George De MestralGeorge De Mestral

VelcroVelcro

George De Mestral the early George De Mestral the early daysdays

He was born in Switzerland. At the He was born in Switzerland. At the early age of 12 he designed a toy early age of 12 he designed a toy airplane and patented it. After airplane and patented it. After graduation from high school he went graduation from high school he went to work at a machine shop of an to work at a machine shop of an engineering company. engineering company.

VelcroVelcro

De Mestral first thought of the ideal De Mestral first thought of the ideal of Velcro when he had taken his dog of Velcro when he had taken his dog on a hunting trip. He noticed all these on a hunting trip. He noticed all these burrs that cling to the dogs hair and burrs that cling to the dogs hair and got the ideal to check them out got the ideal to check them out under his microscope. He decided he under his microscope. He decided he would invent velcro to fasten things would invent velcro to fasten things together. He worked on this for 10 together. He worked on this for 10 years. Velcro was patented in 1951. years. Velcro was patented in 1951.

Problem with inventionProblem with invention

At first no one would take him At first no one would take him serious and laughed at him. So he serious and laughed at him. So he took his ideal to a weaver where they took his ideal to a weaver where they made two cotton strips that worked, made two cotton strips that worked, but the cotton wore out quickly so he but the cotton wore out quickly so he turned to synthetic fibers and turned to synthetic fibers and through trial and error he came up through trial and error he came up with nylon fibers when sewn under with nylon fibers when sewn under hot infrared light worked the best. hot infrared light worked the best.

How Velcro make life better?How Velcro make life better?

It makes things easier to fasten like It makes things easier to fasten like when I was little I could not tie my when I was little I could not tie my shoes but with Velcro I could fasten shoes but with Velcro I could fasten them. I also like to use Velcro on my them. I also like to use Velcro on my doll clothes that way they are easier doll clothes that way they are easier to put them on and off. Some people to put them on and off. Some people use Velcro to close books and bags use Velcro to close books and bags to keep things neat and clean.to keep things neat and clean.

What did I learn?What did I learn?

I learned to use Power Point on the I learned to use Power Point on the computer. computer.

I learned that if you have an ideal I learned that if you have an ideal and think it is good never give up and think it is good never give up even if people laugh. even if people laugh.

I also learned my aunt Buffy can I also learned my aunt Buffy can figure out anything. figure out anything.

By: Nevaeh GoldenBy: Nevaeh Golden