Mechanical Windshield Wipers

The mechanical windshield wiper was invented by Mary Anderson who was issued a patent in 1905.

While traveling in New York one winter, Mary noticed that drivers had to constantly get out of their cars to remove snow and ice from the windshield. She drew up plans for a device that could be activated from the inside to clean the windshield. In 1904, she applied for a patent for a mechanical windshield wiper - a swinging arm with a rubber blade. The lever was operated by the driver and caused a spring-loaded arm with a rubber blade to move back and forth across the windshield. The device could be removed during the warmer months. Mary never sold her invention but by 1913 mechanical windshield wipers were standard equipment on American cars.