- Marvin Middlemark
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Marvin P. Middlemark Born September 16, 1919
New YorkDied 1989 Occupation Inventor Marvin P. Middlemark (September 16, 1919 – September 1989) invented the Rabbit Ears television antenna (dipole antenna) in 1956 in Rego Park, Queens, New York.
Marvin P. Middlemark revolutionized how television was watched in the United States, as his Rabbit Ears increased the television signal reception made available to the mass market; this move is considered by many as the single most important reason for the television boom of the late 1950s – 1960s.
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His inventions
Marvin P. Middlemark held several patents for his inventions; many were lesser known than his famed Rabbit Ears, such as: a water-powered potato peeler (which failed because when done, a large potato was reduced down to the size of a large marble) and a tennis ball rejuvenator that was designed to bring the bounce back to used tennis balls.
In the mid 1960s NASA turned to Middlemark to develop the technology needed that would allow the original Apollo missions to communicate from the Moon Lander to Mission control. Middlemark was able to solve this problem; NASA was not able to using the same theoretical principles of his dipole antenna.
Philanthropist
Middlemark donated millions to various educational foundations and trusts in a goal to give under-privileged students the ability to attend college. He was also known as a major giver to the New York area homeless shelters and at the time of his death 15,000 pairs of gloves which he personally ordered from China were delivered as his final act of giving.
See also
References
Patents
- U.S. Patent 3,961,332 Elongated television receiving antenna for indoor use, filed July 24, 1975, issued June 1, 1976.
- U.S. Patent 3,478,361 Indoor Television Antenna with Rotatable Rings , filed Oct 9, 1968, issued Nov 1969.
Categories:- 1919 births
- 1989 deaths
- American inventors
- American communications businesspeople
- American philanthropists
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