On August 26, 1969, Earl S. Swenson received U.S. Patent No. D215,050 on a Self-Service Restaurant Building:

Born Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, Minnie Pearl, was an American comedian who performed at the Grand Ole Opry for decades before she became nationally famous because of her appearances on the hit television show, Hee Haw. At the height of her popularity she was persuaded by businessmen John and Henry Hooker to lend her name to a fried chicken chain to compete with Kentucky Fried Chicken.

By 1968 the Hookers had sold nearly 300 franchises, an decided to go public. The stock quickly climbed to $40.50 per share, even though there were just five restaurants in operation. The stock price continued to climb reaching $56 per share (a $64 million valuation), yet there were still fewer than 40 restaurants open, and none of them making a profit. After an SEC investigation revealed that the company lost $31 million in 1969, the stock price collapsed to under a dollar.

The chain is long gone, but the patented buildings live on. This one at 2130 Leavitt Road, Lorain, Ohio, is now a Marco’s Pizza:

On July 30, 1963, U.S. Patent No. 195,756 issued to Joseph O. Tally on a Sign:

The sign was actually constructed, in Mr. Tally’s home town, and marked the location of Tallywood shopping center:

The sign, a tribute to mid-century modern design, stands today at 235 Tallywood Shopping Center, Fayetteville, NC (GPS coordinates: (35.046429, -78.931925). Sources indicate that William Baron was the designer of the sign, so it may be that Mr. Tally’s only contribution to the sign was his name.

On July 16, 1996, U.S. Patent No. 5,536,196, issued to Harry W. Sternberg on a Drinking Vessel with Sound Effects — the mug generates a burping sound when it is put down.

The patent was assigned to Fun-Damental Too, Ltd., a novelty company whose schtick was novelties with sound effects. Trademark litigators may recognize another of Fun-Damental Too’s products: the toilet bank that makes a flushing noise:

Unfortunately, Fun-Damental Too was confronted with an infringing toilet bank with flushing noises, which resulted in Fun-Damental Too, Ltd. v. Gemmy Indus. Corp., 111 F.3d 993, 42 U.S.P.Q.2D 1348 (2nd Cir. 1997)(affirming a preliminary injunction in favor of Fun-Damental Too).

On January 9, 1894, George S. Parker received U.S. Patent No. 512319 on a Fountain Pen:

George Safford Parker was a sales agent for the John Holland Gold Pen Company before founding the Parker Pen Company in 1888. He received his first fountain pen related patent in 1889 (U.S. Patent No. 416944). In 1894, Parker received the ‘319 patent on his “Lucky Curve” fountain pen feed, which was designed to draw excess ink back into the pen barrel when the pen was not in use. He patented improvements to the Lucky Curve design (U.S. Patent No. 606,231). Parker’s first successful pen was the Parker Jointless, introduced in 1899, which included the Lucky Curve feed. The Lucky Curve feed was used in various forms until at least 1928.

On January 7, 1913, William M. Burton received U.S. Patent No. 1,049,667 on the Manufacture of Gasolene:

Burton earned a BA from Western Reserve University, and a PhD in Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University, and started as a chemist with Standard Oil Co. in Cleveland. A year later, he transferred to Standard Oil of Indiana. Burton was working as general manager of manufacturing for Standard Oil in 1909 when he began looking for a way to improve the yield of gasoline from crude oil. He eventually developed a process that involved heating the crude oil to over 700°F, which doubled the amount of gasolene that could be obtained from crude oil, and quickly became the standard in the industry saving a billion barrels of crude oil during its first 15 years of use.

Burton was elected as director of Standard of Indiana in 1911, became vice president of the company in 1915, and was president from 1918 until he retired in 1927.

On November 2, 2004, U.S. Patent No. 6,812,392 issued to Marlon Brando — yes, THAT Marlon Brando — on a Drumhead Tensioning Device and Method:

This was actually the fourth patent Brando received on this improvement in tuning conga drums, following U.S. Patent Nos. 6,410,833, 6,441,286, and 6,667,432. While his invention made it easier to tune conga drums, it would make the drums more expensive, and unfortunately it didn’t have a chance to catch on before his death in 2004.

On July 22, 1902, Joseph L. Uhl received U.S. Patent No. 705,488 on the Construction of Metal Furniture:

Joseph later patented a Cushioned Foot for Metal Furniture (U.S. Patent No. 753762 issued March 1, 1904), a Revolving Metal Chair (U.S. Patent No. 782932 issued February 21, 1905), a Caster Raising and Lowering Means for Stands, Etc. (U.S. Patent No. 1,023,182, issued April 16. 1912), a Knockdown Stand, Stool, or the Like (U.S. Patent No. 1,023,181 issued April 16, 1912).

Clement R. and Philip Edward Uhl founded Uhl’s Cycle Emporium, a bicycle repair shop founded on March 1, 1898. A year later joined by bothers Tom, Otto, Bob, Joseph, and Henry, they incorporated “Uhl Brothers Company” manufacturing bicycles and metal novelties. With the rise of automobiles, and the waning of the bicycle industries, the company changed its name in 1904 to Toledo Metal Furniture Company with Philip as president, Joseph as secretary and general manager; and Clement as vice president and superintendent. Among their first customers was Hoffman Ice cream and candy store in Toledo. Clement a talented artist, designed their first chair, which Joseph then figured out out to build. The Company emphasized the strength of their products:

as well as their durability:

Indeed, examples of these chairs survive today: