Women Inventors - Part 1

This is the first in a multi-part series about women inventors. Each week, a group of women will be featured along with their inventions. If you'd like to know more about a specific inventor, please post a comment and let us know. We'll try to write follow-up feature articles for those women inventors who generate the most interest.

Disposable Cell Phone - Randice-Lisa Altschul received a series of patents for the first disposable cell phone, trademarked the Phone-Card-Phone®, in November of 1999.

Fireplace Damper - Little is known about Virgie Ammons, the inventor of a fireplace damper, other than that she was an African-American woman from West Virginia.

Windshield Wiper - Mary Anderson's goal was to improve a driver's vision during stormy weather. Her invention could clean snow, rain, or sleet from a windshield by using a handle inside the car. Another woman, Charlotte Bridgwood, invented the automatic windshield wiper.

Enhancing Images By Using Radioactive Materials - Barbara Askins invented a better method for developing astronomical and geological pictures taken by researchers. Uses of this method eventually included improvements in X-ray technology and the restoration of old pictures.

Method for Removing Cataract Lenses- Dr Patricia Bath was the first African-American woman to receive a patent for a medical invention. Her laser device made the procedure more accurate.

Gong and Signal Chair - Miriam Benjamin invented a chair which allowed hotel guests to summon wait staff. She was the second African-American woman to receive a patent.

Fire Resistant Building Material - Patricia Billings developed a material she called Geobond, a durable additive that prevents plaster-works from falling and shattering. When mixed with gypsum and concrete, the resulting compound makes an extremely durable and fire-resistant plaster.

Self-Feeding Device for Amputees – Bessie Blount, a physical therapist who worked with soldiers injured in World War II, was inspired to develop a device that allowed amputees to feed themselves.

Ironing Board Improvement – Sarah Boone, an African American woman, invented a device to aid in ironing the sleeves and bodies of ladies' garments.

Antifungal Antibiotic – Two women, Rachel Fuller Brown and Elizabeth Lee Hazen, invented the world's first antifungal antibiotic: nystatin.