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ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER
Abelman, Frayne, &Schwab
This Week In Intellectual Property History for the Week of February 28, 2011
On March 1, 1921, the United States Patent Office issued U.S. Patent No. 1,370,316 entitled, "Diver's Suit" to Harry Houdin, the world renowned magician and escape artist.
The famous magician's innovation was to provide a means whereby, without requiring assistance, a diver could quickly remove the suit while submerged, in case of danger or any other reason.. A diver could put on or take off the diving suit on the surface without assistance.
This was accomplished by forming the suit in two sections of impervious pliable material that meet and lock together with rigid bands at the waist as shown in the upper right corner of the first page of the patent shown below.
The helmet and boots remained attached to the top and bottom parts of the suit. The interlocking connection clamped at the waist with a quick-release handle which the diver could operate underwater, and, "aided by the inrush of water," escape from the suit and swim to the surface.
