Do You Know Which African American Inventor Created Which Product?

Question: Who, along with her husband, invented the first form of a home security system?

Answer: Marie van Brittan Brown and her husband invented the first form of a home security system.

Question: Who improved the function of the fountain pen by designing a reservoir to hold the ink and a mechanism to deliver the ink to the tip?

Answer: William B. Purvis improved the function of the fountain pen by designing a reservoir to hold the ink and a mechanism to deliver the ink to the tip.

Question: Which inventor, who was awarded some 35 patents for electrical inventions, was known as “the Black Edison?”

Answer: Granville T. Woods, who was awarded some 35 patents for electrical inventions from 1884 to 1890, was known as “the Black Edison.” In 1885 he patented the “telegraphony,” a device an operator could use to send both telegraph and voice messages.

Question: Who invented the automatic railroad car coupler commonly known as the “Jenny coupler”?

Answer: Andrew Jackson Beard invented the automatic railroad car coupler commonly known at the “Jenny coupler.”

Question: Who patented new and useful improvements to the water closet (toilet)?

Answer: Jerome Bonaparte Rhodes patented new and useful improvements to the water closet (toilet).

Question: Who invented and perfected the modern design for a ship’s sail?

Answer: James Forten, Sr., invented and perfected the modern design for a ship’s sail.

Question: In 1881 who, along with Joseph V. Nichols, made improvements to Thomas Edison’s incandescent light bulb?

Answer: Lewis Howard Latimer, along with Joseph V. Nichols, made improvements to Thomas Edison’s incandescent light bulb.

Question: In 1872 who patented a device that automatically oiled locomotive parts while the train was moving?

Answer: In 1872 Elijah McCoy patented a device that automatically oiled locomotive parts while the train was moving.

Question: Who was granted a patent for creating a portable shield to protect army gunners and the infantry supporting them?

Answer: Harde Spears was granted a patent for creating a portable shield to protect army gunners and the infantry supporting them.

Question: In 1935 who invented the first automatic refrigeration for long-haul trucks and railroad cars?

Answer: In 1935 Frederick McKinley Jones invented the first automatic refrigeration for long-haul trucks and railroad cars.

Question: Who introduced the harpoon, greatly changing the whaling industry?

Answer: Louis Temple introduced the harpoon, greatly changing the whaling industry.

Question: In the mid-19th century who developed a method of refining sugar which consisted of a series of vacuum pans combined in a step-by-step process to make heated evaporated sugar into crystallized granules?

Answer: In the mid-19th century Norbert Rillieux developed a method of refining sugar which consisted of a series of vacuum pans combined in a step-by-step process to make heated evaporated sugar into crystallized granules. He patented the production improvement in 1843.

Question: Who was the inventor of a guitar called the Euphonica?

Answer: Robert F. Flemmings, Jr., was the inventor of a guitar called the Euphonica.

Question: Who refined a soy protein that became the basis of Aero-Foam, a foam fire extinguisher used by the U.S. Navy in World War II?

Answer: Percy Julian refined a soy protein that became the basis of Aero-Foam, a foam fire extinguisher used by the U.S. Navy in World War II.

Question: Who patented an improved rotary blade lawn mower?

Answer: John Albert Burr patented an improved rotary blade lawn mower, which prevented the mower from being blocked by grass clippings.

Question: Who patented a design for automatically opening and closing elevator doors?

Answer: Alexander Miles patented a design for automatically opening and closing elevator doors.

Question: Which engineer, inventor, and educator was granted a patent for a flow distributor that was used on nuclear reactor cores?

Answer: Alfred A. Bishop was an engineer, inventor, and educator who was granted a patent for a flow distributor that was used on nuclear reactor cores.

Question: Who invented the gas mask?

Answer: Garrett Augustus Morgan invented the gas mask.

Question: Who designed and patented a shoe lasting machine, which mechanically stitched the shoe leather to the sole of the shoe?

Answer: Jan Ernst Matzeliger designed and patented a shoe lasting machine, which mechanically stitched the shoe leather to the sole of the shoe.