Unisex Heavy Cotton Tee (Alexander Mile)

Alexander Miles, an African American inventor and businessman. He’s best known for being awarded a patent for automatically opening and closing elevator doors. His innovation significantly improved elevator safety.

Alexander Miles: Elevator Safety Pioneer

Background: Alexander Miles was born on May 18, 1838, in Circleville, Ohio. He later moved to Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he worked as a barber.
Elevator Safety Concern: While riding elevators in his buildings, Miles noticed the risks associated with elevator shaft doors accidentally left open. People could fall through the shaft, leading to tragic accidents.
Invention: To address this issue, Miles designed an automatic mechanism that closed access to the shaft. He attached a flexible belt to the elevator cage, which interacted with drums positioned along the elevator shaft. These drums indicated the respective floors. Levers and rollers allowed for automatic opening and closing of the elevator doors.
Patent: On October 11, 1887, Alexander Miles was granted U.S. Patent 371,207 for his elevator door invention.
Legacy: His invention revolutionized elevator safety, and automatic doors remain a standard feature in modern-day elevators.
Business Success: Miles later moved to Chicago, where he founded The United Brotherhood, a life insurance company for Black customers. He eventually relocated to Seattle, Washington, and became one of the wealthiest Black individuals in the Pacific Northwest due to income from his invention.
Recognition: In 2007, Alexander Miles was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
Miles’s contribution to elevator safety broke down racial barriers and continues to impact our daily lives. 🌟