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Article: Microwaving Illinoisan gets patent for round paper towels
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- November 24, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2004 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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John Esparza has a simple idea for a rather irritating problem.
Every time the 60-year-old Esparza wanted to heat up a sandwich in
the microwave, he'd cover it up with a paper towel. But he always
encountered a little geometrical problem -- the square paper towel
would slip off the revolving round plate.
So the Illinois inventor came up with a solution -- round paper
towels. This month the U.S. Patent and Trademark office accepted his
application for, as he calls them, "microbuddies," paving the way for
the newest "must-have" in every kitchen.
"I kept having to tear the corners off the paper towels myself,"
said Esparza, a retired railroad worker. "I thought, 'Why don't they