Top 10 Inventions Created By Women That You Never Knew About

On May 5, 1809, Mary Kies became the first woman to receive a patent in the United States. It was for her technique of weaving straw with silk.

Many women had made inventions before, but it was illegal for women to own property of their own. Some decided to apply in their husband's name, while others decided to keep it without patents.

As of 2016, 21% of United States patents included at least one female inventor. In the 1980s, it was 7%. However, there are far less patents that were all female inventors. In the last decade, all female-invented patents contributed only about 4% of issued patents.

One part that seems to be lacking in girls is STEM based patents and even jobs. Women earn 57% of all four year degrees, but only 35% of STEM bachelor's degree. Following degree completion, they account just for 22% of the STEM workforce.

Let's look at some of the inventions created by women that you never knew about.

1) Computer Algorithm - Ada Lovelace - 1843

Ada Lovelace translated professor Charles Babbage notes of mathematics for his theoretical invention, analytic engine. Lovelace added her own notes, tripling the original text, and was credited with writing the world's first algorithm.

2) Dishwasher - Josephine Cochran - 1872

This was certainly not the first invention of the dishwasher, but it was the first one that actually worked. Cochran's design was the first that used water pressure rather than scrubbers to remove debris.

3) Globes - Ellen Fitz - 1875

Fitz, a tutor in Canada at the time, designed the globe mount that could display the earth's daily rotation in relation to the path of the sun not only by day and night but also throughout the year.

4) Car Heater - Margaret A. Wilcox - 1893

Using heat already generated as a byproduct of combustion, Wilcox invented a way to heat cars by channeling air over the engine into the cab. Imagine cars today without car heaters? That would suck!

5) Windshield Wiper - Mary Anderson - 1903

When she received her patent in 1903, Anderson tried to sell her windshields to a manufacturer. Unfortunately, they didn't approve her invention, but was stated that her invention lacked practical value. Her invention didn't take off and her patent expired and it was 10 years before a similar device became standard on cars.

6) The First Monopoly Game - Elizabeth Magie - 1904

It wasn't the same exact look as monopoly or named monopoly, but it had the same message. "The Landlord's Game" was patented in 1904, 30 years before monopoly will file for a patent and sold to the Parker Brothers.

7) Electric Refrigerator - Florence Parpart - 1914

An invention that was successfully patented and was a huge improvement. Considering this was a time where people used ice cubes to freeze things. It has been improved upon the years and we use different models today!

8) Central Heating - Alice Parker - 1919

This was the first invention that used natural gas, rather than wood, to heat a home. Unfortunately, her designs were not used.

9) Foot Pedal Trash Can - Lillian Gilbert - N/A

Gilbert was an engineer and psychologist, performed exhaustive research on the psychological impact that work spaces have on productivity. Her genius in the area of ergonomics brought us many valuable inventions, like the foot pedal trash can.

10) Disposable Diaper - Marion Donovan - 1950

First inventing a leak-proof diaper covering, then fully disposable diaper, Donovan was intent on helping as many people she was capable of. Her inventions were completely ignored as unnecessary and impractical by the male manufacturers. She took it in her own hands and sold them straight to Saks Fifth Avenue.

Conclusion

These are only ten of the several inventions made by women. Men tend to take in more credit for the inventions, but women were the starters from big things of today. They built the startup and we upgraded those inventions in the future. These women deserve much more respect than they do!

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