On April 26, 1887, Edward R. Lewis, an African-American inventor from Louisville, Kentucky, received U.S. Patent No. 362,096 for a spring gun.
Invention and Patent Details
Lewis’s spring gun was a device designed to fire a projectile using the force of a compressed spring, rather than gunpowder. The patent documents describe a mechanism that allowed the spring to be cocked and released with a trigger, launching a missile or projectile. While the specific application of the device is not detailed in simple terms, such inventions were often used for novelty shooting games or for launching small objects in a controlled manner. It could be seen as a predecessor to modern-day spring-powered air guns or toy guns.
The patent drawings show a simple yet effective mechanical design. The core components included a barrel, a firing pin, a powerful spring, and a trigger mechanism. The design focused on a reliable method for compressing and releasing the spring to ensure consistent power and accuracy.
Societal Impact
Edward R. Lewis’s spring gun is an example of the kind of practical, mechanical inventions that were being developed in the late 19th century. Although it may not have had a large-scale industrial impact, his patent is a significant part of the historical record of African-American inventors. During a period of widespread racial discrimination, the ability of Black inventors like Lewis to successfully navigate the U.S. patent system and have their intellectual property recognized was a monumental achievement. His work highlights the ingenuity and perseverance of Black Americans who contributed to the country’s technological and industrial development.
