LATER INVENTIONS
Inventive spirit
Margaret E. Knight continued to thrive beyond her groundbreaking work in paper bag manufacturing. Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, she designed several domestic inventions that aimed to improve various aspects of everyday life.
In 1883, Knight patented a dress and skirt shield, offering a practical solution for protecting clothing from stains and wear. This invention reflected her ingenuity in addressing common household concerns with innovative solutions.
The following year, in 1884, Knight patented a clasp for robes, further demonstrating her knack for developing practical and useful household items. This clasp likely provided a convenient and secure method for fastening robes, enhancing comfort and functionality for users.
Feet in the ground
Knight’s versatility as an inventor was evident in her work on machines for manufacturing shoes during the 1880s and 1890s. She received six patents for various machines used in cutting shoe materials, showcasing her ability to innovate across different industries and technologies.
In the early 1900s, Knight shifted her focus to the development of components for rotary engines and motors. Despite her limited formal education, she demonstrated a keen understanding of mechanical principles and received patents for her innovations in this field from 1902 to 1915, even beyond her death.
Knight’s prolific inventiveness extended to numerous other creations, including a numbering machine and a window frame and sash, both patented in 1894.
In total, she was granted at least 27 patents, with the possibility of even more inventions that were not formally patented, underscoring her enduring impact on technology and innovation.
