Beulah Louise Henry facts for kids
Beulah Louise Henry (born September 28, 1887 – died February 1973) was an amazing American inventor. In the 1930s, people called her "Lady Edison" because she created so many new things. She was even known as "America's leading female inventor" in 1937.
Beulah Henry was famous for inventing many products. Her ideas helped make daily life better for people. Her work was so respected that a museum in Japan had an exhibit about her. She inspired many young Japanese women who wanted to become inventors. Some of her inventions include a special sewing machine and a vacuum ice cream freezer. She received 49 patents and had about 110 inventions in total!
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Early Life and Education
Beulah Louise Henry was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. Her parents were Walter R. and Beulah Henry. She was also related to former North Carolina Governor William Woods Holden and President Benjamin Harrison.
From a young age, Beulah was very creative and curious. She loved painting and music. But her favorite thing was to spot problems and think of ways to fix them. One of her first ideas was a mechanical hat tipper. This device would automatically tip a man's hat when he greeted someone.
By the age of nine, she was already drawing sketches of her inventions. When she was 25, in 1912, she got her first patent. This was for a vacuum ice cream freezer. She studied at North Carolina Presbyterian College and Elizabeth College from 1909 to 1912. It was during this time that she started submitting her first patents.
Career in New York City
Beulah Louise Henry moved to New York City by 1924. There, she started two companies of her own. She worked as an inventor for Nicholas Machine Works from 1939 to 1955. She also advised many companies that made her inventions. These included the Mergenthaler Linotype Company and the International Doll Company. She lived in hotels in New York and joined several science groups. She never married.
Amazing Inventions
Unlike many inventors, Beulah Henry didn't stick to just one type of invention. She created a wide range of products. One of her main goals was to invent things that would improve life for women. For example, she invented a hair curler, a vanity case, and a rubber sponge soap holder.
One clever invention was a "snap-on" parasol. This allowed women to change the cover of their parasol to match their outfit. They didn't need to buy a whole new parasol!
Beulah Louise Henry also invented new things for children's toys. She found a new way to stuff dolls. Instead of heavy stuffing, she used rubber tubing to inflate dolls. This made the toys much lighter and more lifelike.
The Double Chain Stitch Sewing Machine
One of Henry's most famous inventions is the "Double Chain Stitch Sewing Machine." She wanted to make a sewing machine that wouldn't tangle thread. Regular sewing machines use bobbins that often need to be refilled or break. Beulah saw this problem and wanted an easier way.
Her invention worked twice as fast as typical sewing machines. It also let users use thinner threads. The stitches were just as strong. This machine helped seamstresses do more work faster. It saved time by preventing tangled threads. This invention is still used today, especially in factories. It's faster and breaks less often than older machines.
Other Clever Inventions
In 1936, Beulah patented a tool for typewriters. This tool allowed people to make multiple copies of a document. They didn't even need to use carbon paper.
Beulah didn't have a formal engineering education. This actually made her more creative! She wasn't limited by what engineers thought was possible. Instead, she focused on what *could* be. Ideas often came to her fully formed in her mind. If engineers said something couldn't be built, she would often make a prototype herself. She used everyday items like soap, clips, and buttons to show them her ideas.
Here is a partial list of some of Beulah Henry's inventions:
- Vacuum ice cream freezer (1912) , US 1037762
- Umbrella with snap-on cloth covers (1924)
- First bobbinless sewing machine (1940)
- "Protograph" - made four copies with a manual typewriter (1932)
- "Continuously-attached Envelopes" for mass mailings (1952)
- "Dolly Dips" soap-filled sponges for kids (1929)
- "Miss Illusion" doll with eyes that could change color (1935)
- Hair Curler (1925)
- Parasol Bag (1925)
- Umbrella Runner Shield Attachment (1926)
- Water-Sport Apparatus (1927)
- Poodle-Dog Doll (1927)
- Ball Covering (1927)
- Foot Covering (1927)
- Sealing Device for Inflatable Bodies (1929)
- Valve For Inflatable Articles (1929)
- Henry Closure Construction (1930)
- Henry Valve for Inflatable Articles (1931)
- Duplicating Device for Typewriting Machines (1932)
- Duplicating Attachment for Typewriters (1932)
- Writing Machine (1936)
- Multicopy Attachment for Typewriters (1936)
- Movable Eye Structure for figure Toys (1935)
- Double Chain Stitch Sewing Machine (1936)
- Feeding and Aligning Device (1940)
- Seam and Method of Forming Seams (1941)
- Sewing Apparatus (1941)
- Typewriting Machine (1941)
- Device for Producing Articulate Sounds (1941)
- Duplex Sound Producer (1944)
- Continuously Attached Envelopes (1952)
- Can Opener (1956)
- Direct and Return Mailing Envelope (1962)
Inspiring Quotes
Beulah Louise Henry had some great things to say about inventing:
- "If necessity is the mother of invention, then resourcefulness is the father."
- "I invent because I cannot help it - new things just thrust themselves on me."
Recognition and Legacy
Beulah Henry was recognized for her many inventions during her lifetime. She worked as an innovator for several companies in New York City. These included the Mergenthaler Linotype Company and the International Doll Company. Even if these companies sometimes put their names on her work, she still earned money and credit for her inventions.
When she registered her patents, only 2% of all patents were registered by women. This makes her achievements even more impressive for her time. She is still seen as one of the most successful female inventors ever. After she passed away, Beulah Louise Henry was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006.
See also
In Spanish: Beulah Louise Henry para niños
