Arlenewhiting.info

By Jackson Labens

As anyone who drives knows, a windshield wiper is a device that removes rain, snow, and other obstructions from your windshield. The device was originally invented in 1903 by a woman named Mary Anderson. Anderson rigged up the wipers so that they were operated by a lever that was controlled from inside the car.

Soon after, an Irishman named James Apjohn created a similar device that employed brushes that moved up and down over a windshield. The first automatic windshield wipers were invented by William M. Folberth. He applied for the patent in 1919 and received the patent in 1922. Trico Products, which is still around today, bought Folberth’s company and proceeded to mass manufacturer windshield wipers.

Up until 1963, automatic windshield wipers worked constantly. If they were on, they were wiping. In 1963 a man named Robert Kearns came up with the idea of intermittent wipers. The idea was very popular, though Kearns was notoriously cheated out of the patent, as seen in the 2008 film Flash of Genius. Kearns sued Ford Motor Company in the late 1970′s and he sued the Chrysler Corporation in 1982. The Ford case went to trial in 1990, the Chrysler case in 1992. Kearns won both. Because of his efforts, the modern windshield wiper was born.

In mild months, one can plan to replace their windshield wipers about every 6-10 months. In winter weather, more extreme measures need to be taken. Ever ran your windshield wipers over a windshield covered with ice and snow? The next time a regular rain hits your windshield wipers show you how damaged they are. There are streaks on your windshield, and the wipers don’t get all the rain off.

The best way to handle winter months wiper-wise is to invest in winter windshield wiper blades. They are made of heavy steel in the arm part, and the squeegee is made of tough rubber, so that the wiper can withstand the strain of wiping off heavy snow, ice, and slush.

Another option is the heated windshield wiper blade. The rubber actually contains a heating element that melts ice and snow. This heating element is turned off and on by a switch, as the squeegee is actually wired up to a car’s 12 volt electrical system. These handy wiper blades don’t come cheap – you’ll pay over $100 per set rather than the standard price of $30 per set for the standard non-heated silicone blades.

If you live in an area that has harsh, long winters, heated wiper blades might be a good investment. One fell swoop of a standard wiper blade over a sheet of ice can ruin a perfectly good, brand-new set of silicone blades, so why not have a set of heated ones on hand for those frigid months? The newer heated blades are fairly easy to install, so if you’re in a situation where you’d normally buy winter tires, you may as well buy some winter wiper blades as well. You can never be too safe in the winter months.

About the Author: Jack Labens works for Empire Covers, a leading provider of car covers and accessories such as truck covers and truck bed covers. Empire Covers can be found online at: EmpireCovers.com or at their blog EmpireCovers-Blog.com .

Source: www.isnare.com

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