Big plans for the 4th of July? If you are like many Americans, you will be gathering with friends and family for backyard barbecues and later going to see the local fireworks. As we have seen before, thanks to patents, your celebration is guaranteed to entertain.
Let’s take a look first at those patents that help with your backyard cookout.
The Portable Grill (U.S. 3,812,840)
Burgers and hot dogs in the backyard, at the park, or on the beach – the portable grill allows patriotic partiers to take our celebration anywhere.
The Weber Grill (U.S. 3,330,266)
Apologies for listing another grill, but the Weber grill is interesting because it was invented by George Stephen Sr. in 1967, a welder, whose day job was to weld two spheres together, creating marine buoys. How’s that for imagination?
The Charcoal Briquette (USD27483S)
Let’s face it, other than too much starter fluid, nothing gives your burgers and dogs the unique flavor of a charcoal briquette. The modern charcoal briquette was invented and patented in 1897 by Ellsworth B. A Zwoyer.
The Blender (U.S. 3,368,800)What better way to wash down your 4th of July burgers and dogs than daiquiris or margaritas made with your Vita-Mix blender? Sit back and enjoy a cool drink in the summer heat.
As the summer day turns into a summer evening, we all know what that means on July 4th…. Fireworks!
Fun Fact: The USPTO has received 199 patent applications that specifically refer to “fireworks” in the title claims. The earliest dates back to 1893 for a Fireworks Torch.
The Sparkler (U.S. 2,063,601)How many of us remember running around the yard trailing sparks behind us as we zig-zagged our way between parents on July 4th? It is hard to believe that the patent application for this July 4th staple was filed over 80 years ago.
Precision Fireworks Display System Having a Decreased Environmental Impact (U.S. 5,339,741)
July 4th would not be the same without a stunning fireworks show. Our thanks go out to none other than Walt Disney, whose team worked tirelessly to develop a “system and method for launching projectiles, such as fireworks projectiles, which explode in the air into a pyrotechnic display.”
Mechatronic Transforming Luminaire Swarm (U.S. 10,602,591)
This 4th of July, especially if you live in a big city, you might notice something very different lighting up the night sky. Technology might replace fireworks with drone light shows that produce stunning effects. Hundreds, even thousands, of drones, each equipped with LEDs, dancing in perfect harmony, producing intricate patterns, spelling out words, and creating shapes that tell a story.
Enjoy your 4th of July and remember, in 2026 the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday!
