On 12 January 1886, Lewis H. Latimer received US Patent No. 334,078 for an “Apparatus for cooling and disinfecting”. Often described as a precursor to air conditioning, it pointed toward a future where indoor air could be cooled and made healthier at the same time.
Latimer was a self taught African American inventor who had little access to formal education. His career is a reminder that inventive skill is not reserved for the well connected, it can be built through persistence, craft, and hard won expertise.
| Country | Kind | No. | Published | Title | Download |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | Patent | 334,078 | 12.01.1886 | Apparatus for cooling and disinfecting |
Last updated on 18 February 2026