John Mason's 1858 Patent for the Mason Jar Lid
An 1858 invention by John L. Mason that introduced a threaded glass jar and a screw-on metal lid to create an airtight seal for home food preservation.
Original patent title: “Toot l”
An 1858 invention by John L. Mason that introduced a threaded glass jar and a screw-on metal lid to create an airtight seal for home food preservation. Granted to John L. Mason in 1858 with 8 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a method for sealing glass jars using a threaded neck and a corresponding metal screw cap. By incorporating a rubber gasket between the glass rim and the metal lid, the design creates a vacuum seal when the jar cools after being filled with hot contents. This mechanism effectively prevented air from entering the jar, which was essential for long-term food storage before the widespread availability of refrigeration.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover non-threaded glass containers or those using cork stoppers.
- Does not cover the process of heat-treating or canning food itself.
- Does not cover plastic lids or modern vacuum-sealing machines.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation was the use of a threaded glass neck that allowed a metal cap to be tightened down directly onto a gasket, creating a reliable, reusable airtight seal that was simple enough for home use.
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
Classic Ball Mason jars
Home canning supplies
Vintage glass food storage containers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This invention revolutionized domestic life by allowing families to safely store seasonal harvests for year-round consumption. It became a staple of American kitchens and remains a cultural icon of home preservation today.
Granted
November 30, 1858
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Newell Brands, which owns the Ball brand, continue to manufacture jars based on the fundamental principles established in this 1858 design. The basic mechanical interface of the threaded jar remains the industry standard for home canning.
Market impact
This patent enabled the mass production of affordable, reliable home canning equipment, effectively decentralizing food storage. It created a durable product category that persists in the consumer market over 160 years later.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a method for sealing glass jars using a threaded neck and a corresponding metal screw cap. By incorporating a rubber gasket between the glass rim and the metal lid, the design creates a vacuum seal when the jar cools after being filled with hot contents. This mechanism effectively prevented air from entering the jar, which was essential for long-term food storage before the widespread availability of refrigeration.
The clever bit
The innovation was the use of a threaded glass neck that allowed a metal cap to be tightened down directly onto a gasket, creating a reliable, reusable airtight seal that was simple enough for home use.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover non-threaded glass containers or those using cork stoppers.
- Does not cover the process of heat-treating or canning food itself.
- Does not cover plastic lids or modern vacuum-sealing machines.
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
19/40
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
$4K – $14K
Midpoint $9K · expired or expiring · industry ×0.9
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
(1858). John Mason's 1858 Patent for the Mason Jar Lid (U.S. Patent No. 22,186). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/22186/mason-jar
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 John Mason's 1858 Patent for the Mason Jar Lid cover?
An 1858 invention by John L. Mason that introduced a threaded glass jar and a screw-on metal lid to create an airtight seal for home food preservation.
Who owns patent US 22186?
John L. Mason owns this patent, granted in 1858.
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 22186 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 8 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This invention revolutionized domestic life by allowing families to safely store seasonal harvests for year-round consumption. It became a staple of American kitchens and remains a cultural icon of home preservation today.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover non-threaded glass containers or those using cork stoppers.
Patent monitoring