{
  "patent_number": "US 1721815",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How the First Cotton Swabs Were Mass-Produced",
  "original_title": "Process and apparatus for manufacturing medical swabs",
  "summary": "Leo Gerstenzang's 1929 patent for the automated manufacturing of cotton-tipped applicators, the invention that created the modern Q-Tip.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a mechanical process for attaching absorbent cotton to the ends of small wooden sticks. It outlines an apparatus that automates the winding and securing of cotton fibers onto a stick, ensuring a consistent shape and density. By moving away from manual assembly, the invention allowed for the high-speed production of sanitary medical swabs that could be packaged and sold for home use.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover the chemical composition of the cotton fibers themselves.",
    "Does not cover the use of plastic or paper stems, as the patent focuses on the mechanical winding process for wooden applicators.",
    "Does not cover the medical application or diagnostic use of the swabs."
  ],
  "filed": "1927-10-29",
  "granted": "1929-07-23",
  "expires": "1947-10-29",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "Individual",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/individual",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Gerstenzang Leo",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/gerstenzang-leo"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 10,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "mechanical"
  ],
  "abstract": null,
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1721815/q-tip-cotton-swab",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1721815/q-tip-cotton-swab/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US1721815",
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}