Lloyd Groff Copeman (December 28, 1881 – July 5, 1956) was an American inventor who devised the first electric stove and the flexible rubber ice cube tray, among other products. He had nearly 700 patents to his name, and he claimed that he could walk into any store and find one of his inventions.

Early life

Copeman was raised by his Canadian parents, Caroline Estelle (née Groff) and John Wesley Copeman, on a farm in Hadley Township, Michigan which was later incorporated into Farmers Creek, Michigan, approximately 20 miles east of Flint, Michigan. He studied engineering at the former Michigan Agricultural College, now Michigan State University.

Career

Copeman began his career as an apprentice at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia. Following that, he worked for electric utilities companies in Philadelphia and Spokane, as well as Detroit Edison and Consumers Power where he learned about electrical, marine and mechanical engineering, as well as steam fittings. His first successful patented inventions, patented in 1909, were an electrothermostatic heat regulator for more effective control of stove and toaster heating elements and a thermostat for high-tension power cables. Before this, while working for the Washington Electric Company in 1906, Copeman developed a design for an electric version of the gas stoves which had been available in Britain and the US for several decades. Development of the idea took several years, but in 1912 the Copeman Electric Stove Company was formed in the city of Flint, Michigan to produce the Copeman Electric Stove (also marketed as the "fireless cooker"). Westinghouse Electric Corporation bought the company in 1917, moved production to Mansfield, Ohio, and continued to develop and improve the stove. From 1913, another of Copeman's inventions, a toaster with bread turner, was also produced by the Copeman Electric Stove Company. Electric toasters were a recent invention at that time - the first commercially successful version was patented in July 1909 - and the bread had to be turned manually once the first side had been toasted. During a shopping trip, Copeman's wife Hazel gave them the idea for a toaster which turned the bread without manual intervention, and in 1914 a patent for what Copeman called the Automatic Toaster was filed in Hazel's name. Five other toaster-related patents were granted to both Lloyd and Hazel during the same year. The invention of the pop-up toaster in 1926 superseded Copeman's innovations, however. A company called Copeman Laboratories Company had been established in Flint, Michigan during the year 1918 to allow Copeman to dedicate his time to inventing, although he also spent a lot of time at his farm in Farmer's Creek, where he would lock himself in the basement - sometimes for up to a week, with his wife bringing him meals on a tray - and develop new ideas and products. Examples of his work at this time, which met with varying success, included injecting chickens with solutions to make their meat taste like beef; pioneering experiments in the development of latex; the Copeman Lubri-Cap, grease-filled paper cups for lubricating wheel bearings (the patent for this product was bought for $178,000 by the Alemite Manufacturing Corporation, the same corporation that also owned the patent rights to the Zerk fitting); Flexo-Line travel clothes lines, which are still manufactured today; a device to use dry ice to cool bottles of beer; self-extinguishing cigarettes; and a rust-reducing latex coating for motor vehicles. Copeman's most successful and remunerative invention, however, was the rubber ice cube tray. One day in 1928, while walking through some woods collecting sap for maple syrup, he noticed that slush and ice flaked off his rubber boots easily, rather than adhering to them. Having recalled this incident over lunch with his patent attorney, he conducted experiments using rubber cups, and later set about designing and then patenting different types of tray: a metal tray with rubber separators, a metal tray with individual rubber cups, and a tray made completely of rubber. Sales from this invention earned Copeman approximately $500,000, equivalent to $10 million today.

Personal life

Copeman married Hazel Dawn Berger, in 1904, and they had three children: Lloyd Berger Copeman (1907–1968), Ruth Mary Copeman Ronstadt (1914–1982), and Elizabeth Jane Copeman Gerlach (1918–1998). His daughter, Ruth Mary Copeman Ronstadt, was the mother of recording artist Linda Ronstadt.

Patents

1915-1919

1915 Electrical heating unit. No. 1,138,733; May 11 Electromagnetic switch. No. 1,141,174; June 1 Electric stove. No. 1,141,175; June 1 Electrically heated oven. No. 1,141,176; June 1 1916 Automatically controlled electrical cooking apparatus. No. 1,180,571; April 25 Collapsible grease-capsule. No. 1,190,382; July 11 1917 Grease-cup. No. 1,222,185; April 10 1918 Grease-cup. No. 1,269,159; June 11 Grease-cup. No. 1,287,889; June 11 Drill. No. 1,264370; April 30 Grease-cup. No. 1,287,889; December 17 1919 Grease-cup. No. 1,294,773; February 18 Grease-cup. No. 1,300,699; April 15 Adjustable thermometer. No. 1,312,834 Grease-cup. No. 1,292,594 Grease-cup. No. 1,314,073; August 26 Shank and handle. No. 1,314,078; August 26

