Women Inventions for Women’s History Month Featuring the Sports Bra

History of the Sports Bra Invention

As most inventors know, necessity is the mother of invention and in honor of Women’s History Month, we look back at various Women Inventions. The invention of the sports bra revolutionized women’s participation in sports and fitness activities, providing comfort and support that traditional bras lacked. The journey of the sports bra is a testament to female empowerment, innovation, and the intersection of fashion and function and began like most inventions based on the need to find a way to address the discomfort women experienced based on running 30-miles a week. At the time, women felt more empowered to excersice and running was one of the ways many women around the world were excersicing. However, running created severe discomfort based on the lack of available chest support.

The original sketches for the Jogbra which was used to create the revolutionary chest support worn by women around the world. On the left are the actual drawings which appeared in U.S Patent No. 4,174,717 issued for the invention based on the original sketches. Image courtesy of the National Museum of American History and USPTO.

Origins of the Sports Bra

Initially, when women ran, they used elastic bands to bandage their breasts or they held their elbos close to their chest to eliviate the pain caused by running. The first commercially available sports bra, known as the “Free Swing Tennis Bra,” was introduced by Glamorise Foundations, Inc. in 1975. However, in 1977 the iconic sports bra, initially called a “jockbra,” which was invented by Lisa Lindahl and her best friend and theater costume designer Polly Smith, with assistance from Hinda Schreiber. However, like most inventors, coming up with the rights construction was not easy and required several different iterations.

Originaly, the concept of the jockbra was inspired by male athletic supports. Using the male athetic support as a guide, the women adjusted the construction to centralize the weight closer to the wearer’s center of gravity. Based on these additions, the jog bra, originally called the jockbra was born, leading to the creation of a supportive and comfortable alternative chest support for women around the world.

Impact and Evolution

The sports bra quickly gained popularity, especially after Brandi Chastain’s iconic celebration during the 1999 Women’s World Cup. This moment marked a significant increase in visibility for both the sports bra and women athletes. Over time, female inventors like Renelle Braaten and Cynthia Smith continued to innovate, developing designs tailored to different body types and activities.

Legal Challenges and Recognition

Despite its success, the journey of the sports bra was not without legal hurdles. The inventors faced patent challenges typical for start-ups. The inventors, unfamiliar with the world of intellectual property protection including patents and trademarks contacted a patent attorney in 1977. They relied on their patent attorney throughout the life of their business to help guide them obtain patent, and trademark protection and to generally help provide advice to them throughout their business. By obtaining a patent, the inventors were provided the monopoly rights through 1998 to sell, manufacture and use the patented invention throughout the United States and abroad, highlighting the importance of intellectual property protection in innovation. In 2022, Lisa Lindahl, Polly Smith, and Hinda Miller were rightfully inducted into the US National Inventors Hall of Fame for their groundbreaking patented sports bra design.

Noteable Women Inventions

Circular Saw – Invented by Tabitha Babbitt in 1812, the circular saw was a significant improvement over the traditional pit saw, making woodcutting more efficient.
Disposable Diaper – Marion Donovan patented the first leak-proof diaper cover in 1950 and later created the fully disposable diaper, transforming diaper changing for parents worldwide.
Dishwasher – Josephine Cochran invented a dishwasher in 1872 that used water pressure instead of scrubbers, revolutionizing dish cleaning methods.
Low-Reflection Glass – Katharine Blodgett invented a non-reflective glass coating in 1935, revolutionizing the usability of glass in camera lenses, microscopes, and eyeglasses.
Life Raft – Maria Beasley designed a foldable and fireproof life raft with guard rails in 1882, which was notably used on the Titanic and saved over 700 lives.
Fire Escape – Anna Connelly invented an external metal staircase serving as the first fire escape in 1887, leading to changes in building codes for emergency safety measures.
Medical Syringe – Letitia Geer patented the one-handed syringe in 1899, simplifying the process of administering injections for medical practitioners
Windshield Wiper – Mary Anderson’s invention of the windshield wiper in 1903, despite facing initial rejection by manufacturers, became an essential automotive safety. feature.
Wireles Transmission Technology – Hedy Lamarr, a movie star, developed a frequency-hopping communication system during World War II in 1941, laying the groundwork for modern technologies like WiFi and Bluetooth.
Antifungal Drugs (Nystatin) – Rachel Fuller Brown and Elizabeth Lee Hazen discovered Nystatin, one of the first effective antifungal medicines, through collaborative experiments in 1950.
Liquid Paper – Bette Nesmith Graham invented Liquid Paper in 1951 as a correction fluid for typing errors before the era of digital editing tools.
Computer Algorithm – Ada Lovelace, credited with penning the world’s first computer algorithm in 1843, made significant contributions to the field of computing.

These inventions by women have not only shaped various industries but also contributed significantly to technological advancements and everyday convenience.

Women’s History Month Celebration

During Women’s History Month, it is important to recognize and honor the contributions of female inventors like Lindahl, Smith, and Miller who reshaped women’s sportswear apparel empowering women in their daily lives. Their story exemplifies resilience, creativity, and the impact of women inventions. As we celebrate women’s achievements this month, let us recognize the pivotal role these inventors played in empowering women through their revolutionary creation.

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