Mary Kenner

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner
Born	May 17, 1912 Monroe, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	January 13, 2006(2006-01-13) (aged 93) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation	Florist
Known for	singing, inventions
Parent	Sidney Nathaniel Davidson
Relatives	Mildred Davidson Austin Smith

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner (May 17, 1912 – January 13, 2006) was an African American inventor who created an adjustable sanitary belt.^[1] to keep menstrual pads securely in place. She has been granted five patents in between 1956 and 1987, one of the highest totals awarded to an African American female inventor^[2]. All of her inventions provided solutions to common household and personal care issues; including improving menstrual hygiene products^[3].

Kenner was born in Monroe, North Carolina^[4]. Her father, Sidney Nathaniel Davison, had patented a compact clothing presser in 1914.^[5] Her maternal grandfather, Robert Phromeberger, held patents for a tricolor light signals for trains and a wheeled ambulance stretcher.^[6] Her sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith would go on to hold a patent for a family board game in 1980.^[7] At age six Kenner tried to create a self oiling door hinge because every morning she heard the squeak of the front door.^[8] After moving to Washington, DC in 1924 Kenner became familiarized with the USPTO and the filing patent applications.^[9]

Kenner attended Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C. graduating in 1931.^[10] Kenner enrolled at Howard University however left after 18 months of schooling due to financial reasons.^[11] Kenner never earned a college degree nor formal education or training in her profession.^[12]

After leaving Howard University, Kenner worked various jobs before becoming unemployed by federal government during WWII.^[13] By 1950 Kenner became a professional florist and ran multiple flower shops in the Washington, D.C. area for around 20 years. ^[14] During this time, she continued to develop new inventions.^[15]

Previous designs for managing menstruation included cloth pads and early disposable products. However, many of these designs lacked secure fasteners resulting in pad shifting and leakage.^[16] Disposable adhesive pads were not widely available until the 1970s. ^[17] Initially, Kenner designed a sanitary belt in the 1920s however could not afford to apply for a patent.^[18] She filed for a patent in 1954 and it was approved in 1956.^[19]The device consisted of an adjustable waist band with straps attached to secure a sanitary pad to the user. This allowed users to move about while maintaining proper placement of the pad and lessened leakage and irritation caused by previous products.^[20] A subsequent revision modified the design to include a pocket resistant to moisture to minimize further leakage.^[21]

Sonn-Nap-Pack Co. contacted Kenner regarding potential licensing agreements for the sale of the product. When they learned that she was Black, they rescinded their offer.^[22] Kenner stated of the incident: "I was so jubilant... I saw houses, cars, and everything about to come my way. Sorry to say, when they found out I was Black, their interest dropped." ^[23] Due to the fact that the patent expired and entered the public domain, Kenner lost all rights to profit off of the design. ^[24].

In 1976, Kenner applied for and was granted a patent for an attachment to walkers and wheelchairs containing a hard surface tray and soft storage pocket.^[25] This invention was partially inspired by her sister Mildred being diagnosed with multiple scelerosis.^[26] Kenner co-patented a bathroom tissue holder with her sister in 1982.^[27] On September 29, 1987 Kenner was granted her last patent for a back washer that can be installed onto either a shower or bathtub wall.^[28]

Kenner's sanitary belt introduced adjustable securing mechanisms and moisture resistance into menstrual product design.^[29] The belt itself became obsolete following the widespread adoption of adhesive sanitary pads in the 1970s, however the core features it introduced; adjustability, secure pad placement, and moisture control were carried forward into modern menstrual products.^[30] Disposable pads with adhesive backing, which became the global standard for menstrual hygiene, reflect developments that Kenner's designs helped establish.^[31] Kenner received no formal awards or public recognition during her lifetime.^[32] She passed away on January 13, 2006 in Washington D.C. at the age of 93.^[33]

• List of African-American inventors and scientists
• Timeline of United States inventions

• Blashfield, Jean F. (1996) Women inventors. Minneapolis: Capstone Press. Vol. 4, pp. 11–16
• Jeffrey, Laura S. (September 1, 2013) Amazing American Inventors of the 20th Century. Enslow Publishers, pp 29–35
• Sluby, Patricia C. (2004) The Inventive Spirit of African Americans: Patented Ingenuity. Westport, Conn: Praeger, pp 147–150
• Women Inventors. Women Inventors | NCpedia, 2011, www.ncpedia.org/industry/women-inventors.