol..
Meanwhile, I’ve got to go mow some grass, and it’s 93 F outside...
“TWENTY DEGREES COOLER INSIDE! C’MON IN, FOLKS!”
;^)
An historical tidbit: when the U.S. first established its embassy in the new Republic of South Vietnam in 1955, it was said that the only window air conditioner in all of Saigon was in the American ambassador’s bedroom.
Looks to me like the current portable air conditioners sold nowadays with the exhaust hose in a window bracket.
“If that’s what he patented, it’s understandable that the “large appliance manufacturer” didn’t feel any obligation to pay him royalties for a true window unit.”
Drawings for Utility Patents frequently don’t resemble the commercial product because such patents are issued on the strict uniqueness of how they work and not on their final appearance. Patents issued on the unique appearance of a devices are called Design Patents (i.e., the shape of a Coke bottle).
Or, you could set outside in your car and watch the TV’s.
Now that I look back on it, how dumb, you couldn’t hear a word, but cars were lined up to get a space.
And all this time, I thought the air conditioner was invented by two guys named Max and Norm.
I remember our first window unit. It was York that my father bought in 1950. There is little or no difference in that old York then in a unit you would buy today.
Only today, they are a bit smaller and lighter.
About 10 years ago, the Building Museum in DC had an exhibit on air conditioning in America. I guess it had never dawned on me, but far from being a luxury, without air conditioning we would not have developed our manufacturing base. Between workers getting too hot to function and chemicals and processes that need a certain temperature, there is a lot that depends on having air conditioning.
I felt like a total nerd for going to the exhibit, but it was very interesting.
Without AC the South would not have developed much.
“And all this time, I thought the air conditioner was invented by two guys named Max and Norm.”
No, it was their brother Hi.
Then I had to do the reverse late in September when the nights got chilly again.
When I was able to afford my own house, I made sure it had central air.
Absolutely. That was brought up in the exhibit as well. I certainly know what it was like living in hot, humid DC w/no air conditioning. We used to sprinkle water on us and lay under the fan. Still sucked.
62 in Vegas today.
That's pretty cool for Vegas this time of year, isn't it? I would gladly have taken it. :o)
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