Buzz
When you reflect on your childhood, you likely think about the outdoor play and the mischief of elementary school. You may have had some clever ideas and maybe a few silly ones too, but none of them stuck with you in the long run. Yet, there were kids who used their childhood to invent ideas that would one day revolutionize the world.
10. Robert PatchToy Truck
What would your childhood have been like without toy trucks? Whether you were a boy or a girl, made of plastic or wood, chances are you’ve had some playtime with these miniature vehicles.
At the age of five in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Robert Patch envisioned a toy that could be easily assembled and disassembled by a child. His idea was for a toy that could transform into various types of trucks—such as a dump truck that could quickly become a semi-truck.
He crafted his first prototype using a shoebox, bottle caps, and nails. Luckily, his father was a patent attorney, so at just five years old, he applied for a patent, before he even knew how to sign his name.
9. Ralph SamuelsonWaterskiing
In the summer of 1922, 18-year-old Ralph Samuelson from Minnesota decided to have some fun with his brother while boating on Lake Pepin in Lake City. They were curious as to why skiing on water couldn't be done the same way it was done on snow.
Samuelson initially used regular snow skis but later crafted the first water skis using lumber and leather straps to bind them. He tried to ski just like downhill skiing, keeping the skis parallel to the water. As anyone who has ever tried waterskiing knows, that’s not the best approach.
After numerous attempts, Samuelson discovered the secret to water skiing: leaning back with the tips of the skis angled upwards. Unfortunately, Samuelson and his brother never patented their invention, but the US Water Ski Foundation acknowledges him as the first known water skier.
8. Chester GreenwoodEarmuffs
After leaving grammar school in 1873, 15-year-old Chester Greenwood invented something that would endure for years to come. While testing a new pair of ice skates, he grew frustrated with keeping his ears warm in the cold weather of Farmington, Maine. He tried using a scarf to cover his head, but it was itchy and uncomfortable. So, he fashioned two ear-shaped loops out of wire and asked his grandmother to attach some fur to them.
He refined his idea and ultimately patented the design for Greenwood’s Champion Ear Protectors. Although he went on to patent many other inventions, the modern earmuff was his very first.
7. George NissenTrampoline
In 1930, after graduating high school at the age of 16, gymnast George Nissen wasn’t quite ready for college. After attending the circus and observing trapeze artists falling into nets that provided a bounce, he started experimenting with different materials.
It wasn't until 1934, at 20 years old, that Nissen completed his first version of the modern trampoline. Crafted from canvas, grommets, and inner tubes, his trampoline became a popular attraction at the YMCA summer camp where he worked as a counselor. He started selling his creation to the public and eventually trademarked the name “trampoline.” At one point, it was even marketed as a military training tool to help soldiers prepare for combat.
6. Spencer WhaleKidCare Riding Car
Do you recall those small plastic cars you’d sit in and pretend to drive around as a child? At just six years old, Spencer Whale became the youngest member inducted into the National Gallery of America’s Young Inventors for inventing the KidCare Riding Car.
After a hospital visit in 1998, Whale noticed how difficult it was for young children to play with an IV attached to them. He was inspired to design a toy car that could comfortably accommodate both a sick child and their IV. He refined his idea over time, testing several materials until he concluded that plastic was the best choice. This led to the creation of the plastic play cars we all know today.
5. Louis BrailleBraille Alphabet
At just three years old, Louis Braille tragically lost his sight in an accident. In a special school designed for blind students, he learned to read by feeling raised letters on paper. However, the books were bulky and extremely expensive, causing him to lose interest quickly.
Feeling that this method was inefficient for blind readers, Braille invented his own alphabet made up of only six dots. At the age of 15, he used his father’s tools to create indents in paper, saving space and eventually developing a universal reading system for all blind individuals.
4. Philo FarnsworthAll-Electronic Television
While many inventors played a role in the development of television, it was Philo Farnsworth who conceived the idea for the world’s first all-electronic television at just 15 years old.
Fascinated by mechanical devices, Farnsworth often converted his family’s appliances to electric power. In 1922, he pitched an idea for a vacuum tube to his chemistry teacher, a concept that would later change the world of television. However, his teacher and classmates didn’t quite understand the significance of his vision. It wasn’t until 1926 that Farnsworth secured the funding needed to turn his idea into reality, ultimately earning a patent for the all-electronic television we know today.
3. Joseph Armand BombardierSnowmobile
In the remote, snowy town of Valcourt in Quebec, getting around during the winter months was a real challenge, with snow piling up to several feet. As a result, the town became isolated every year as winter set in.
At just 15 years old, Joseph Armand Bombardier came up with a solution. He took the engine from his father’s old, broken Ford Model T and transformed it into what is now known as the snowmobile. His initial design featured a sled powered by a propeller connected to the Model T’s drive shaft. After years of working as a mechanic, Bombardier fine-tuned his creation and eventually brought it to market.
2. Alissa ChavezThe Hot Seat
Every summer, we hear heartbreaking stories of children being accidentally left in hot cars. In 2010, high school senior Alissa Chavez came up with a solution to this recurring problem with the idea for the Hot Seat.
For her eighth-grade science fair project, Chavez developed a car seat designed to alert parents through a mobile app when they come within 12 meters (40 feet) of their child in the car seat. After patenting the invention in 2012, she collaborated with engineers and investors to fine-tune the design. While the product is not yet available, Chavez intends to launch it in the near future.
1. Blaise PascalCalculator
Many people are familiar with Pascal, the programming language, or the renowned mathematician Blaise Pascal. But did you know he also invented a device that we nearly use every day?
In 1642, in France, the 18-year-old Blaise Pascal sought to assist his tax collector father and came up with the idea of a 'counting machine.' This machine was capable of performing the four key arithmetic functions: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It's believed Pascal made about 20 of these machines, though none have survived. In time, other inventors expanded on his work and created calculators capable of much more complex functions.