1920-1929

1920 Heating apparatus. No. 1,336,552; April 13 Adjustable thermostat. No. 1,349,364 Toaster. No. 1,356,042; October 19 Tool holder. No. 1,361,021; December 7 1921 Refrigeration apparatus. No. 1,396,996 Grease-cup. No. 1,368,546; February 15 Grease-cup. No. 1,395,336; November 1 1922 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 1,409,283; March 14 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 1,415,992; May 16 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 1,430,153; September 26 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 1,430,154; September 26 1923 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 163,419; July 31 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 1,472,266; October 30 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 1,472,267; October 30 Refrigerator. No. 1,444,589; February 6 1924 Refrigerator latch. Re. 15,908; September 2 Refrigerator latch. No. 1,489,918; April 8 Refrigerator door construction. No. 1,503,486; August 5 Refrigerator lining. No. 1,509,932; September 30 Casting and plastic materials. No. 1,515,150; November 11 Casting stone. No. 1,518,254; December 9 Water control for refrigerating system. No. 1,519,757; December 16 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 1,517,534; December 2 1925 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 1,526,964; February 17 Wall construction. No. 1,526,965; February 17 Molding the shells of refrigerators. No. 1,538,467; May 19 Casting refrigerator doors. No. 1,538,467; May 19 Refrigerator. No. 1,538,469; May 19 Collapsible molding dies. No. 1,538,471; May 19 Refrigerator construction. No. 1,542,862; June 23 Refrigerator. No. 1,548,825; August 11 Bushing construction. No. 1,564,947; December 8 Refrigerator doors. No. 1,564,948; December 8 1926 Refrigerator manufacture. No. 1,570,617; January 26 Refrigerator construction. No. 1,574,868; March 2 Refrigerator. No. 1,603,905; October 19 Refrigerator apparatus. No. 1,585,016; May 18 1927 Refrigerator construction. No. 1,644,981; October 11 Drinking water supply for refrigerators. No. 1,618,514; February 22 Water cooler. No. 1,633,372; June 21 Match-plate pattern. No. 1,644,968; October 4 Refrigerator. No. 1,644,983; October 11 Refrigerator. No. 1,644,984; October 11 Refrigerator manufacture. No. 1,644,985; October 11 Refrigerator construction. No. 1,644,986; October 11 Refrigerator. No. 1,644,987; October 11 Cabinet construction and building the same. No. 1,644,988; October 11 1928 Sharp freezing container for mechanical refrigerators. No. 1,675,599; July 3 Refrigerator cabinet and controlling the temperature therein. No. 1,618,398; August 21 Table top construction. No. 1,656,422; January 17 Method and apparatus for accelerating setting of stone castings. No. 1,656,423; January 17 Making match plate patterns. No. 1667,720; May 1 Stone mold. No. 1,667,721; May 1 Match plate pattern. No. 1,667722; May 1 Table top construction. No. 1,667,723; May 1 Container for power refrigeration. No. 1,671,761; May 29 Cooling unit for refrigeration apparatus. No. 1,671,762; May 29 Refrigerating cabinet and controlling and operating the same. No. 1,681,399; August 21 Refrigerator or cabinet. No. 1,692,159; November 20 1929 Balloon construction. No. 1,714,097; May 21 Sharp freezing container for mechanical refrigerators. Re. 17,278; April 23, Re. 17,279; April 23 Table top construction. No. 1,700,155; January 29 Making stone castings. No. 1,700,156; January 29 Table. No. 1,701,529; February 12 Refrigerating device. No. 1,703,299; February 26 Artificial stone refrigerator and forming the same. No. 1,703,511; February 26 Refrigerator cabinet. No. 1,710,405; April 23 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 1,710,406; April 23 Method and apparatus for forming and maintaining sanitation in ice cream cabinets or the like. No. 1,711,721; May 7 Storage compartments for ice cream cabinets or the like. No. 1,711,722; May 7 Flexible sharp freezing container. No. 1,740,919; December 24

