Lonnie Johnson: The inventor of the Super Soaker

Johnson’s invention took squirt and childhood fun to the next level

By DON WILBURN

A Black History Spotlight

Not many remember the Nerf wars of the 80s and 90s, but as any kid who grew up during that time will tell you, one invention was about to come along that would turn the tide of any summer neighborhood rivalries.

On May 27, 1986, the U.S. Patent Office granted a patent to African American inventor Lonnie Johnson for a toy design simply titled “Squirt Gun.” What started as a simple concept would go through a few name changes and additional patents before eventually becoming the Super Soaker, the best-selling water toy of all time. Its popularity cemented its place in the American National Toy Hall of Fame, making Johnson a household name within the toy industry.

Born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1949, Johnson was a naturally gifted tinkerer from a young age. His father, a World War II veteran, worked as a civilian truck driver for the U.S. Air Force, while his mother balanced jobs in a laundry and as a nurse’s aide. According to Biography.com, Johnson spent much of his childhood fixing things around the house, a skill that would later serve him well as an inventor.

Johnson’s idea for the Super Soaker came about completely by accident in 1982 while he was working as a nuclear engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. At the time, he was developing a heat pump that used pressurized water vapor instead of environmentally harmful freon. While testing a nozzle in his basment bathroom, he unexpectedly caused a high-pressure stream of water to shoot across the room. That moment sparked an idea – this could make for one seriously powerful water gun.

Despite his demanding career, which later included working on the Air Force’s B-52 stealth bomber, Johnson continued developing his prototype in his free time. A lifelong innovator, he had even made his own rocket fuel as a child and built an awardwinning robot in 1968 while attending a segregated high school in Alabama. His early Super Soaker prototype, made from plexiglass, PVC pipes, and a two-liter soda bottle, was tested by his 7-year-old daughter Aneka, who is said to have eagerly soaked every kid on the Air Force base while testung out her father’s invention.

It wasn’t until 1989 that Johnson finally found a manufacturer willing to take a chance on his invention. Philadelphia- based toy company Larami produced the design under the name “Power Drencher,” and the toy became an instant sensation, selling two million units in 1991. Shortly after, toy giant Hasbro acquired Larami and rebranded the product as the “Super Soaker.”

Over time, the Super Soaker sold more than 250 million units and generated well over $1 billion in revenue. In recognition of its impact, it was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2015.

Even after revolutionizing the toy industry, Johnson continued to push boundaries in engineering and technology. His patents extend beyond playthings, including innovations in spacecraft power systems, energy technologyand even everyday items like a wet diaper detector. To date, he holds more than 130 patents and remains an influential figure in both scientific and commercial innovation.

Johnson proudly displays his most famous invention, the Super Soaker, which contributed to the happy childhoods of 80s and 90s kids alike.

Photo by Johnson Research and Development, Inc