Robert Kearns
Robert W. Kearns (10 March 1927 – 9 February 2005) was the inventor of the intermittent windshield wiper systems used on most vehicles from 1969 to the present.
Dr. Kearns's claim to fame was winning one of the most famous of patent cases where an individual won a court case against large corporations. He invented and patented the intermittent windshield wiper mechanism for use in light rain or mist and tried to interest the big auto makers in it, but they all rejected his idea. Then when they all installed intermittent wipers on their cars he sued them all for patent infringement. After many court battles reaching to the Supreme Court, he received approximately US$30 million in compensation.
Kearns was included in the Forbes 400 2005 Edition, along with Allen Gant Sr., inventor of panty hose (1959), and Ray Tomlinson, who invented network email and the use of the @ symbol for addresses in 1971.
His story will form the basis of the 2008 film Flash of Genius starring Greg Kinnear and Lauren Graham. The film is directed by Marc Abraham.[1]
Early career
Robert Kearns was a member of the Office of Strategic Services, the forerunner of the US CIA, during World War II. He earned engineering degrees from University of Detroit and Wayne State University and a doctorate from Case Western Reserve University.[2]
Family
Robert Kearns had two daughters, four sons and seven grandchildren at the time of his death.[3]
References
- Forbes, 400 Special Issue 2005 Edition, pg. 118