The hidden story of Mary Kenner

In 1956, Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, a Black American inventor, patented her design for an adjustable sanitary belt, which had a specific inbuilt pad pocket that was absorbent. She had designed the product in the early 1920s, but had to wait almost 30 years to patent her product due to the cost of patents being incredibly high. It was important to her to ensure her product was patented before showing it to commercial companies, as this would stop them from stealing her invention and producing it themselves. 

Her belt was revolutionary, as it allowed the user to change their pads with ease whilst on the move, and her product was the first to have an adhesive to keep the pad in place - many believe this is the origin of why sanitary pads have a sticky underside to this day. 

Sonn-Nap-Pack were the first company to show interest in developing  Kenner’s product in the late 1950s, however, when she met with their  representative in person they immediately cancelled their proposed deal upon finding out she was Black. 

Over the next several years, racial prejudice throughout society stopped Kenner from producing her product, as she was continually turned down by large pharmaceutical companies across America and eventually her patent against her product ran out.  This allowed commercial companies to launch their own patents against slight variants of Kenner’s design and they were manufactured freely. 

Kenner never made any money from her invention, but became a florist, running several successful floral businesses in Washington DC. She died aged 94, in 2006, with very few ever knowing about her huge influence on the daily lives of millions. She continued to invent products until her old age, including aids for wheelchairs and cleaning devices, but her most successful invention remains the one she is written out of history for, and we hope to change that!

(IMAGE CAPTION) Mary Kenner, courtesy of the Kenner family.