8 Brilliant Inventions by Women That Changed Everyday Life—From Ice Cream Makers to Life-Saving Devices
Find out the history of a common kitchen appliance, life-changing surgery device and more
Women have certainly made some impressive marks on history—changing policies, sparking movements and more. Some of these important female figures may be a bit more unknown, however, though their contributions to society have not gone unnoticed! History is full of women whose clever ideas have led to the creation of products that save lives, entertain, and simply bring joy! Keep reading to find out more about nine inventions from women inventors.
Patricia Bath: laser eye surgery tool
Healthy vision is one thing few people take for granted! Despite this, not everyone is fortunate to have great eyesight. That was especially the case before Dr. Patricia Bath made waves in the field of ophthalmology.
Bath, who received her medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., went on to become the first woman to chair an ophthalmology residency program in the United States. She also holds the honor of being the first African American resident in ophthalmology after completing her training at New York University between 1970 and 1973.
Her role as an inventor and laser scientist is just as well known, however. She eventually created a new device called the laserphaco probe, which removes cataracts. After five years of research and testing, the invention came to fruition and is still used today. The probe even allowed Dr. Bath to restore sight for many individuals who had been blind for more than 30 years.
Hannah Wilkinson Slater: cotton sewing thread
Cotton is one of the most popular materials used in garments today. But that may not have happened if not for Hannah Wilkinson Slater. The early American pioneer-turned-inventor had married Samuel Slater, who built the first water-powered cotton mill in the country. Though she was busy much of the time raising their large family, she still took an interest in her husband’s work.
One day in 1793, Hannah and her sister used a hand-spinning wheel to spin a smooth piece of cotton yarn into thread. The impressive result? This cotton thread was stronger than that of linen.
The same year she filed a patent for her invention, and it was issued to her in the name of “Mrs Samuel Slater.” This was a step forward for future female inventors looking to get patents issued in their name.
Maria Beasley: life rafts
A day cruising the water can be a fun experience. But a boat trip gone wrong could be fatal—and Maria Beasley worked to change that. Known as an “engineering dynamo” of her time, she secured an impressive 15 patents during a 20-year period. One of these was a life raft design that was patented in 1882.
Her patent went on to save countless lives, including many aboard the RMS Titanic. Though the British passenger ship had too few lifeboats, those rafts that were aboard the vessel allowed around 700 passengers to survive the wreck.
Bessie Blount: self-feeding tube
Life for amputees is full of challenges, and that includes eating. African American Bessie Blount saw this need as wounded soldiers returned home after World War II. She taught those who no longer had use of their hands (and sometimes feet) how to perform basic tasks, but she wanted to help even more.
Blount had the idea for a self-feeding apparatus: a tube that would deliver bits of food to a patient at his or her own pace. Despite the usefulness of the device, she reportedly struggled to find support. (Theodore M. Edison, son of Thomas Alva Edison, did become a close friend, however). She eventually donated the rights to her invention to the French government and Belgium. A variation of her design is still used in hospitals overseas.
Nancy Johnson: hand-cranked ice cream maker
If ice cream is one of your go-to treats, you can certainly thank Nancy Johnson! In 1843, she filed a patent for an “artificial freezer” or ice cream maker. The device consisted of a pail with a lid and a second metal container inside the pail. The space between these two containers was to be packed with ice and salt. Inside, S-shaped paddles were used to scrape the sides and blend the ingredients.
One particularly surprising aspect of her invention was the fact that she filed the patent in her name despite being the wife of a chemistry professor and first secretary of the American Association of the Advancement of Science. This was unheard of at the time, as most female inventors had to use the names of their husbands or male relatives to even get their patents issued.
Margaret Knight: flat-bottom paper bags
Flat-bottom paper bags have been a staple for student lunches and grocery stores for many years. The woman who helped make them so commonplace? Margaret E. Knight.
Around 1867, she started working for the Columbia Paper Bag Company in Springfield, Massachusetts after a long history of gaining experience in machinery and home repair. While at the company she developed a machine that could cut, fold, and paste flat-bottom paper bags rather than having to do them by hand.
After two years of development, a machinist by the name of Charles Annan stole the design and submitted it to the U.S. Patent Office. It took an intense court case and a hefty mountain of evidence on Knight’s end to ensure the patent went to the rightful creator. Thankfully, she won the case!
Elizabeth Magie: Monopoly board game
Though many versions of this board game are now available, the classic edition came to be because of inventor and writer Elizabeth Magie. Originally known as “The Landlord’s Game” in 1904, the game was originally meant to be a critique of the wealthy members of society at the time. In her patent application, she said, “The object of the game is to obtain as much wealth or money as possible.”
The game’s popularity soared in the early 1900s, prompting game developer Charles Brace Darrow (who played it at a party) to begin producing and selling the games. He later sold the rights to Parker Brothers in 1935. Magie’s credit for the development of the game went unknown for decades.
It wasn’t until a 1973 high-profile lawsuit that the story about Magie finally reached mainstream media. She now gets credit for her role as the inventor of such a popular game.
Josephine Cochrane: dishwasher
If you hate washing your dishes by hand, you’re not alone! That’s what led Josephine Cochrane to develop the first commercially successful dishwashing machine. The socialite sought to create the device when she discovered her fine China was prone to chipping when scrubbed in the sink. Her design incorporated water jets and a dish rack that would hold the dishware in place during the cleaning process.
Although her husband passed away (and left her in debt) during the invention process, she persisted. In 1893 she won an award for the machine at the Chicago World’s Fair due to its design and durability. The machine’s popularity later skyrocketed in the 1950’s and the dishwasher has since become a staple in many American households.
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