The Man That Lost His Mind Over Windshield Wipers | Robert Kearns vs. Ford | History in the Dark

Windshield wipers are a basic feature on cars, as well as the ability to control their speed. But it wasn't that long ago that the second function was not available. The wipers were either on or off. Inventor Robert Kearns would correct this with his invention of the intermittent windshield wiper. He was in talks with Ford regarding production of the device when the company suddenly dropped out. Only later did Kearns discover that they, along with all the other automobile manufacturers, had made their own versions of his invention. In the lengthy court battles that followed, Robert Kearns would lose his wife, his children, and his sanity. 0:00 - Intro 2:09 - The Invention 5:43 - The Theft 9:19 - The Madness 14:40 - Legacy "Robert William Kearns (March 10, 1927 – February 9, 2005) was an American mechanical engineer, educator and inventor who invented the most common 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, after a few previous designs by other inventors had failed to gain any traction in manufacturing." 🚂 Further reading 🚂 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Kearns https://www.inventorsdigest.com/articles/a-fight-to-his-finish/ https://ipcloseup.com/2011/07/26/kearns-son-still-fuming-over-wiper-blade-fight/ https://www.inventionandtech.com/content/windshield-wiper-0 https://www.dbusiness.com/from-the-magazine/side-swipe-keeping-windshields-dry/ https://www.historyhit.com/who-was-robert-william-kearns/ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-oct-03-et-kearns3-story.html https://hackaday.com/2020/04/23/the-back-and-forth-of-windshield-wipers-and-patent-lawsuits/ 🟢Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsmGCJdCZeKxrbqs_l4YCQA/join 🟢Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/Darknessthecurse 🟣Discord - https://discord.gg/KEX5eeRcxF 🔴Cameo - https://www.cameo.com/darknessthecurse 🔵Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/History-in-the-Dark-109003305113711 🟢Donations - https://streamlabs.com/edgerabbit/tip 🔴Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoryintheDark/ 🔴Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@historyinthedark 🟣Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/historyinthedark/ 🔵Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/DarktheCurse 🟣Merch - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsmGCJdCZeKxrbqs_l4YCQA/store 🟣Twitch - http://www.twitch.tv/edgerabbit Other channels: 🟢Prehistory in the Dark: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsbkaWQ4rUKMedsE0VCdzrg 🟣Gaming and Fanfic Readings: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCig-6ZTjigUQBIi3O4XSdlw 🟣History Stuff: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsmGCJdCZeKxrbqs_l4YCQA 👔Merch: https://streamlabs.com/edgerabbit/merch --- I WRITE BOOKS! YOU CAN FIND THEM HERE: 📚Abyss: https://www.amazon.com/Abyss-Books-Pride-Book-1-ebook/dp/B07S9V1GRH 📚Pryde: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08P6SZ6DB?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_1&storeType=ebooks 📚Abyss on Audible: https://www.amazon.com/hz/audible/mlp/mfpdp/B08TFDNMJH?ref=tmm_aud_title #history #documentary #truestory

Added 27 Mar 2026