When was the zipper invented?

The zipper was invented in 1893 by Whitcomb Judson of Chicago, Ill. Judson's design was known as the clasp locker and was a somewhat complicated shoe fastener with a hook-and-eye design.

Although rarely credited for it, Elias Howe patented a similar product 44 years earlier, in 1851. His product was called the automatic continuous clothing closure. He did not market the product at the time since he was busy marketing the sewing machine, another of his inventions.

A patent for what was called a separable fastener was obtained by Gideon Sundback in 1917. This design was more like the modern zippers that are seen today.