You may find it hard to believe that when ziplock bags were first invented in 1954, no one expected to be using them for storing food. They were originally designed for storage for all kinds of other things, from clothing to just about any item you want to keep from getting wet or dusty over long periods.

But then Dow Chemical Co. Bought a license to sell Ziplock bags as a food storage item in 1968, and this new form of easily resealable plastic bag went from an obscure item to one of the most recognized brands on stores shelves around the world. Note that it was not until 1968 that this product was actually trademarked as “Ziplock” with a capital “Z.”

Ziplock bags have been upgraded more than once in the past 40 years, or so. For example, you can now buy Ziplock bags which have a double seal, whereas all of them once had only a single-track sealing system.

The Ziplock bag is a classic example of a relatively simple design for a common sense product that has generated billions of dollars in sales since 1968.