fyblackwomenart:Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner by eedeeo (May 17, 1912 – January 13, 200
fyblackwomenart: Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner by eedeeo (May 17, 1912 – January 13, 2006) Mary Kenner was an American inventor who credited her father for her interest in discoveries. Interestingly enough, her grandfather invented a light signal for trains (however, this invention was stolen from him), while her sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith invented and sold board games. Mary herself invented an adjustable sanitary belt with an inbuilt, moisture-proof napkin pocket - which was a precursor to modern sanitary pads. In 1956, the inventor saved enough money to get her first patent on it. However, the Sonn-Nap-Pack Company rejected it after discovering that Mary was African American. Sadly, she never made any money off the sanitary belt as her patent expired and became public domain allowed to be manufactured freely. “Every person is born with a creative mind. Everyone has that ability.” - Mary Kenner -- source link