How Levi Strauss Invented the Copper-Riveted Jean Pocket
This 1873 patent describes the use of metal rivets to reinforce the corners of pockets on work pants, preventing them from ripping under heavy use.
Original patent title: “Improvement in fastening pocket-openings”
This 1873 patent describes the use of metal rivets to reinforce the corners of pockets on work pants, preventing them from ripping under heavy use. Granted to Levi Strauss & Co. in 1873 with 2 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a method for fastening pocket openings on clothing using metal rivets. By placing a copper rivet at the stress points where a pocket meets the waistband or side seam, the design prevents the fabric from tearing when the wearer carries heavy tools or items. This simple mechanical reinforcement transformed standard denim trousers into durable workwear.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the use of thread or stitching for pocket reinforcement.
- Does not cover non-metal fastening methods like buttons or snaps.
- Does not cover the specific chemical composition of the denim fabric itself.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
It applied industrial-grade hardware technology to soft textiles, solving a persistent failure point in clothing through a simple, low-cost mechanical fix.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Levi's 501 Original Fit Jeans
Traditional workwear trousers
Denim jackets with reinforced pockets
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is the foundation of the modern blue jean. It turned a simple pair of pants into a tool for laborers during the American West, establishing Levi Strauss & Co. as a global brand.
Granted
May 20, 1873
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Levi Strauss & Co. continues to use this design as a core element of their brand identity. Many other denim manufacturers have adopted similar rivet reinforcement techniques as an industry standard for workwear.
Market impact
This patent effectively created the durable goods category for clothing. It allowed for the mass production of reliable work pants, which became a staple of the American economy and later a global fashion icon.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a method for fastening pocket openings on clothing using metal rivets. By placing a copper rivet at the stress points where a pocket meets the waistband or side seam, the design prevents the fabric from tearing when the wearer carries heavy tools or items. This simple mechanical reinforcement transformed standard denim trousers into durable workwear.
The clever bit
It applied industrial-grade hardware technology to soft textiles, solving a persistent failure point in clothing through a simple, low-cost mechanical fix.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the use of thread or stitching for pocket reinforcement.
- Does not cover non-metal fastening methods like buttons or snaps.
- Does not cover the specific chemical composition of the denim fabric itself.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
10/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$7K – $21K
Midpoint $13K · expired or expiring · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
(1873). How Levi Strauss Invented the Copper-Riveted Jean Pocket (U.S. Patent No. 139,121). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/139121/blue-jeans-riveted-levi-strauss
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US139121"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4405829 · 1983
How RSA Public-Key Encryption Keeps Digital Messages Secret
This patent describes the foundational RSA algorithm, a method for securely sending messages where anyone can encrypt a message using a public key, but only the intended recipient can decrypt it using a secret private key.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 4575330 · 1986
How 3D Printers Build Objects Layer by Layer from Liquid
This patent describes the foundational method for 3D printing, where a machine builds a three-dimensional object layer by layer by hardening a liquid material with light or other energy.
UVP Inc
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 1219881 · 1917 · Hookless Fastener Co
How Gideon Sundback Invented the Modern Zipper
US 4750 · 1846 · Elias Howe
How Elias Howe Invented the Modern Lockstitch Sewing Machine
US 3349949 · 1967
The Invention of the Modern Soda Can Pull-Tab
US 6281 · 1849 · Walter Hunt
How Walter Hunt Invented the Modern Safety Pin
More to explore
More in Consumer Electronics
US 7657849 · 2010 · Apple Inc
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
US 7479949 · 2009 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Understand Your Finger Swipes and Scrolls
US 4528643 · 1985 · FPDC Inc
How Stores Make Custom Products On-Demand with Remote Approval
US 7469381 · 2008 · Apple Inc
How Touchscreens Show and Snap Back When You Scroll Past an Edge
New to patents?
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Levi Strauss Invented the Copper-Riveted Jean Pocket cover?
This 1873 patent describes the use of metal rivets to reinforce the corners of pockets on work pants, preventing them from ripping under heavy use.
Who owns patent US 139121?
Levi Strauss & Co. owns this patent, granted in 1873.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 139121 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 2 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is the foundation of the modern blue jean. It turned a simple pair of pants into a tool for laborers during the American West, establishing Levi Strauss & Co. as a global brand.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the use of thread or stitching for pocket reinforcement.
Patent monitoring