Jay Sorensen is an American inventor, real estate broker, and entrepreneur best known for inventing the coffee cup sleeve in 1991, and founding Java Jacket, a company manufacturing coffee cup sleeves, in 1993.
Inventing the coffee cup sleeve
Sorensen had the idea first in 1989, when he was taking his daughter to school and burnt his fingers due to his coffee, forcing him to put the hot coffee on his lap. He later invented it in 1991, and patented it in 1995.
Java Jacket
Sorensen formed Java Jacket in 1993 and it was an instant hit.
Today, Java Jacket sells over one billion coffee cup sleeves a year.
Troubles with Starbucks
Starbucks had interest in the product from the beginning, but Sorensen did not accept the conditions of operating.
So a patent war began between Java Jacket and Starbucks. Starbucks was eventually able to create a product like the Java Jacket.
References
Living people
American inventors
Year of birth missing (living people)