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Hidden Figures: Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner
Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner (May 17, 1912 – January 13, 2006) was an African-American inventor most noted for her development of the sanitary belt.
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Background
She was born in Monroe, North Carolina and credited her father, Sidney Nathaniel Davidson (June 1890-November 1958), with giving her a thirst for discovering things. Her sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith (1916–1993), was also an inventor.
Inventions
She invented the sanitary belt and the sanitary belt with moisture-proof napkin pocket. The sanitary napkin wasn't patented until 1956, thirty years after she first invented it. The company that first showed interest in her invention rejected it after they discovered that she was an African American woman. Between 1956 and 1987 she received five patents for her household and personal item creations. She invented a bathroom tissue holder which she patented with patent number US 4354643 , on October 19, 1982. and a back washer mounted on the shower or bathtub wall, which she patented in 1987. She also patented the carrier attachment for an invalid walker in 1959.
Other work
She worked as a professional floral arranger and had her own business in the field of Washington DC area.