BKFK - Famous African American Inventor

Sarah Boone

Ironing Board

Sarah Boone was a famous African American inventor who took an already great idea and made it better!
She patented a device to help neatly iron clothing. This was the predecessor to the modern ironing board. It was made of a narrow wooden board, with collapsible legs and a padded cover.
Before Sarah's inventions, people simply used a table or were creative by lying a plank of wood across two chairs or small tables.
U.S. Patent #473,653 was granted to her on April 26, 1892. She lived near New Haven, Connecticut at the time.
Sarah Boone's ironing board was designed to be effective in ironing the sleeves and bodies of ladies' garments.
Very little is known about her life and her childhood. If you learn something interesting, please email us and let us know. We are dying to learn about her life!
Learn about more African American inventors here