Robert Kearns

Inventor

1927 – 2005

19

Who was Robert Kearns?

Robert William Kearns was an American inventor who invented the intermittent windshield wiper systems used on most automobiles from 1969 to the present. His first patent for the invention was filed on December 1, 1964.

Kearns won one of the best known patent infringement cases against Ford Motor Company and a case against Chrysler Corporation. Having invented and patented the intermittent windshield wiper mechanism, which was useful in light rain or mist, he tried to interest the "Big Three" auto makers in licensing the technology. They all rejected his proposal, yet began to install intermittent wipers in their cars, beginning in 1969.

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Born
Mar 10, 1927
Gary
Also known as
  • Robert William Kearns
Ethnicity
  • White American
Nationality
  • United States of America
Profession
Education
  • Doctorate, Case Western Reserve University
  • Wayne State University
    Engineering
  • Bachelor's degree, University of Detroit Mercy
    Engineering
Employment
  • Intelligence officer, Office of Strategic Services
Lived in
  • River Rouge
Died
Feb 9, 2005
Baltimore

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

Citation

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"Robert Kearns." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Apr. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/robert_kearns>.

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