# 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.

- **Patent:** US 22186
- **Original title:** Toot l
- **Owner:** John L. Mason
- **Granted:** 1858
- **Status:** Active
- **Times cited:** 8
- **Field:** mechanical, materials

## What it does

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.

## 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.

## 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.

## Real-world examples

1. Classic Ball Mason jars
2. Home canning supplies
3. Vintage glass food storage containers

## Why it matters

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.

## 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.

**Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/22186/mason-jar

**Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US22186

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._


## Related patents

Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus:

- [How Earl Tupper Invented the Airtight Plastic Food Container](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2487400/tupperware-airtight-seal) — A 1947 patent for a flexible plastic container with a unique, airtight lid that seals by pressing down on the center, creating the foundation for Tupperware.
- [How the Crown Cork Bottle Cap Changed Soda and Beer](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/468226/bottle-cap-crown-cork-painter) — William Painter's 1892 invention of the crown cork bottle cap, a simple metal disc with a crimped edge that provided an airtight, disposable seal for carbonated beverages.
- [The Invention of the Modern Soda Can Pull-Tab](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3349949/pull-tab-pop-top-can) — A 1965 design for a ring-shaped metal tab that makes it easy to pull open a tear strip on a beverage can.
- [How the Modern Disposable Paper Cup Was Invented](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/1032557/dixie-cup-disposable-paper-cup) — A 1908 patent for a sanitary, single-use paper cup designed to prevent the spread of germs from shared public drinking vessels.
- [How Lewis Waterman's Original Fountain Pen Design Worked](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/293545/fountain-pen-waterman) — This 1884 patent describes an early fountain pen designed by Lewis E. Waterman, which aimed to solve common ink-flow problems, making writing smoother and cleaner.