Band-Aid

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This article is about one brand of adhesive bandage. For the musical ensemble "Band Aid", see Band Aid (band). For other uses, see Band Aid.
Band-Aid
Band-Aid brand logo.
A Band-Aid brand bandage
Product type Adhesive bandage/dressing
Owner Johnson & Johnson
Country U.S.
Introduced June 1920 (invention)
Markets Worldwide
Tagline "I am stuck on Band-Aid (brand) 'cause Band-Aid's stuck on me!"
Website www.band-aid.com

Band-Aid is a brand name of American pharmaceutical and medical devices giant Johnson & Johnson's line of adhesive bandages and related products.

Despite common misconception, Band-Aid is a genericized trademark in the United States.[1] The term "band-aid" has entered usage as both a noun and verb describing a temporary fix. (E.g. "Band-aid solutions were used to fix the leak.")

History

The Band-Aid was invented in 1920 by Thomas Anderson and Johnson & Johnson employee Earle Dickson for his wife Josephine, who frequently cut and burned herself while cooking.[2] The prototype allowed her to dress her wounds without assistance. Dickson passed the idea on to his employer, which went on to produce and market the product as the Band-Aid. Dickson had a successful career at Johnson & Johnson, rising to vice president before his retirement in 1957.

The original Band-Aids were handmade and not very popular. By 1924, Johnson & Johnson introduced a machine that produced sterilized Band-Aids.

In 1920, the first adhesive bandages, Band-Aids, were modeled off of a tan or white tone. In 1951, the first decorative Band-Aids were introduced. They continue to be a commercial success, with such themes as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Superman, Spider-Man, Hello Kitty, Rocket Power, Rugrats, smiley faces, Barbie, Dora the Explorer, Batman and Duck Dynasty. After a few decades passed, the creation of the first colored adhesive bandage was created. Michael Panayiotis, a New York entrepreneur, created an adhesive bandage called "Ebon-Aid" which was modeled off of a brown tone. Some bandage tones that were created were light brown, dark brown, and cinnamon.[3] In addition to white toned and brown toned adhesive bandages, Band-Aid sells sheer strips for any color skin tone that can be purchased in stores or online.[4]

In World War II, millions were shipped overseas, helping popularize the product. Since then, Johnson & Johnson currently has estimated a sale of over 100 billion Band-Aids worldwide. Panayiotis previously estimated a sale of 20,000 Ebon-Aid bandages by the year 2002. Due to his shortcoming of his goal of 1 million boxes sold, Panayiotis donated the surplus of remaining bandages and folded his company.[5]

Trademark genericization eventually resulted in the "Band-Aid" trademark losing its protective status over the Johnson & Johnson brand, becoming a generic term for all adhesive bandages. The company attempted to avoid this outcome with an advertising campaign, but failed.[6] One of the product's noted jingles was composed by Barry Manilow; the chorus is "I am stuck on Band-Aid brand 'cause Band-Aid's stuck on me!"[7]

Related products

Johnson & Johnson also manufactures liquid bandages, Scar Healing bandages, and Burn-Aid, burn gel-impregnated bandages. Their newest products include Active Flex bandages and waterproof Tough Strips.

To protect the name, their trademark, Johnson & Johnson always refers to its products as "Band-Aid brand", not just Band-Aids.

Manufacturing facilities are located in Brazil, China and Denmark.

See also

References

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External links

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