Harry Houdini

The master magician behind the “milk can escape” and the “Chinese Water Torture Cell” made a career out of extricating himself from tight spots. In 1917, he put his unique knowledge to use by patenting a new type of deep-sea diving suit that could be easily removed if an underwater malfunction forced the wearer to return to the surface. The suit’s secret was that it was made out of two interlocking sections instead of just one piece. Along with allowing the wearer to get into the rig without the help of a second person, the design ensured that they could pull a lever near their waistline, wriggle out of the suit and make a Houdini-esque getaway in the event of any danger. Houdini was partially inspired to make the suit after a close friend drowned in a diving accident in Australia, but he was also driven by his support for the American military in World War I. After completing the invention, he supposedly donated it to the U.S. Navy.