History - Inventions and discoveries - Safety pins - Fasteners - United States - History of inventions
Which American inventor developed the modern safety pin in 1849?
Correct!
The American inventor Walter Hunt developed a safety pin in 1849, the basic principle of which is still used almost unchanged today. It consisted of a single piece of wire that simultaneously formed the needle, a spiral spring and a clasp. The closure was particularly important: after closing, the sharp tip was held in a small metal socket. This meant that it could not come loose easily or injure the wearer. In his patent, Walter Hunt highlighted exactly this combination of needle, spring and protected clasp. On April 10, 1849, Walter Hunt received U.S. Patent No. 6,281 for his design known as the “dress pin.” Walter Hunt was an extremely productive inventor. His developments included, among other things, machines for making rope and nails, a bottle cap and an early sewing machine with a lockstitch. The Smithsonian specifically counts the safety pin among its inventions.
Walter Hunt developed the modern safety pin with a spring and protected clasp in 1849.
