Who was granted the first aerosol spray can patent in the United States?

The first aerosol spray can patent in the United States was granted to Erik Rotheim. He was a Norwegian professional chemical engineer and inventor. He lived from September 1898 until September 1938. He was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. He earned his engineering degree in Switzerland.

Rotheim established his own aerosol chemical company in Oslo during 1925. He submitted a Norwegian patent application for an aerosol spray can in October 1926. His can design would dispense different fluids using a chemical propellant. The Norwegian patent was granted in June 1927. His United States patent application was filed in September 1927 and it became the first of its kind approved in April 1931. Some other patents with specific variations were later granted to Julian S. Kahn (the disposable spray can) and Lyle D. Goodhue (the refillable aerosol spray can).

Norway celebrated Erik Rotheim's invention by issuing a postage stamp in 1999.

As of 2018 dangerous health effects are now known about the use of aerosol spray cans. Experts have warned that over using spray cans can lead to inhaling chemicals from the aerosols that can cause allergic skin reactions, asthma, and other breathing difficulties. What was seen as good (using aerosol spray cans) is now known to be extremely bad for both man and the Earth's ozone layer.