During her time in Washington, D.C., Miriam likely observed inefficiencies in service settings, such as restaurants or the halls of Congress. This observation may have led her to conceive of the Gong and Signal Chair – a chair that allowed a person to signal a waiter or attendant without calling out.

Miriam Benjamin officially filed a patent application for her invention, the Gong and Signal Chair. The patent application would have detailed the design, function, and intended use of her invention.

Miriam Benjamin received U.S. Patent No. 389,247 for her Gong and Signal Chair. This made her one of the first African American women to receive a patent. This achievement was particularly significant, given the limited opportunities afforded to African American women in the late 19th century.

The extent to which Miriam Benjamin successfully commercialized her invention is currently unknown. Researching if her chairs were adopted in any institutions such as Hotels, Restaurants or the Halls of Congress would prove very interesting.