Whitcomb Judson (1836-1909) was an American inventor, born in Chicago, IL. During his lifetime, he obtained patents for the zipper (which he called the clasp-locker), motor improvements, railroad brakes improvements, and a number of automobile improvements, and one of them made his son a millionaire. 1836 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1909 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... An inventor is a person who creates new inventions, typically technical devices such as mechanical, electrical or software devices or methods. ... Chicago (officially named the City of Chicago) is the third largest city in the United States (after New York City and Los Angeles), with an official population of 2,896,016, as of the 2000 census. ... A patent is a set of exclusive rights granted by a state to a person for a fixed period of time in exchange for the regulated, public disclosure of certain details of a device, method, process or substance (known as an invention) which is new, inventive and useful. ... Closeup of the zipper on a pair of jeans Zippers are commonly used as a fastener for the front of a pair of pants. ... A small variety of cars, the most popular kind of automobile. ...

This invention contributed greatly to modern society.