The Little-Known Story Of Mary Kenner, The First Black American Woman To Earn Five Patents
But they are also entirely consistent with the design philosophy that runs through all of Kenner’s work.
The back washer addresses a problem that anyone who has tried to wash their own back thoroughly knows: the difficulty of reaching all parts of the back with a regular washcloth.
Most people solve this problem by accepting incomplete cleaning, by using a long-handled brush or loofah, or by asking someone else for help.
For people who live alone, or who have limited shoulder mobility, or who simply prefer to be self-sufficient, the incomplete solutions are frustrating.
Kenner’s mounted washcloth holder — attached to the shower wall, moistened, and usable without requiring the flexibility that reaching across one’s own back demands — is a practical solution to a practical problem.