Peter Florjančič
Encyclopedia
Peter Florjančič, is a Slovenia
n inventor and Olympic athlete
. His successful inventions have included the perfume atomiser, plastic injection molding machines and the plastic photographic slide frame.
Florjančič was born in Bled
, small town known as a spa
resort. At sixteen, he was the youngest member of the Yugoslav
skiing team in the 1936 Olympic Games
. In 1943, when Slovenia was occupied by Germany, Florjančič knew that he would be called up to serve in the German Army on the Eastern Front. With another friend, he took a skiing trip to Kitzbuehel, Austria
and faked his own death on Hahnenkamm
, escaping on over the border into Switzerland
which was neutral. While held in an internment camp as a refugee, he invented a loom that could be used by disabled servicemen.
Florjančič met his wife in Zurich
and has been married for over 65 years. In 1950 he moved to Monte Carlo
where he was to live for 13 years, invent the perfume
atomiser, and appear in an uncredited role in the film The Monte Carlo Story
. He subsequently lived in a number of countries including Monaco
, Austria
, Switzerland
and Germany
.
His other successful invention
s include a work-out bed and plastic ice skates. He also invented the plastic zipper
(1948), and the airbag
(1957), neither of which were successful at the time, because of the quality of the materials available. Both were perfected at later dates by other inventors. In 2011, at 92 years old, and almost blind, Florjančič is still working, and sketches his inventions. He has made and lost several fortunes over the course of his career.
In 2007, Florjančič published his biography, Skok v Smetano (Jump into the Cream). He describes himself thus: I’ve had five citizenships, 43 cars and the longest passport. The profession of inventor forced me to spend 25 years in hotels, four years in cars, three years on trains, a year and a half on airplanes and a year on board of ships.
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n inventor and Olympic athlete
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. His successful inventions have included the perfume atomiser, plastic injection molding machines and the plastic photographic slide frame.
Florjančič was born in Bled
Bled
Bled is a municipality in northwestern Slovenia in the region of Upper Carniola. The area, within the Julian Alps, is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
, small town known as a spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
resort. At sixteen, he was the youngest member of the Yugoslav
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
skiing team in the 1936 Olympic Games
1936 Winter Olympics
The 1936 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IV Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1936 in the market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. Germany also hosted the Summer Olympics the same year in Berlin...
. In 1943, when Slovenia was occupied by Germany, Florjančič knew that he would be called up to serve in the German Army on the Eastern Front. With another friend, he took a skiing trip to Kitzbuehel, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and faked his own death on Hahnenkamm
Hahnenkamm
Hahnenkamm may refer to*Hahnenkamm , a federation of municipalities in Bavaria, Germany*Hahnenkamm, Kitzbühel, a mountain in Tyrol, Austria*Hahnenkamm, Reutte, another mountain in Tyrol, Austria...
, escaping on over the border into Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
which was neutral. While held in an internment camp as a refugee, he invented a loom that could be used by disabled servicemen.
Florjančič met his wife in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and has been married for over 65 years. In 1950 he moved to Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
where he was to live for 13 years, invent the perfume
Perfume
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and/or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces "a pleasant scent"...
atomiser, and appear in an uncredited role in the film The Monte Carlo Story
The Monte Carlo Story
The Monte Carlo Story is a 1957, Italian comedy-drama film production made by Titanus and distributed by United Artists. Samuel A. Taylor directed, and also wrote the screenplay based on a story by Marcello Girosi and Dino Risi. Marcello Girosi produced the film, which was the first shot in the...
. He subsequently lived in a number of countries including Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
His other successful invention
Invention
An invention is a novel composition, device, or process. An invention may be derived from a pre-existing model or idea, or it could be independently conceived, in which case it may be a radical breakthrough. In addition, there is cultural invention, which is an innovative set of useful social...
s include a work-out bed and plastic ice skates. He also invented the plastic zipper
Zipper
A zipper is a commonly used device for temporarily joining two edges of fabric...
(1948), and the airbag
Airbag
An Airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly during an automobile collision, to prevent occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or a window...
(1957), neither of which were successful at the time, because of the quality of the materials available. Both were perfected at later dates by other inventors. In 2011, at 92 years old, and almost blind, Florjančič is still working, and sketches his inventions. He has made and lost several fortunes over the course of his career.
In 2007, Florjančič published his biography, Skok v Smetano (Jump into the Cream). He describes himself thus: I’ve had five citizenships, 43 cars and the longest passport. The profession of inventor forced me to spend 25 years in hotels, four years in cars, three years on trains, a year and a half on airplanes and a year on board of ships.