Manuel Jalón Corominas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manuel Jalón Corominas
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| Born | January 31, 1925 Logroño, Spain
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| Died | December 16, 2011 (aged 86) Zaragoza, Spain
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| Nationality | Spanish |
| Citizenship | Spanish |
| Known for | improving models for the mop and the hypodermic syringe |
Manuel Jalón Corominas (born in Logroño, Spain, on January 31, 1925 – died in Zaragoza, Spain, on December 16, 2011) was a Spanish inventor and businessman. He was an officer in the air force and an engineer. Manuel Jalón is famous for making big improvements to the mop and the disposable syringe.
Contents
Manuel Jalón's Life Story
Manuel Jalón Corominas was born in Logroño, Spain. He spent most of his life living in Zaragoza. He studied aeronautical engineering in Madrid.
After finishing his studies, he worked for a while in the United States and Finland. He also served as an officer in the Spanish Air Force. Manuel Jalón passed away in Zaragoza in 2011 when he was 86 years old.
Manuel Jalón's Amazing Inventions
The Modern Mop and Bucket
When Manuel Jalón was in the United States, he saw how large floors were cleaned. Workers used a flat mop and a bucket with rollers. He thought this was a great idea and brought it back to Spain.
In 1958, he started his own company called Manufacturas Rodex, S.A. He began making new and improved mops and buckets with rollers. His design was better than the American ones and worked well for people in Spain.
The company's brand name was "Rodex." Manuel Jalón convinced other business people to invest in his company. He was the main boss of the company for over 30 years. His mops became very popular. He sold them to more than 40 countries, including the United States and China.
Who Invented the Mop?
Mops have been around for a very long time in different forms. Many people have added their own improvements to them over the years. For example, Jacob Howe got a patent for a mop holder in 1837. Thomas W. Stewart also got a patent for a mop in 1893.
Manuel Jalón made important changes to the mop and bucket system. In the late 1950s, he got patents for his designs. His improvements included:
- Making the mop dryer from one single piece of plastic.
- Adding special slots to help water drain out easily.
- Designing the dryer with a round end and a shape that closed gradually.
Because of these smart improvements and how successful his mop was, Manuel Jalón Corominas is known as the "inventor of the mop," especially in Spain. There were some legal arguments about who truly invented the mop. However, a court ruled in Manuel Jalón's favor in 2008.
The Disposable Syringe
After selling his mop company in 1989, Manuel Jalón started working on new inventions. He focused on improving the disposable syringe. This invention was also a big success.
His new syringe design was better because:
- The plunger (the part you push) was less likely to get stuck.
- It was made of plastic instead of glass.
- It had thin walls, which made it easier to throw away safely after use.
These new syringes were first made in a factory in Fraga, Spain. They were sold to over 80 countries around the world.
Trasmoz Castle
Manuel Jalón Corominas had a special connection to a village called Trasmoz in Spain. He bought the old ruins of a medieval castle there. He then worked to rebuild parts of it.
Today, this castle is home to the "Museum of Witchery." In 2004, Manuel Jalón wrote a book about the village's old stories of witchcraft. The book was called "The dark legend of Trasmoz."
Awards and Special Recognition
Manuel Jalón received many awards for his work.
- In 1991, he won the Salduba prize, a top business award in Zaragoza.
- In 1992, the city of Zaragoza named him their "favourite son."
- That same year, people voted him "Riojano of the year."
- In 2011, a bronze statue of a mop was built near Trasmoz castle. This statue honors Manuel Jalón's most famous invention.
See also
In Spanish: Manuel Jalón para niños
