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Women Inventors
In 1809, Mary Dixon Kies received the first U. S. patent issued to a
woman. Kies, a Connecticut native, invented a process for weaving straw
with silk or thread. First Lady Dolley Madison praised her for boosting
the nation’s hat industry. Unfortunately, the patent file was destroyed
in the great Patent Office fire in 1836. Until about 1840, only 20 other
patents were issued to women. The inventions related to apparel, tools,
cook stoves, and fire places. In the history of remarkable inventions there
are many notable women too. A few of the major woman inventors in he recent past are:
In 1845, Sarah Mather received a patent for the invention of a submarine
telescope and lamp. This was a remarkable device that permitted sea-going
vessels to survey the depths of the ocean.
Randice-Lisa Altschul: In November of 1999 Randice-Lisa Altschul was issued
a series of patents for the world's first disposable cell phone. The device
is the thickness of three credit cards and made from recycled paper products.
This is a real cell phone with 60 minutes of calling time and a hands free attachment.
Another woman inventor Martha J. Coston in 1871 perfected then patented her
deceased husband’s idea for a pyrotechnic flare. Coston’s husband, a former
naval scientist, died leaving behind only a rough sketch in a diary of plans
for the flares. Martha developed the idea into an elaborate system of flares
called Night Signals that allowed ships to communicate messages nocturnally.
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