How Richard Drew Invented Modern Transparent Adhesive Tape
The 1930 patent for the first pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, which replaced messy glues and paper tapes with a convenient, clear, and sticky strip.
Original patent title: “Adhesive tape”
The 1930 patent for the first pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, which replaced messy glues and paper tapes with a convenient, clear, and sticky strip. Granted to Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co in 1930 with 20 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a strip of flexible material, such as cellophane, coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Unlike previous tapes that required heat or water to activate, this invention relies on a tacky substance that sticks immediately upon contact with a surface. The design includes a backing that is strong enough to hold items together but thin enough to remain flexible and transparent. It allows users to join materials like paper or fabric without leaving thick, unsightly residues or requiring complex application tools.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover tapes that require heat to activate the adhesive.
- Does not cover water-activated tapes like traditional gummed paper.
- Does not cover non-flexible backing materials like metal sheets.
- Does not cover adhesives that are not pressure-sensitive.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The innovation was balancing the adhesive's 'tackiness' to ensure it stuck firmly to the target surface while still being able to be unrolled from its own backing without tearing or losing its stickiness.
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
Scotch Brand transparent tape
Office supply adhesive tapes
Cellophane gift wrapping tapes
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This invention fundamentally changed how we package, repair, and organize items. It led to the creation of the Scotch Tape brand, which became a household staple and a primary revenue driver for 3M for decades. It remains one of the most successful examples of industrial chemistry applied to consumer convenience.
Filed
May 28, 1928
Granted
May 27, 1930
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
3M remains the primary entity building on this legacy, having expanded the technology into thousands of industrial and consumer adhesive products. Many other manufacturers of stationery and industrial tapes utilize the same fundamental principles of pressure-sensitive polymers established in this patent.
Market impact
This patent effectively launched the modern pressure-sensitive tape industry. It shifted consumer behavior away from liquid adhesives and water-activated tapes toward the instant-stick convenience that defines office and home supply markets today.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a strip of flexible material, such as cellophane, coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Unlike previous tapes that required heat or water to activate, this invention relies on a tacky substance that sticks immediately upon contact with a surface. The design includes a backing that is strong enough to hold items together but thin enough to remain flexible and transparent. It allows users to join materials like paper or fabric without leaving thick, unsightly residues or requiring complex application tools.
The clever bit
The innovation was balancing the adhesive's 'tackiness' to ensure it stuck firmly to the target surface while still being able to be unrolled from its own backing without tearing or losing its stickiness.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover tapes that require heat to activate the adhesive.
- Does not cover water-activated tapes like traditional gummed paper.
- Does not cover non-flexible backing materials like metal sheets.
- Does not cover adhesives that are not pressure-sensitive.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
26/40
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
$14K – $46K
Midpoint $29K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Gurley, D. R. (1930). How Richard Drew Invented Modern Transparent Adhesive Tape (U.S. Patent No. 1,760,820). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1760820/scotch-tape-adhesive-drew
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 Richard Drew Invented Modern Transparent Adhesive Tape cover?
The 1930 patent for the first pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, which replaced messy glues and paper tapes with a convenient, clear, and sticky strip.
Who owns patent US 1760820?
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co owns this patent, granted in 1930.
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 1760820 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 20 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This invention fundamentally changed how we package, repair, and organize items. It led to the creation of the Scotch Tape brand, which became a household staple and a primary revenue driver for 3M for decades. It remains one of the most successful examples of industrial chemistry applied to consumer convenience.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover tapes that require heat to activate the adhesive.
Same assignee
More from Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Patent monitoring