Hagerstown, Maryland -- Wilbur McElroy, inventor and founder of medical products company Action Products Inc. of Hagerstown, Maryland, has died at the age of 97, the Herald Mail reported.
McElroy invented a polymer called Akton, used as a shock absorber in cushions, and holds 16 patents, mainly for his work in polyurethanes, Hagerstown-based Herald Mail said.
Akton's formula was kept secret and never patented because McElroy never wanted to disclose publicly what was in it, the newspaper reported, adding that none of his competitors have ever been able to duplicate the product.
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