A simple walk through the Alps inspired an invention that revolutionized industries and generated millions, proving that nature is a great teacher.
Throughout history, great inventions They emerged from observing nature. From the invention of airplanes inspired by the flight of birds to navigation systems based on the radar of bats. These advances generated million in income, and one of them was born from a simple walk with a dog in the Swiss Alps.
The engineer Georges de Mestral is the name behind one of the most used and known inventions today: the velcro. What seemed like an annoying walk full of thistles stuck to your dog’s clothes and hair It ended up becoming a brilliant idea that revolutionized the textile industry and others.
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How Velcro was created
The history of Velcro begins in 1941 when the Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral, after a walk with his dog, encountered a peculiarity: several caltrops had gotten stuck to his clothes. Intrigued, he decided to investigate further into how these little thistles stuck together so easily.
The inventor used a microscope to examine the caltrops and discovered that they were covered with small hooks, capable of attaching themselves to any looped surface, such as clothing or hair. With this idea in mind, he thought of replicating the mechanism artificially and thus creating a closure system that was comfortable and reversible.
However, the road to production was not easy. Although he managed to make some first strips of cotton, the material wore out too quickly. That’s when he turned to nylon, a newly invented synthetic fabric, which turned out to be much more resistant and suitable for his project. De Mestral spent years perfecting the process and finding a way to make the industrial style hooks.
Finally, in 1955, he patented his invention under the name “velcro”, a combination of the words “velvet” (velvet) and “crochet” (hook) in French. At first, his invention did not have great commercial acceptance, but everything changed when the POT He used it in space suits to facilitate the use of bulky outfits. From there, Velcro became popular in various industries.
Over time, Velcro became an indispensable product, being used in clothing, footwear, accessories, and even safety equipment. Georges de Mestral’s vision, inspired by nature, is still present today in countless practical uses.
Source: Ambito
