Back in 1903, a woman named Mary Anderson patented the first successful cleaning device for windshields.
On a fateful visit to New York City, she noticed that cable car operator was leaving his front window open in order to see during a sleet storm. As she sat in the trolley watching this scene unfold, a light bulb came on. She soon designed a device that swung an arm comprised of wood, metal and rubber that we recognize today as a wiper blade. Her device was capable of clearing rain, sleet, or snow. The driver controlled the windshield wiper with a lever on the inside of the car. This invention has prevented a plethora of auto glass repair, replacement glass, windshield repair, and even bodily harm. Though one of the greatest inventions in automobile glass safety and the automotive industry overall, Anderson’s patent expired in 1920. Prior to that she rarely received any royalties; perhaps because her patent specified that it was intended for use in “electric motor cars.”
As a father to two girls, I admit to a bit of a thrill when I found her patent application on the US Patent Office’s web site, which begins as follows:
To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, MARY ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Window-Cleaning Devices, of which the following is a specification.
The drawings above are from Mary’s patent application, which was issued patent number 743,801. She died at the age of 87 in Tennessee. Her contributions in vehicle glass repair prevention were substantial.
Read more from James Lee.
In 2009 he joined TGSC Group as the managing director of product development. James brings expertise in customer satisfaction and service delivery to the team. He guest blogs for TeleGlass and is an amateur photographer. Find him on Twitter @jronaldlee.
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