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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.

Before we divulge the details of the contest, we at InventHelp® feel it's important to take a moment to recognize inventor Mary Dixon Kies, the first woman to hold a U.S patent. While women have been inventing since the dawn of time, it was just 200 years ago this May that they finally began to receive credit for their innovations.

Although The Patent Act of 1790 opened the door for anyone, male or female, to protect his or her invention with a patent, many states prevented women from owning property independent of their husbands. As a result, women didn't bother getting patent protection for their inventions.

In 1809, Kies broke this barrier by seeking patent protection for her newly invented method of weaving straw with silk, which she used to make and sell beautiful hats. With her patent granted, no one else could make or sell hats that were just like hers. Other women inventors of the era drew inspiration from Kies. Just three years later, Tabitha Babbitt received a patent for the circular saw. Because the Patent and Trademark Office does not require that gender be identified, there's no telling how many women have followed in the paths of these trailblazers.

Today, there's no limit to the types of ideas a woman inventor can attempt to patent. That's just one of the many reasons why we at InventHelp are pleased to present this opportunity for women inventors to work with Bed, Bath & Beyond to create a new product to make life just a little easier.

American Women of Invention^SM, the official moniker of the contest, is the result of Bed, Bath & Beyond's partnership with Edison Nation. Bed, Bath & Beyond grew from a small chain of linen and bath shops to become the #1 home furnishings superstore in the United States, with more than 900 stores nationwide. To qualify for the contest, the invention idea must be original, useful and fit within the boundaries of Bed, Bath & Beyond's merchandising strategy.

"Your idea should be a product that immediately grabs a customer's attention and will appeal to savvy shoppers that look for and appreciate quality, functionality and value," according to the contest's website.

There is no limit to the amount of entries that an individual can submit, but be advised that there is a $25 submission fee (to cover Edison Nation's product screening process). The contest ends April 30th. For additional eligibility restrictions and to find out how to enter, visit Bed, Bath & Beyond's contest home page at EdisonNation.com.

Without the courage and fortitude of women inventors like Mary Dixon Kies, many great live-improving inventions may never have seen the light of day. Today's women have more opportunity than ever to showcase their hard work on a grand stage – or a Bed, Bath & Beyond store shelf! We at InventHelp wish competitors the best of luck!

Back to March 2009 Newsletter

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