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The Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association (PIPLA) recently presented its 2014 Inventor of the Year Award to Bill Adams, founder and chairman of Adams Manufacturing. The award recognizes the contributions Adams has made to progressing the design and use of a number of consumer products, such as suction cups, outdoor resin furniture and holiday accessories. The award also recognizes the positive, significant economic impact Adams Manufacturing has had within the western Pennsylvania region.
Adams has been issued 208 design or utility patents since its founding in 1976. Adams’ innovative products are sold throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe into prominent global retailers such as Lowe’s, Walmart, The Home Depot, Ace, Do It Best, and on Amazon.com, just to name a few.
Some notable innovations include Adams’ RealComfort Adirondack® chairs and suction cups with diffusion ring technology.
Looking to improve on an American classic, Adirondack chairs were traditionally made out of wood that was sawed with band saws in straight lines. But the human back needs support, and the head needs a place to rest. Adams Manufacturing found a way to incorporate advanced ergonomic features like lumbar support into their chairs.
Adams Manufacturing took a similar approach with suction cups. Previously existing suction cups tended to focus light like a magnifying glass, potentially scorching surfaces. Using proprietary diffusion ring technology, Adams patented a suction cup design using high-clarity materials that can’t focus light.
The Inventor of the Year Award is awarded annually by the Pittsburgh Intellectual Property Law Association to honor living inventors whose patented inventions have had a significant impact on the economy, social well-being, and the advancement of technology. To be eligible, an inventor or team of inventors must reside or work within, or have some special connection to the Pittsburgh tri-state area.
