Developers: We’ve Got a Challenge for You!
by CPSC Blogger apps challenge consumer report contest product report product review recallsHow many consumers know that you can go online and tell the government about consumer product safety problems that you encounter?
How many of you know that you can search those reports before you spend your own money on a particular product?
Since the launch of SaferProducts.gov in March 2011, more than 18,000 product safety reports have been submitted to CPSC. The site gets about 200,000 visits every month.
Those numbers are a good start. But we want to do better. That’s where you come (…)
Read More
Feb 26
Learn more safety information about furniture, on CPSC’s furniture safety guides page Who isn’t looking for a little more space for all the stuff we acquire?
Sarah E. Goode was a furniture store owner and the first African-American woman to receive a patent. Her patent was for a space-saving, innovative solution that combined a bed and a cabinet. She received her patent for a Folding Cabinet Bed on July 14, 1885—27 years before William Lawrence Murphy patented his fold-up “Murphy Bed” (…)
Read More
Feb 21
The ingenuity of African American inventors Lewis Latimer and Philip Downing allowed consumers to see the light, literally. These pioneers were instrumental in bringing the age of electricity safely into consumers’ homes.
Lewis Howard Latimer received a patent in January 1881 for an improved process for creating a carbon filament for light bulbs. His filament was more durable and longer lasting than earlier filaments, such as Thomas Edison’s original paper filament. His innovation (…)
Read More
Feb 14
Did you know that asking for the “real McCoy” started with a product invented by an African American?
Mechanical engineer Elijah McCoy received a patent for an automatic steam engine lubricating device in 1872. The device made it possible for train engines to be lubricated while they ran, saving the railroad time and money. When railroad engineers wanted to make sure they received lubricators designed by him and not inferior imitations, they asked for the “real McCoy” system.
Before (…)
Read More
Feb 7
CPSC Infographic: Portable Generator-Related Deaths
by CPSC Blogger carbon monoxide co co poisoning generator poison portable generatorBlog en español
This infographic is also posted on CPSC’s Flickr page for easy sharing.
(…)
Read More
Feb 6