A Zipper Patent Sat in a Garage for 40 Years. Now It's Real

# Summary An electrical engineer's 1985 patent for a three-sided zipper, which sat dormant in a garage for 40 years, has finally been realized by MIT researchers as the Y-Zipper—a 3D-printed fastener that can instantly transform flexible strips into rigid, load-bearing structures with a single pull. MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory created an automated design system around Freeman's concept, allowing users to customize zippers through software before 3D printing, making the reversible transformation process simple and accessible. The innovation has potential applications ranging from camping gear and medical equipment to spacecraft components and disaster relief structures.