How the Popsicle Was Invented by Accident
A 1924 patent for a frozen treat made by freezing flavored liquid around a wooden stick, commonly known today as a Popsicle.
Original patent title: “Frozen confectionery”
A 1924 patent for a frozen treat made by freezing flavored liquid around a wooden stick, commonly known today as a Popsicle. Granted to Individual in 1924 with 23 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a method for creating a frozen confection by placing a handle into a container of liquid, such as soda or fruit juice, and freezing the mixture until it becomes a solid block. The handle remains embedded in the frozen mass, allowing the user to hold the treat without touching the ice directly. This simple mechanical design allows for a portable, handheld frozen snack that melts slowly while being consumed.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover non-frozen confections or candies.
- Does not cover liquid-based treats that do not utilize a handle or stick for consumption.
- Does not cover the chemical composition of the flavoring or the specific type of liquid used.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation was recognizing that a simple wooden stick could serve as both a structural support for the freezing process and a convenient handle for the consumer.
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
Popsicles
Fudgsicles
Homemade fruit juice ice pops
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent marks the formalization of the 'Popsicle,' a staple of American snack culture. It transformed a simple kitchen accident into a mass-marketed product that defined the frozen noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → industry for the next century.
Filed
July 19, 1924
Granted
August 19, 1924
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The Popsicle brand is currently owned by Unilever, which continues to dominate the market for this type of frozen noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more →. Many smaller artisanal ice pop manufacturers also utilize the fundamental method described in this patent.
Market impact
This patent enabled the creation of the frozen noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → category in grocery stores. It established a standard for handheld frozen treats that remains the industry benchmark today.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a method for creating a frozen confection by placing a handle into a container of liquid, such as soda or fruit juice, and freezing the mixture until it becomes a solid block. The handle remains embedded in the frozen mass, allowing the user to hold the treat without touching the ice directly. This simple mechanical design allows for a portable, handheld frozen snack that melts slowly while being consumed.
The clever bit
The innovation was recognizing that a simple wooden stick could serve as both a structural support for the freezing process and a convenient handle for the consumer.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover non-frozen confections or candies.
- Does not cover liquid-based treats that do not utilize a handle or stick for consumption.
- Does not cover the chemical composition of the flavoring or the specific type of liquid used.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
28/40
Moderately cited
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
$20K – $63K
Midpoint $40K · 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
Epperson, F. W. (1924). How the Popsicle Was Invented by Accident (U.S. Patent No. 1,505,592). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1505592/popsicle-epperson
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the Popsicle Was Invented by Accident cover?
A 1924 patent for a frozen treat made by freezing flavored liquid around a wooden stick, commonly known today as a Popsicle.
Who owns patent US 1505592?
Individual owns this patent, granted in 1924.
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 1505592 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 23 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent marks the formalization of the 'Popsicle,' a staple of American snack culture. It transformed a simple kitchen accident into a mass-marketed product that defined the frozen novelty industry for the next century.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover non-frozen confections or candies.
Same assignee
More from Individual
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