A patent for this handy invention was granted this week in 1955. That's right — 60 years ago! Story has it that the Swiss inventor, George de Mestral, was inspired to create velcro when a burdock burr attached itself to his dog's fur while on a hunting trip in the Alps. As they say, the rest is history...

You can see the full patent here: U.S. Patent No. 2,717,437

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