Photo mary kenner inventor biography death

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner May 17, - January 13, was an African American inventor who received five patents in her lifetime. She holds the record for the most patents awarded to a Black woman by the U. S government. She originally invented the belt 30 years prior in the s but was not able to afford a patent and she faced racial discrimination when trying to market the product.

Why did mary kenner invent the sanitary belt

Kenner was born on May 17th, in Monroe, North Carolina into a family of inventors. Her father Sidney Nathaniel Davidson patented a travel sized clothing presser and her maternal grandfather Robert Phromeberger invented a tricolor light for signaling to trains and a stretcher on wheels for ambulances. Her sister Mildred Davidson Austin Smith — also grew up to patent a board game, Family Treedition, in the s.

This familial interest in inventing, inspired Kenner from a very young age. At just 6 years old, she attempted inventing a self-oiling hinge for doors. She then went on to create other inventions throughout her childhood such as a portable ashtray that can be attached to cigarette packs and adding a sponge to the tip of an umbrella to soak up rain water[2].

She attended school for a year and a half but dropped out due to gender discrimination and financial difficulties. She then took on multiple odd jobs. In she became a federal employee for the remaining decade. In , she became a professional florist and ran her flower shop into the s while inventing things in her spare time. In her lifetime, Kenner created many inventions and had many patents.

Her first patent was in for the sanitary belt, which was before the time of adhesive pads, and her invention was much more effective than the rags women were using at the time. In the 20s most women tended to make their own menstrual products at home out of cloths and rags and only really used commercial products, like Kotex pads, when they had to leave the house for school or work.