Velcro was invented by a Swiss engineer and his dog

In 1941, George de Mestral returned from a hike in the Alps and noticed burdock burrs clinging to his trouser legs and his dog's fur. Under a microscope he saw tiny hooks gripping loops of fabric. After eight years of development, he patented Velcro in 1955 — a portmanteau of 'velours' (velvet) and 'crochet' (hook). NASA adopted it heavily for the Apollo missions, which gave it a lasting association with high-tech gear. Today over 60 million metres of Velcro are produced annually.

Source: Hargittai, The Road to Stockholm (2002)