1930-1939

1939 Refrigerating unit. No. 1,744,038; January 21 Method of refrigerator manufacture. No. 1,757,450; May 6 Water cooler. No. 1,771,433; July 29 Sharp freezing container. No. 1,777,483; October 7 Refrigerator cabinet. No. 1,777,786; October 7 Refrigerator. No. 1,777,787; October 7 Refrigerating unit of fired ceramic material. No. 1,781,778; November 18 Method and apparatus for positioning and sealing ice cream cans in ice cream cabinets. No. 1,786,827; December 30 1931 Ice cream cabinet. No. 1,789.587; January 20 Sharp freezing container for ice cream cabinets. No. 1,807,587; June 2 Dispensing unit embodying mechanical refrigerator. No. 1,811,456; June 23 Sharp freezing unit. No. 1,816,211; July 28 Refrigerating unit. No. 1,816,638; July 28 Sharp freezing container. No.1,817,544; August 4 Sharp freezing container. No.1,817,545; August 4 Refrigerating apparatus and heat transfer therein. No. 1,818,673; August 11 Unit formed partially of fired ceramic material. No. 1,822,013; September 8 Apparatus for controlling the temperature of unit containers. No 1,824,535; September 22 1932 Sharp freezing unit. No. 1,839,651; January 5 Refrigerating system. No. 1,840,619; January 12 Refrigerating system. No. 1,840,702; January 12 Cooling chamber for mechanical refrigerating unit. No. 1,872,685; August 23 Method and apparatus for freezing liquids. No. 1,878,685; August 23 Flexible sharp freezing container. No. 1,879,602; September 27 Refrigerating unit. No. 1,879,922; September 27 Sharp freezing structure. No. 1,882,209; October 11 Method and apparatus for refrigerating. No. 1,887,580; November 15 1933 Refrigerating apparatus. No. 1,902,016; March 21 Cooling unit. No. 1,912,826; June 6 Cooling unit construction. No. 1,912,827; June 6 Mold construction for reproduction of patterns in rubber. No. 1,913,747; June 13 Clothespin. No. 1,916,556; July 4 Closure member and forming and applying. No. 1,916,857; July 4 1934 Refrigerating system. Re. 19,055; January 16 Storage and dispensing unit for frozen foods. No. 1,952,422; March 27 Treating fruit or other growing vegetable matter. No. 1,955,950; April 24 Waterproof and puncture-proof paper. No. 1,976,329; October 9 1935 Refrigerator structure. No. 2,002,339; May 21 Method and apparatus for cooling beer. No. 2,010,060; August 6 Protective coatings and applying and removing. No. 2,020,256; November 5 1936 No patents 1937 Protective coating and applying and removing. No. 2,082,791; June 8 Bucket and bucket protector. No. 2,071,112; February 16 Dispensing device for sheet rubber deposited from an aqueous dispersion of rubber and forming the same. No. 2,075,178; March 30 Device for making and storing ice. No. 2,088,840; August 3 Method and apparatus for conditioning and dispensing beer. No. 2,075,088; October 19 1938 Concrete or cement structure. No. 2,112,452; March 29 Apparatus for handling ice cubes. No. 2,113,014; April 5 Refrigerating structure. No. 2,114,996; April 26 Protecting and forming pre-finished metal. No. 2,120,461; June 14 Protective coating and process of applying and removing. No. 2,132,230; June 14 Package structure. No. 2,134,908; November 1 1939 Bird shelter. No. 2,151,010; March 21 Mounting bracket. No. 2,184,633; December 26 Dispensing device for sheet rubber deposited from an aqueous dispersion of rubber and forming and using same. Re. 21,065; May 2 Protective coating and applying and removing. No. 2,169,225; August 15 Coating knit articles and products thereof. No. 2,172,251; September 5 Portable beverage conditioning and dispending apparatus. No. 2,182,116; December 5 Coating knit articles and products thereof. Re. 21,269; November 21

1940-1949

1940 Bird feeding station. No. 2,216,511; October 1 Birdhouse. No. 2,219,297; October 29 Cigarette and treating the same. No. 2,185,293; January 2 1941 Suet Cake container. No. 2,235,959; March 25 Flour sifter combination. No. 2,252,701; August 19 Container for confections. No. 2,248,963; July 15 1942 Collapsible birdhouse. No. 2,292,614; August 11 Birdhouse construction. No. 2,295,891; September 15 Treating textile fabrics and the products thereof. No. 2,281,830; May 5 1943 Clothesline. No. 2,318,275; May 4 Dispensing and using rubber. No. 2,307020; January 5 Closure member and applying same. No. 2,356,825; August 29 1945 No patents listed 1946 No patents listed 1947 No patents listed 1948 No patents listed 1949 Cream separator. No. 2,477,863; August 2 Apparatus for dispensing ice cubes. No. 2,484,017; October 11

1950-1957

1950 Ice tray. No. 2,514,476; July 11 Hand tool for agriculture implements. No. 2,528,947; November 7 1951 Method and apparatus for the manufacture of cigarettes. No. 2,543,277; February 27 1952 Spill guard for ice tray. No. 2,593,106; April 15 1953 Tractor hitch. No. 2,627,423; February 2 Bottle closure. No. 2,634,012; April 7 1954 2,688,236; Cl. 62-108.5 (Kisselle-ice tray grid) 2,671,321; March 9 1955 2,712,666; Cl. 15-142 2,704,732; Cl. 117-155 1956 Copeman, Lloyd Groff deceased; Elizabeth Jane (Betty), Gerlach, executrix Portable beverage conditioning and dispensing apparatus. No. 2,749,719; June 12 Cl. 62–91.5 1957 Moisture impervious container. No. 2,781,159; February 12 Cl. 229-16