Kenner, Mary Beatrice (1911-2006), an African American inventor , earned five patents for ideas that made everyday life more convenient. She developed improved sanitary products for women and devices designed for people with movement limitations.
Mary Davidson was born on May 17, 1911, in Monroe, North Carolina. She entered Howard University , in Washington, D.C., in 1931, but had to drop out after less than two years because of financial difficulties. She worked for the federal government during and after World War II (1939-1945) and then opened a flower shop that she ran for 26 years. In 1951, she married James Kenner, a champion boxer and youth counselor.
In 1956, Mary Kenner received her first patent, for a new type of female sanitary belt. Girls and women used such belts to hold pads or napkins that absorbed blood from menstruation . Kenner claimed her design was less awkward than existing belts. She patented another version in 1959, with a waterproof design.
Kenner’s sister, Mildred, had multiple sclerosis , a disease that limited her movement. From observing her sister, Kenner realized that a person gripping a walker with both hands could not hold other important objects, such as a purse. In 1976, Kenner patented a tray with fabric pockets that attached to a walker. Her device enabled patients to carry around small items and provided a handy surface on which to work or eat.
In 1982, Kenner patented a new type of bathroom-tissue holder that held the loose end away from the rest of the roll. Her device made the tissue easier to grasp, especially for people with arthritis or other problems moving their fingers. She received her final patent in 1987 for a foam pad attached to a shower wall. People could rub their backs against the pad to wash or massage hard-to-reach places. Kenner died on Jan. 13, 2006, in Washington, D.C.
