This Day in History: , Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis Receive Patent for Blue Jeans.br May 20, 1873.br Strauss shared the patent br for the "Improvement in Fastening br Pocket-Openings” with Jacob Davis, a tailor.br Hailing from San Francisco, br Strauss was well-known as a br wholesale dry goods businessman.br He had recently started importing br fabric and clothing to meet the demand br of gold miners and other settlersbr during the California gold rush.br The "work pants" were an invention of Davis, br who used metal rivets at stress points br to make them stronger.br Davis needed Strauss to br fund the paperwork for the patent.br Originally known as "waist overalls," br the new jeans quickly took off in the U.S.