TheVacuumFlask
460-375 B.C.
Democritus, a Greek philosopher presumed that there was definitely an "empty space" in between atoms according to the law of mechanics. (micro-vacuum)
However, many contested his theory of "micro-vacuum". Hence, his philosophy did not dominate the public's way of thinking.
Democritus is regarded as the inventor of the concept of vacuum.
Democritus
Aristotle
384-322 B.C
Aristotle strongly contested Democritus' claim and it was his philosophy that prevailed in the Middle Ages till the 16th century where the concept of vacuum was a widely debated topic amongst scientist.
Firstly, he believed that if nothing existed, it should not be defined.
Secondly, he was convinced that empty spaces or a void would not exist in nature itself because in every space, an element or atom must fill it.
Evangelista Torricelli
1644
Evangelista Torricelli, was the first man to create a sustained vacuum and thus proving its existence.
A torricellian vacuum is created by filling with mercury a tall glass container closed at one end and then inverting the container into a bowl to contain the mercury, where the the empty space at the top is the vacuum.
James Dewar
1873
In 1873, James Dewar saw the need to improve the thermal isolation of his laboratory apparatus and instruments.
He attempted to evacuate the volume between the walls of double-walled calorimeters. This was the first experiment that led to a series of studies that ultimately created the Dewar Flask or Vacuum Flask we see today.
Reinhold Burger
1904
Reinhold Burger, a glass technological expert, realised the potential of James Dewar's development of the vacuum flask in the commercial field. He patented the "Thermos Flask" in 1904. Reinhold Burger then sold his patent to Thermos AG where the company mass produced the Thermos Flask and distributed it for the mass market in 1920.
Hence, James Dewar never benefited from his invention financially.
Timeline
From the very beginning