Hook-and-loop fastener Mestral's patent expired, prompting a flood of low-cost imitations from Taiwan, China and South Korea onto the market. Today, the trademark is the subject of more than 300 trademark registrations in over 159 countries. George de Mestral was inducted into the national inventors hall of fame for his invention. The big breakthrough George de Mestral made was to think about hook-and-eye closures on a greatly reduced scale. Hook-and-eye fasteners have been common for centuries, but what was new about hook-and-loop fasteners was the miniaturisation of the hooks and eyes. Shrinking the hooks led to the two other important differences. Firstly,
John Austin (inventor) John Austin (inventor) John Austin (April 17, 1752 – 1830), was a Scottish inventor, known for inventing musical equipment, improvements to weaving machines, and a new system of stenography. Austin was a native of Craigton. He was an apprentice to William and Walter Tait in Glasgow, and became a guild brother on January 18, 1776. He published at Glasgow, in or about 1800, a system of "Stenography which may be learned in an hour," on a single folio engraved sheet, price 2s. 6d. A note at the end announces the publication of a complete system by the same author, price