A patent for the Super Soaker water gun was granted on May 27, 1986, helping launch one of the most successful toys ever created.
The invention came from engineer and NASA scientist Lonnie Johnson, who discovered the idea while experimenting with a heat pump system and noticing the force of a stream of water. Before the Super Soaker, most water guns used simple squeeze bulbs or weak trigger systems with limited range. Johnson’s pressurized design dramatically increased power and distance, transforming water fights.
First sold nationally in 1991, Super Soaker products eventually generated more than $1 billion in worldwide sales.
– Staff report with AI assist*, The Today 100
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