Robert Cairns - the creator of car windshield wipers (wipers): a story of life

Robert Cairns is an American engineer whofirst invented and patented the first mechanism of windshield wipers (wipers) for cars in 1964. The design innovation of a clever American first gained popularity in 1969.

Robert is famous all over the world for the fact that hewon several scandalous court hearings on the patent rights of major automobile companies. The thing is that when Robert Williams Cairns (not to be confused with the Swedish folklorist Robert Burns, photos below) came up with a mechanism for car windshield wipers (in 1964), he began to offer his design to several powerful corporations, such as Ford and Chrysler.

The American inventor patented hisproduct and wanted to produce them for large automotive companies, which, in turn, were engaged in the development of a similar product. Robert did not receive a positive response, but several years later he learned that his invention was awarded by the above-mentioned automotive companies. And then Robert thought ...

American inventor Robert Cairns: biography

Born March 10 in 1927 in the city of Gary (stateIndiana, United States of America). As a child, Robert adored all sorts of mechanisms and designs. He could spend the whole day in the garage with his father, dismantling the old engine or cleaning the evaporator in the car. Robert was extremely interested in cars, besides he lived near the Ford plant (Michigan Detroit Work Area). His father worked in the steel company of the Great Lakes Steel Corporation, thereby further involving the guy in engineering matters.

Education and family

In his school years Robert succeeded in appliedsciences. He also visited a circle of orienteering and went to music school, where he played the violin. It should be noted that the guy was a very talented violinist.

During the Second World War, Robert Cairns wasa member of the Bureau of Strategic Services (now renamed the CIA - Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Agency of the United States of America). After the war, Robert received an engineering degree from the University of Detroit, and a few years later, defended his doctorate in technology development at the Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio).

In the sixties Robert Kearns married the Phyllis (Lauren Graham). The couple had six children.

American inventor Robert Cairns: where did the idea come from?

In 1953, Robert went blind in one eye, whenunsuccessfully opened a bottle of champagne, and the cork flew into his eye. Every year, vision deteriorated, and with the slightest rain Cairns found it difficult to consider the road when he was driving a car.

One day Robert drove home, and a strongshower. At this point, the engineer comes up with the idea of ​​how to create a useful mechanical device that will clean the water from the windshield. Retaining the idea in my head, the next day Robert began to develop such a mechanism.

A few weeks of experimentalresearch he created moving "janitors" in the likeness of the repeating movements of the eyelids of the human eye. It remained a matter of small - to develop the necessary documentation and test this design on your own car.

After successful operation, Robert patents his product and visits the engineering office of the Ford automobile company, which worked unsuccessfully on the same task.

Bad news: fraud

Surprised by such a useful invention, the managerMcLean Tyler suggested that Cairns compile a business plan and calculate the cost of starting the car wipers for fabrication. But Robert said that he would like to be engaged in the production of windshield wipers himself, after which consensus could not be reached.

However, Kerns has already demonstrated his workmechanism in deed, and even provided all the necessary documentation, which was later preserved by McLean Tyler. In the end, after a visit to the Ford plant, Robert stopped ringing and notifying him with news. A few years later, Kearns accidentally got to the presentation of a new Ford sports car, where he saw his "windshield wipers". At this point, the depressed Robert realizes that he was simply deceived and appropriated his invention.

Legal proceedings of 35 years

Robert was shocked that he was deceived asstupid boy. Without thinking twice, he decides to apply to the Washington court. But when it became known that a simple American engineer of old age intends to challenge Ford, he was sent to a psychiatric ward where he was diagnosed as a "nervous breakdown."

After some time, Robert manages to leavefrom the hospital. His condition was again on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but he gathered with spirit and will and continued to fight. Relatives and relatives tried in every possible way to dissuade Kerns from this insane idea. But all attempts to persuade the true creator of car windshield wipers were unsuccessful. As a result, Robert lost his family: his wife left him and took the children with her.

All judicial attempts were paid out of pocketRobert, it was hard, but he did not give up. Cairns sued immediately with two major auto companies - Ford (from 1978 to 1990) and Chrysler (from 1982 to 1992). As a result, Robert Kearns won his courts and received a cash compensation of $ 10 million from Ford and five years later 19 million from Chrysler.

On February 9, 2005, Robert died of a brain tumor.