Ellene Alice Bailey facts for kids
Ellene Alice Bailey (born in 1853, died on July 22, 1897) was a clever American designer and inventor. She created many useful things for clothes and homes. She even got patents for more than ten of her inventions! A patent is like a special paper that says you are the only one who can make or sell your invention for a certain time.
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The Life of Ellene Alice Bailey
Ellene Alice Bailey was born in a place called Pond Fort, near Wentzville, Missouri. She was the third daughter of Robert Bailey, who was a judge, and Lucinda Bailey. When she was younger, she moved to New York City. There, she started her own business. She would either make her designs herself or sell them to other companies to produce.
Bailey's Amazing Inventions
Ellene Alice Bailey became well-known for designing clothing and household items. She also invented many practical devices. Her very first design was a special boot called the "Pond Fort boot." This boot was knee-high and fit closely. She received patents for it in both the United States and Canada in 1880.
Later, she designed other clothing items. These included a chest protector made of felt with small holes, a holder for sleeves, and a waterproof cover for legs. She also invented a bra frame that could be taken apart and a shield for corsets.
One of her early inventions was a sewing needle called the "Dart" needle, first patented in 1884. At first, she made these needles herself. She even made the first 60,000 needles after the person she hired to do the job left! Later, another company started making the needles for her.
Clever Household Items
Bailey also invented many useful things for the home. She created a holder for rubber overshoes (like rain boots) and a special case for manicure tools. She designed photograph albums, several different clocks, and decorative tables. She even made a hand-held device for pinking, which is a way to cut fabric edges in a zigzag pattern to stop them from fraying.
Some of Bailey's inventions were fun, new items or things for holidays. For example, she made a silver whisk broom and a music roll that was sold as a Christmas card. Sometimes, she would even improve other inventors' designs to make them better and easier to sell.
The Powder Puff Pioneer
Ellene Alice Bailey might have been the first American to get a patent for a powder puff. In 1882, she invented a small cloth bag with a drawstring and tiny holes at the bottom. This design helped spread powder smoothly. She went on to invent three more types of powder puffs, with her last one patented in 1892.
