Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, as Inventor

U.S. Patent Law defines an invention as a new, useful process, machine, improvement, etc., that did not exist previously and that is recognized as the product of some unique intuition or genius, as distinguished from ordinary mechanical skill or craftsmanship.[1] In that respect, Michael Jackson, singer, entertainer, musician, dancer, and the King of Pop, was truly a unique genius.

If you've ever seen the "Smooth Criminal" video (1988), then you've seen the concept for Jackson's invention in action. The scene where Jackson and other dancers lean far forward without toppling over inspired Jackson to create a means to perform this feat onstage.

Prior to Jackson's invention, dancers were required to wear harnesses around their waists connected to cables to allow them to lean forward beyond the center of gravity. This was the method used to create the gravity-defying illusion in the Smooth Criminal video. However, this method also required stagehands to connect and disconnect the cables and limited the movements of the performer.

This made the gravity-defying illusion impossible to perform on a live stage.

Jackson, along with two other individuals, devised a way to make performing the illusion a smooth transition, requiring neither cables nor stagehands. And the performer was free to move about the stage for the remainder of the performance without interruption for connecting or disconnecting cables.

The invention required specialized footwear and a moveable "hitch." The footwear could be attached to and disengaged from the hitch. Once the performer had attached the bottom of the shoe to the hitch, he could then lean far forward beyond the center of gravity, thus creating the same illusion which once required cables, hooks and waistbands.

U.S. Patent number 5255452 was filed on June 29, 1992 and issued on October 26, 1993. Along with Jackson's name, the names of Michael L. Bush and Dennis Tompkins are also credited as being inventors.

The Summary of the Invention describes the use of specialized footwear and the hitch which will create the desired visual effect of the wearer being able to lean forward with the center of gravity well beyond the front of the shoes.

Jackson was an innovator in both music and dance. But few know he was also credited as an inventor. There is no record of exactly how much of the creation Jackson contributed to, but his name is on the patent.

Sources:

[1] Dictionary.com
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