Jay Sorensen
Jay Sorensen is an American inventor, real estate broker,[1] and entrepreneur best known for inventing the coffee cup sleeve in 1991,[2] and founding Java Jacket, a company manufacturing coffee cup sleeves, in 1993.[3]
Inventing the coffee cup sleeve[edit]
Sorensen had the idea first in 1989, when he was taking his daughter to school and burnt his fingers due to his coffee, forcing him to put the hot coffee on his lap.[2] He later invented it in 1991,[2] and patented it in 1995.
Java Jacket[edit]
Sorensen formed Java Jacket in 1993 and it was an instant hit.[3]
Today, Java Jacket sells over one billion coffee cup sleeves a year.[2]
Troubles with Starbucks[edit]
Starbucks had interest in the product from the beginning, but Sorensen did not accept the conditions of operating.[3]
So a patent war began between Java Jacket and Starbucks. Starbucks was eventually able to create the Coffee Clutch, a product like the Java Jacket.[3][4]
References[edit]
- ^ Stim, Richard (2020-08-25). Profit From Your Idea: How to Make Smart Licensing Deals. Nolo. ISBN 978-1-4133-2791-5.
- ^ a b c d Magazine, Smithsonian. "How the Coffee Cup Sleeve Was Invented". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
- ^ a b c d "The Java Jacket Idea and Patent Wars". For Sale By Inventor. 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
- ^ "To Serve & Protect Compared to the typical entrepreneur, Jay Sorensen seems an unlikely candidate for success. A few jobs didn't work out, his career was foundering... ...and then he got his big break--his divine inspiration--from a drive-through window and a tumbling cup of hot coffee. - November 1, 2001". money.cnn.com. Retrieved 2024-01-09.