In 1888, American inventor John J Loud received the first patent for inventing the ballpoint pen and changing writing forever. Sick of ink pen, the inventor designed a writing device to work on even rough materials like wood and leather. The design contained a revolving steel ball at the tip held in place by a socket. Unfortunately, the pen was so hard to write on paper, and it could not make commercial use until the patent lapsed. His design was later improved, and eventually, László Bíró invented the practical ballpoint in 1938.