"Invent Help" Invention Newsletter - March 2009

Inventor Alert: Bed, Bath & Beyond Seeks Women Inventors

Can you imagine what the world would be like without windshield wipers, life rafts and fire escapes? Each of these innovations undoubtedly saved countless lives over the years, and we have women inventors to thank for them. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the first patent granted to a woman, retailer Bed, Bath & Beyond is seeking the next great product idea from women across the nation.

Learn about the American Women of Invention^SM contest

Double Amputee Reinvents Herself as Mermaid

New Zealand native Nadya Vessey was born with a condition that prevented her legs from developing properly. Now, with the help of a design firm, she has transformed herself into a real-life mermaid.

Read more about Nadya's amazing story

Who was the first woman to receive a U.S. Patent?

The Patent Act of 1790 declared that any individual, male or female, was eligible to obtain a patent for an invention. On May 15, 1809, Mary Dixon Kies, a Connecticut native, received the first U.S. patent issued to a woman. She invented a process for weaving straw with silk or thread and was credited by First Lady Dolly Madison for boosting the nation's hat industry. Unfortunately, the patent file was destroyed in the Patent Office fire of 1836, along with all of the other patents issued up until that date.

Read more invention trivia from InventHelp